The Pomeranian Voivodeship or Pomorskie Voivodeship ( pl, Województwo Pomorskie) was an administrative unit of
interwar Poland (from 1919 to 1939). It ceased to function in September 1939, following the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
and
Soviet
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
invasion of Poland
The invasion of Poland (1 September – 6 October 1939) was a joint attack on the Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union which marked the beginning of World War II. The German invasion began on 1 September 1939, one week af ...
.
Most of the territory of Pomeranian province became part of the current
Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship
Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, also known as Cuiavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship or simply Kujawsko-Pomorskie, or Kujawy-Pomerania Province ( pl, województwo kujawsko-pomorskie ) is one of the 16 voivodeships (provinces) into which Poland is divide ...
, of which one of two capitals is the same as the interwar voivodeship's
Toruń
)''
, image_skyline =
, image_caption =
, image_flag = POL Toruń flag.svg
, image_shield = POL Toruń COA.svg
, nickname = City of Angels, Gingerbread city, Copernicus Town
, pushpin_map = Kuyavian-Pom ...
; the second one is
Bydgoszcz
Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with mor ...
.
The name ''Pomerania'' derives from the
Slavic ''po more'', meaning "by the sea" or "on the sea".
History
This was a unit of administration and local government in the Republic of Poland (''II Rzeczpospolita'') established in 1919 after World War I from the majority of the Prussian province of
West Prussia
The Province of West Prussia (german: Provinz Westpreußen; csb, Zôpadné Prësë; pl, Prusy Zachodnie) was a Provinces of Prussia, province of Prussia from 1773 to 1829 and 1878 to 1920. West Prussia was established as a province of the Kin ...
(made out of territories taken in
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland were three partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth that took place toward the end of the 18th century and ended the existence of the state, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland and Lithuania for 12 ...
which was returned to Poland. Toruń was the capital. In 1938–1939, the voivodeship extended to the south at the expense of
Poznań Voivodeship and
Warsaw Voivodeship, and was called Great Pomerania afterwards (see:
Territorial changes of Polish Voivodeships on April 1, 1938
{{cleanup, reason=Polish words should be translated or linked to an explanatory article, or capitalized if they are proper nouns, and linked to the English Wikipedia article about them., date=March 2019
On 1 April 1938, borders of several western a ...
).
During World War II, it was occupied by Nazi Germany and unilaterally annexed as
Reichsgau Danzig-Westpreussen
Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia (german: Reichsgau Danzig-Westpreußen) was an administrative division of Nazi Germany created on 8 October 1939 from annexed territory of the Free City of Danzig, the Greater Pomeranian Voivodship ( Polish Corridor ...
("Reich province of Danzig-West Prussia"). Poles and Jews were classified as ''
untermenschen'' by German authorities and their intended fate slavery and extermination. In 1945, the region was returned to Poland. In 1945 out of its northern territory, the new voivodeship of
Gdańsk
Gdańsk ( , also ; ; csb, Gduńsk;Stefan Ramułt, ''Słownik języka pomorskiego, czyli kaszubskiego'', Kraków 1893, Gdańsk 2003, ISBN 83-87408-64-6. , Johann Georg Theodor Grässe, ''Orbis latinus oder Verzeichniss der lateinischen Benen ...
was formed, including annexed territories of the
Free City of Danzig
The Free City of Danzig (german: Freie Stadt Danzig; pl, Wolne Miasto Gdańsk; csb, Wòlny Gard Gduńsk) was a city-state under the protection of the League of Nations between 1920 and 1939, consisting of the Baltic Sea port of Danzig (now Gda ...
and of German Prussian
Province of Pomerania and German Prussian Province of
East Prussia
East Prussia ; german: Ostpreißen, label= Low Prussian; pl, Prusy Wschodnie; lt, Rytų Prūsija was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1773 to 1829 and again from 1878 (with the Kingdom itself being part of the German Empire from 187 ...
. The bulk of the old voivodeship was enlarged by annexed territories of the German Prussian Province of Pomerania and later renamed into
Bydgoszcz
Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with mor ...
voivodeship. In the years 1975–1998, it was reorganized into the voivodeships of
Gdańsk
Gdańsk ( , also ; ; csb, Gduńsk;Stefan Ramułt, ''Słownik języka pomorskiego, czyli kaszubskiego'', Kraków 1893, Gdańsk 2003, ISBN 83-87408-64-6. , Johann Georg Theodor Grässe, ''Orbis latinus oder Verzeichniss der lateinischen Benen ...
