Pogodno (; German until 1947: ) is an administrative neighbourhood forming a subdivision of the West district in the city of Szczecin, Poland. It is predominantly a low-rise residential area with detached and semi-detached houses. It also includes the housing estate of Osiedle Somiesiery with the mid-rise apartment buildings. Pogodno has an area of 4.19 km2 (1.62 sq mi), and in 2025, was inhabited by 21,530 people, making it the second most populous neighbourhood of the city. The neighbourhood features the Florian Krygier Municipal Stadium, the home field of the Pogoń Szczecin association football team, and faculty buildings of several universities. In the 19th century, the complex of military barracks was constructed in the western portion of the modern neighbourhood. The area begun being developed in 1890 as a suburb, and was incorporated into Szczecin in 1910.
Toponymy The name is derived from the Polish adjective , meaning "cheerful", "sunny", or "serene". Established officially by the government in 1947, it was intended to have optimistic and positive emotional connotations, intended to facilitate the psychological adaptation and settlement of Polish population moving into the city following the end of the Second World War. The naming process was part of a broader, systemic campaign implemented across the areas ceded to Poland from German after the conflict, then referred to as the Recovered Territories.Kazimierz Rymut: Szkice z historii i geografii imion oraz nazw miejscowych. Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN, Kraków 2003, . (in Polish)
Prior to 1947, the neighbourhood was known by its German name , meaning "New West End". It was named as an extension of the nearby area of Westend, located to its southeast, now known as Łękno. Its name itself referred to the area forming the suburb of the city of Szczecin, being placed at its western boundary.
History
Following the capitulation of Stettin in 1806 during the War of the Fourth Coalition, a military camp of the French Imperial Army was set up in the area, housing housing 12,000 soldiers. In 1808, a small mound with the height of 8 m (26.25 ft), was erected at the current corner of Klonowica and Unii Lubelskiej Streets. It was named the Napoleon Hill, in commemoration of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Emperor of France. A bust depicting him was placed at its top. In 1814, after the city was recaptured by Prussia, it was renamed to the German Mountain (Deutscher Berg), and the sculpture was replaced with a column decorated with an Iron Cross, and a plaque dedicated to Prussian soldiers fallen during the War of the Sixth Coalition. It was renamed to its original name after the end of the Second World War.Tadeusz Białecki (editor): Encyklopedia Szczecina. Szczecin: University of Szczecin, Instytut Historii, 1999, p. 662. . (in Polish)
In the 19th century, a complex of barracks of the Prussian Army was developed in the area between the current Żołnierska, Klonowica, and Wernyhory Streets, to the east of the village of Krzekowo. A large military training area, named the Krzekowo Filed (), was created to the north of the barracks. In 1862, it included ten residential buildings, as well as other military structures. It was expanded in the following decades. In 1897, it had five residential barracks, as well as gastronomical buildings, bathhouses, horse stables, administrative buildings, and warehouses. In 1910, the entire complex had an area of 362.94 ha. In the following years, it was expanded with buildings on Klonowica Street. The military also owned nearby shooting ranges at the intersection of the current Polish Armed Forces Avenue and Szeroka Street. The complex was visited by emperor Wilhelm I on 13 October 1897. Around 1930, a new complex of complex was developed to the south, at the corner of the current Łukasińskiego and Sosabowskiego Streets for the infantry soldiers. Between 1935 and 1936, new barracks were constructed in the complex, between the current Klonowica, Janickiego, Mickiewicza, and Żołnierska Streets.Grzegorz Ciechanowski, Jakub Ciechanowski: "Dawne kompleksy koszarowe w Szczecinie", Pomorze Militarne VI. Szczecin: Wydawnictwo Dokument, Oficyna Archiwum Państwowego w Szczecinie, 2013, pp. 125–142. (in Polish)
In 1890, the company Westend Stettin Bauverein auf Aktien, owned by Martin Quistorp, begun developing suburb estate of Neu-Westend (), located just outside borders of the city of Szczecin (then Stettin). It was constructed between current Mickiewicza Street and Polish Armed Forces Avenue, to the northwest of the suburb of Westend, now known as Łękno, which was founded in 1871 by Martin's father, Johannes Quistorp. The roundabout and garden square, originally called the Johannes Square, and now known as the Jakub Wujek Square, became its central point. The surrounding streets were named after other members of the Quistorp family. Nearby, the small park, now known as the Łyczewek Park, was also founded. The suburb was developed with detached homes and villas, designed in Baroque Revival, Modernist, and Renaissance Revival styles.Marek Łuczak: Szczecin: Pogodno, Łękno. Braunsfelde, Westend. Szczecin: Pomorskie Towarzystwo Historyczne, 2009. . (in German and Polish)Marek Łuczak: Szczecin Pogodno. Von Westend bis Schönau. Szczecin: Stowarzyszenie Czas Przestrzeń Tożsamość, 2010. . (in Polish)
In 1893, a factory of prefabricated concrete materials was built in the suburb, and in the year 1900, waterworks and a power plant were also opened. In 1899, the Stoewer car factory was opened at 186 Polish Armed Forces Avenue.Andrzej W. Feliński, Andrzej Kraśnicki, Jr.: Auta, rowery, lokomotywy – z czego słynął szczeciński przemysł maszynowy do roku 1945. Szczecin: Publisher's, 2001, . (in Polish) It operated until the end of the Second World War, afterwards being used by for the manufacturing of Ursus tractors, household furniture, and car parts. In 1967, it was renamed to the Polmo Car Parts Factory. It was closed in 2011, and turned into a shopping mall. Currently, it is located within boundaries of the neighbourhood of Zawadzkiego-Klonowica.
