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History of Pomerania Early history Early Middle Ages High Middle Ages Late Middle Ages Early Modern Age 1806–1933 1933–1945 1945–present

From the Napoleonic Wars to the end of World War I, Pomerania was administered by the Kingdom of Prussia as the Province of Pomerania (Western and Farther Pomerania) and West Prussia (Pomerelia). After the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II as Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia, Pomerania was part of the Free State of Prussia within the Weimar Republic.

The Province of Pomerania was created from the Province of Pomerania (1653–1815) (Farther Pomerania and southern Vorpommern) and Swedish Pomerania (northern Vorpommern), and the districts of Schivelbein and Dramburg, formerly belonging to the Neumark.^[1] While in the Kingdom of Prussia, the province was heavily influenced by the reforms of Karl August von Hardenberg^[2] and Otto von Bismarck.^[3] The industrial revolution had an impact primarily on the Stettin area and the infrastructure, while most of the province retained a rural and agricultural character.^[4] Since 1850, the net migration rate was negative, Pomeranians emigrated primarily to Berlin, the West German industrial regions and oversees.^[5] Many Pomeranians also immigrated to the United States, especially the state of Wisconsin, which was founded in 1848.

After the First World War, the Polish Corridor of the Second Polish Republic was established from the bulk of West Prussia, causing an exodus of the German minority there.^[6] Poland build a large Baltic port at the site of the former village Gdynia (Gdingen). The Danzig (Gdansk) area became the city state Free City of Danzig.

In Weimar-era Pomerania, democracy and the women's right to vote were introduced.^[7] The economic situation worsened due to the consequences of World War I and worldwide recession.^[8] As in the Kingdom of Prussia before, Pomerania was a stronghold of the conservatives also in the Weimar Republic.^[9]

Contents 1 Napoleonic Wars and its consequences 2 The Pomeranian provinces between 1815 and World War I 2.1 Province of Pomerania before World War I 2.1.1 Creation and administration of the province within the Kingdom of Prussia 2.1.2 Infrastructure 2.1.3 Agricultural reform 2.1.4 Bismarck era administrative reforms 2.1.5 Administrative subdivisions 2.2 Province of West Prussia 2.2.1 Population 3 World War I and aftermath 3.1 Polish Corridor 3.1.1 Land reform 3.1.2 Ethnic composition 3.1.2.1 Exodus of the German population[6] 3.2 Free City of Danzig 3.2.1 Polish rights declared by Treaty of Versailles 3.2.2 League of Nations High Commissioners 3.2.3 Population 3.3 Province of Pomerania 3.3.1 Province of the Free State of Prussia 3.3.1.1 November Revolution of 1918 3.3.1.2 Counter-revolution 3.3.1.3 Constitution of 1920 3.3.1.4 Economy 4 References

[edit] Napoleonic Wars and its consequences

After Prussia lost the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt in late 1806, French troops marched north into the Pomeranian province. Fortified Stettin surrendered without battle, and the province became occupied by the French forces. Only fortified Kolberg resisted, and the French laid a siege in March 1807. Ferdinand von Schill was among the defendants. The siege was not successful and was lifted only when Prussia surrendered to Napoleon Bonaparte in the Peace of Tilsit in July 2.^[10]

Napoleonic occupation also thwarted Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden's plans to construct a fortified port city on Rügen, Gustavia. Constructions had begun in 1806, but the unfinished town was levelled by the French forces already in the following year.^[11]

The terms of surrender included high war contributions (25,000,000 Taler from the Province of Pomerania alone). The agreed on withdrawal of the French troops was delayed repeatedly. In November 1808, the French troops left the province except for Stettin, which forced the provincial government to move to Stargard in 1809. The Kriegs- und Domänenkammer was renamed Royal-Prussian government ("Königlich Preußische Regierung"), while the former government ("Regierung") was renamed Supreme State Court ("Oberlandesgericht").^[12]