,
Elbląg
Elbląg (; german: Elbing, Old Prussian: ''Elbings'') is a city in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland, located in the eastern edge of the Żuławy region with 117,390 inhabitants, as of December 2021. It is the capital of Elbląg Count ...
,
Bydgoszcz
Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with mor ...
,
Toruń
)''
, image_skyline =
, image_caption =
, image_flag = POL Toruń flag.svg
, image_shield = POL Toruń COA.svg
, nickname = City of Angels, Gingerbread city, Copernicus Town
, pushpin_map = Kuyavian-Pom ...
, and
Włocławek
Włocławek (Polish pronunciation: ; german: Leslau) is a city located in central Poland along the Vistula (Wisła) River and is bordered by the Gostynin-Włocławek Landscape Park. As of December 2021, the population of the city is 106,928. Lo ...
.
Area and counties
Between April 1, 1938 and September 1, 1939, the Voivodeship's area was 25 683 km
2, and its population - 1 884 400 (according to the 1931 census). It consisted of 28
powiats
A ''powiat'' (pronounced ; Polish plural: ''powiaty'') is the second-level unit of local government and administration in Poland, equivalent to a county, district or prefecture ( LAU-1, formerly NUTS-4) in other countries. The term "''powiat ...
(counties), 64 cities, and 234 villages. Railroad density was high, with 11.4 km. per 100 km
2 (total length of railroads within the Voivodeship's area was 1 887 km., second in the whole country). Forests covered 26.7% of the voivodeship, which was higher than the national average (in 1937, the average was 22.2%).
Pomorskie Voivodeship was one of the richest and best developed in interwar Poland. With numerous cities and well-developed rail, it also provided the country with access to the
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain.
The sea stretches from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from ...
. Only 8.3% of population was illiterate, which was much lower than the national average of 23.1% (as for 1931). Poles made up majority of population (88%).
After World War I, the number of Germans was 117,251 in 1926 and 107,555 in 1934. As of 1931 10.1% of the populace were
ethnic Germans
, native_name_lang = de
, region1 =
, pop1 = 72,650,269
, region2 =
, pop2 = 534,000
, region3 =
, pop3 = 157,000
3,322,405
, region4 =
, pop4 = ...
and 1.6%
Jews
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
.
This is the list of the Pomorskie Voivodeship counties as of August 31, 1939:
*
Brodnica
Brodnica (german: Strasburg in Westpreußen or Strasburg an der Drewenz) is a town in northern Poland with 28,574 inhabitants . It is the seat of Brodnica County in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. The nearby Brodnica Landscape Park, a pro ...
county (area 913 km
2, pop. 56 300),
* city of
Bydgoszcz
Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with mor ...
county (area 75 km
2, pop. 117 200),
*
Bydgoszcz
Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with mor ...
county (area 1 334 km
2, pop. 58 100),
*
Chełmno county (area 738 km
2, pop. 52 800),
*
Chojnice county (area 1 854 km
2, pop. 76 900),
* city of
Gdynia
Gdynia ( ; ; german: Gdingen (currently), (1939–1945); csb, Gdiniô, , , ) is a city in northern Poland and a seaport on the Baltic Sea coast. With a population of 243,918, it is the 12th-largest city in Poland and the second-largest in th ...
county (area 66 km
2, pop. 38 600),
* city of
Grudziądz county (area 28 km
2, pop. 54 000),
*
Grudziądz county (area 758 km
2, pop. 42 800),
* city of
Inowrocław
Inowrocław (; german: Hohensalza; before 1904: Inowrazlaw; archaic: Jungleslau) is a city in central Poland with a total population of 70,713 in December 2021. It is situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999, previously in the B ...
county (area 37 km
2, pop. 34 400),
*
Inowrocław
Inowrocław (; german: Hohensalza; before 1904: Inowrazlaw; archaic: Jungleslau) is a city in central Poland with a total population of 70,713 in December 2021. It is situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999, previously in the B ...
county (area 1 267 km
2, pop. 67 500),
*
Kartuzy county (area 1 302 km
2, pop. 68 700),
*
Kościerzyna county (area 1 162 km
2, pop. 51 700),
*
Lipno county (area 1 535 km
2, pop. 104 500),
*
Lubawa county (area 833 km
2, pop. 53 600),
*
Nieszawa county (area 1 278 km
2, pop. 117 900),
*
Rypin
Rypin (german: Rippin) is a town in north-central Poland, in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, about 50 km east of Toruń. It is the capital of Rypin County. Population is 16,950 (2009).