In 1898, two railway stations were opened in the area. They were Szczecin Pogodno (then Stettin Kreckower Straße), located at Mickiewicza Street, and Szczecin Łekno (then Stettin Westend), located at Majdańskiego Street. a brutalist steel canopy, now listed on the regional heritage list was constructed at the Szczecin Pogodno station. Both stations were closed for passenger traffic in 2002. The Szczecin Pogodno station continues to be sporadically used for cargo, and to provide connections to the nearby Florian Krygier Municipal Stadium during association football matches. Currently, they are planned to be reopened in 2026, as part of the Szczecin Metropolitan Railway line.
In 1904, a school for the deaf, founded by Martin Quistorp, was opned at 2 Siemiradzkiego Street. Currently, its building is used as a primary school.
In 1906, the tram network was extended alongside Polish Armed Forces Avenue to the intersection with Pola Street. It was later again extended to the north, with the construction of the Pogodno tram depot at 200 Polish Armed Forces Avenue in 1938.Remigiusz Grochowiak, Mirosław Janiak: Tramwaje w Szczecinie: 1897-1945. Poznań: Kolpress, 2019, p. 365, , OCLC 1126644897. (in Polish) The building was later renovated in 1983. Currently, it is located within the neighbourhood of Zawadzkiego-Klonowica.Remigiusz Grochowiak: 120 lat komunikacji miejskiej w Szczecinie. Szczecin: EMI-Press, 1999, p. 84. . (in Polish)
The neighbourhood was bought by the city in 1908, which then incorporated it into its boundaries in 1910. At the beginning of the 20th century, the suburb of Braunsfelde was developed between the current Czorsztyńska and Poniatowskiego Streets, being named after one its first residents, Otton Braun, meaning "Braun's field" in German. Later, the neighbourhood of was developed between the current Hoene-Wrońskiego, Mickiewicza, Sienkiewicza, and Traugutta Streets. Its name translates to "Ackermann's hill", being named after the then city high mayor, Friedrich Ackermann, who proposed its construction. Additionally, in the area of Somosierry Street was also present the neighbourhood of Schönau (meaning "beautiful view" in German).
In 1925, the association football stadium, originally called the Rühl Arena, and now known as the Florian Krygier Municipal Stadium, was opened at the current 28 Karłowicza Street. It served as the home field of the team VfL Stettin. The building was rebuilt in 1949, following the Second World War, and begun hosting team Pogoń Szczecin in 1955. It was again rebuilt in 2022.
Around 1926, the Szczecin Botanical Garden begin being develop to the east of the suburb, fearing an alpine garden and greenhouses with exotic plants. The works were halted by the outbreak of the Second World War, and it was eventually finished in the 1950s. Currently, it is located within boundaries of the neighbourhoods of Arkońskie-Niemierzyn and ŁęknoEncyklopedia Szczecina. vol. 1. A-O. Szczecin: University of Szczecin, 1999, p. 683. .
In 1930, the Holy Cross Church was opened at the current Wieniawskiego Street, in the place of a former chapel from 1834. It belonged to the Protestant denomination. In 1946, it was adopted into a Roman Catholic parish church. The temple was further expanded in 1978, with a new conjoined building.Roman Kostynowicz: Pomniki architektury sakralnej diecezji szczecińsko-kamieńskiej i kościoły miast biskupich w malarstwie i grafice Wiesława Śniadeckiego. Szczecin: Wydawnictwo Polskie Pismo i Książka, 1991. (in Polish)
In the 1930s, the Hitler Youth Sports Field (), begun being developed at the current Unii Lubelskiej Street, being envisioned to become the largest sports complex in Europe, with several fields, and total capacity of 100,000 spectators. It was never finished, and its construction abandoned, most likely due to the enormous financial costs.
In 1940, a large hospital complex, now known as the Professor Tadeusz Sokołowski Academic Clinical Hospital no. 1 of the Pomeranian Medical University, was opened at the current 1 Unii Lubelskiej Street was opened a large hospital complex. During the Second World War, it was used as a training facility for medical students. It was reopened after the end of the conflict in 1947, as a hospital of the Polish Red Cross. In 1949, it was donated to the state, and a year later, it became a facility to the Pomeranian Medical University.
On 26 April 1945, during the Second World War, it was captured by the 2nd Shock Army of the 2nd Belorussian Front, a part of the Red Army of the Soviet Union. While retreating from the city in 1945, German forces destroyed all bridges and viaducts in the neighbourhood, connecting it to the Downtown, while the buildings survived without major damages. The city, including the neighbourhood, was placed under the Polish administration on 5 July 1945. The German population either left or was forced out from the city, and was replaced by Polish settlers.Tadeusz Białecki, Lucyna Turek-Kwiatkowska: Szczecin stary i nowy. Encyklopedyczny zarys historycznych dzielnic i osiedli oraz obiektów fizjograficznych miasta. Szczecin: Szczecińskie Towarzystwo Kultury, 1991. (in Polish)Bogdan Wachowiak (editor): Dzieje Szczecina 1806-1945. Szczecin: 13 Muz, 1994, p. 548. . (in Polish) In 1947, Neu Westend was renamed to Pogodno, and it 1950, it became one of the subdivisions of the city district of Pogodno, named after the neighbourhood, also incorporating areas of Ackermannshöhe, Braunsfelde, Schönau. In 1960, it had a population of 30,030 people. It was administrated by an elected council, which was disbanded in 1976, a year after the city district was abolished. On 28 November 1990, the neighbourhood of Pogodno was established as one of the administrative subdivisions of the West district, being governed by an elected council.