During the Great War, Świątniki Górne witnessed dramatic events. In 1914, due to the approaching Russian army, Świątniki found itself within the operational range of the Kraków Fortress. The building of the local locksmith school was designated as a staff headquarters, ammunition depot, and field hospital.
In the area of Świątniki and the villages of Rzeszotary and Ochojno, intensive work began on the construction of covered rifle trenches and other field positions, while in the areas of Wydarta, Gwoźnica, and near Stanisław, field howitzer positions were set up — large oaks by the still-surviving statue of St. Stanislaus were felled to enable effective fire. On Kopytko, an observation post was placed to direct artillery fire, with a position for an observation balloon of the Parseval-Sigsfeld M.98 type.
This type of observation balloon was a pioneering achievement and was among the oldest tethered balloons with an unusual, cylindrical shape. Its design originated in Germany and aimed to revolutionize aerial observation, replacing traditional spherical balloons that had been used for nearly a hundred years. Spherical balloons were sensitive to changing wind conditions and difficult to maintain in a stable position even in light gusts.
The Parseval-Sigsfeld M.98 balloon was designed in an innovative way, enabling it to orient itself against the wind, which significantly improved its stability compared to traditional spherical balloons. To achieve this, design features resembling kites were employed, which made the balloon more controllable and stable during observation. This breakthrough design allowed for much more effective and precise observation from height, contributing to the evolution of observation balloon technology.