History
Rypin was founded in the Middle Ages, ...
county (area 1 188 km
2, pop. 84 900),
*
Sępólno Krajeńskie
Sępólno Krajeńskie (german: Zempelburg) is a town in northern Poland, in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. It is the capital of Sępólno County (P''owiat Sępoleński'') and Gmina Sępólno Krajeńskie.
Zempelburg was part of Greater P ...
county (area 681 km
2, pop. 31 600),
*
Starogard Gdański county (area 1 127 km
2, pop. 71 800),
*
Szubin
Szubin (german: Schubin) is a town in Nakło County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, located southwest of Bydgoszcz. It has a population of around 9,300. It is located in the ethnocultural region of Pałuki.
History
The first record ...
county (area 917 km
2, pop. 47 800),
*
Świecie county (area 1 533 km
2, pop. 88 000),
*
Tczew
Tczew (, csb, Dërszewò; formerly ) is a city on the Vistula River in Eastern Pomerania, Kociewie, northern Poland with 59,111 inhabitants (December 2021). The city is known for its Old Town and the Vistula Bridge, or Bridge of Tczew, which pl ...
county (area 716 km
2, pop. 67 400),
* city of
Toruń
)''
, image_skyline =
, image_caption =
, image_flag = POL Toruń flag.svg
, image_shield = POL Toruń COA.svg
, nickname = City of Angels, Gingerbread city, Copernicus Town
, pushpin_map = Kuyavian-Pom ...
county (area 59 km
2, pop. 61 900),
*
Toruń
)''
, image_skyline =
, image_caption =
, image_flag = POL Toruń flag.svg
, image_shield = POL Toruń COA.svg
, nickname = City of Angels, Gingerbread city, Copernicus Town
, pushpin_map = Kuyavian-Pom ...
county (area 864 km
2, pop. 52 300),
*
Tuchola
Tuchola (german: Tuchel; csb, Tëchòlô) is a town in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship in northern Poland. The Pomeranian town, which is the seat of Tuchola County, had a population of 13,418 .
Geographical location
Tuchola lies about ...
county (area 1 039 km
2, pop. 41 200),
*
Maritime County (area 673 km
2, pop. 49 900),
*
Wejherowo county (area 1 281 km
2, pop. 79 900),
*
Włocławek
Włocławek (Polish pronunciation: ; german: Leslau) is a city located in central Poland along the Vistula (Wisła) River and is bordered by the Gostynin-Włocławek Landscape Park. As of December 2021, the population of the city is 106,928. Lo ...
county (area 1 325 km
2, pop. 147 800),
*
Wyrzysk
Wyrzysk (german: Wirsitz) is a town in Poland with 5,263 (2004) inhabitants, situated in Piła County, Greater Poland Voivodeship.
Geographic location
Wyrzysk is located in the ethnocultural region of Krajna in northern Greater Poland, admini ...
county (area 1 101 km
2, pop. 64 900).
Main cities
Biggest cities of the Voivodeship were (data according to the
1931 Polish census):
* Bydgoszcz (pop. 117 200) - since 1938
* Toruń (pop. 61 900) - the capital
* Włocławek (pop. 56 000) - since 1938
* Grudziądz (pop. 54 000)
* Gdynia (pop. 38 600)
* Inowrocław (pop. 34 400) - since 1938
* Tczew (pop. 22 500)
* Chojnice (pop. 14 100)
German minority
According to Polish census figures, the German minority in 1921 counted 18.8% of the overall population (with 175 771 Germans still remaining in Polish areas), while in 1931 it counted 9.6% (104 992 Germans remaining).
Other more detailed estimates below:
Voivodes
*Stefan Łaszewski – 19 October 1919 – 2 July 1920
*Jan Brejski – 2 July 1920 – 24 March 1924
*Stanisław Wachowiak – 24 October 1924-August 1926
*Mieczysław Seydlitz – August 1926 – October 1926
*Kazimierz Młodzianowski – 12 October 1926 – 4 July 1928
*Wiktor Wrona-Lamot – 28 August 1928 – 18 November 1931
*Stefan Kirtiklis – 18 November 1931 – 14 July 1936
*
Władysław Raczkiewicz
Władysław Raczkiewicz (; 28 January 1885 – 6 June 1947) was a Polish politician, lawyer, diplomat and President of Poland- in-exile from 1939 until his death in 1947. Until 1945, he was the internationally recognized Polish head of st ...
– 16 July 1936 – 30 September 1939
Notes
References
* ''Maly rocznik statystyczny 1939, Nakladem Glownego Urzedu Statystycznego'', Warszawa 1939 (Concise Statistical Year-Book of Poland, Warsaw 1939).
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pomeranian Voivodeship (1919-39)
Former voivodeships of the Second Polish Republic