In 1812, French troops invaded Swedish Pomerania, and also occupied Prussian Pomerania again. The Prussian troops took quarter in Kolberg. After Ludwig Yorck von Wartenburg, who commanded a Prussian corps with a significant Pomeranian share, had left the coalition with France in the Convention of Tauroggen of December 30, 1812, the Prussian military called the Pomeranians to arms in February 1813. Also in February, Russian troops reached Farther Pomerania. In March, all French forces left Pomerania, except for Stettin, which was held by the French until December 5, 1813. After the war, Prussia after diplomatic efforts of Karl August von Hardenberg in the Congress of Vienna gained Swedish Pomerania by paying 2,6 million Taler to Denmark and granting her the Duchy of Lauenburg, and paying an additional 3,5 million Taler to Sweden in June 7, 1815. In October 23, Swedish Pomerania was merged into the Prussian province, both now constituting the Province of Pomerania.^[12]

After Napoleon's break-up of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, the Western Part was the member of the German Confederation. After foundation of the German Empire of 1871, the whole of Pomerania was included into the newly created state.

[edit] The Pomeranian provinces between 1815 and World War I

[edit] Province of Pomerania before World War I

The Province of Pomerania (German: Provinz Pommern) was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia from 1815 until 1946.

[edit] Creation and administration of the province within the Kingdom of Prussia

Although there had been a Prussian Province of Pomerania before, the Province of Pomerania was newly constituted in 1815, based on the "Decree concerning improved establishement of provincial offices" (German: Verordnung wegen verbesserter Einrichtung der Provinzialbehörden), issued by Karl August von Hardenberg in April 30, and the integration of Swedish Pomerania, handed over to Prussia in October 23.^[1]

The Hardenberg decree reformed all Prussian territories, which hence formed ten (later eight) provinces with similar administration. After the implementation of the reform, the new Province of Pomerania consisted basically of her predecessor and Swedish Pomerania, but also of the Dramburg and Schivelbein counties.^[1]

The province was headed by a "superior president" ("Oberpräsident") with his seat in the capital Stettin. It was subdivided into government regions (Regierungsbezirk) headed by a president ("Regierungspräsident"). Initially, two such regions were planned (Regierungsbezirk Stettin, comprising Western Pomerania, and Regierungsbezirk Köslin, comprising Farther Pomerania). Hardenberg however, who as the Prussian chief diplomat had settled the terms of session of Swedish Pomerania with Sweden at the Congress of Vienna, had assured to leave the local constitution in place when the treaty was signed in June 7, 1815. This circumstance led to a creation of a third government region, Regierungsbezirk Stralsund, for the former Swedish Pomerania at the expense of the Stettin region.^[13]

In early 1818, Oberpräsident Johann August Sack had reformed the county ("Kreis") shapes, yet adopted the former shape in most cases. Köslin government region comprised nine counties, Stettin government region thirteen, and Stralsund government region four (identical with the previous Swedish Amt districts).^[13]

The new parliament (Landtag) assembled first in October 3, 1824. Based on two laws of June 5^[14] and July,^[15] 1823, the Landtag was constituted by 25 lords and knights, 16 representatives of the towns, and eight from the rural communities.^[16]

Subordinate to the provincial Landtag were two Kommunallandtag assemblies, one for former Swedish Pomerania (Western Pomerania north of the Peene river) and one for the former Prussian part.^[17]

The counties each assembled a Kreisstand, where the knights of the county had a vote each and towns also just one vote.^[17][18]

Throughout its existence, the province was a stronghold of the conservative parties.^[19]

[edit] Infrastructure

In the 19th century, the first overland routes ("Chaussee") and railways were introduced in Pomerania. In 1848, 126.8 Prussian miles of new streets had been built. In October 12, 1840, construction of the Berlin–Stettin railway began, which was finished in August 15, 1843. Other railways followed: Stettin-Köslin (1859), Angermünde-Stralsund and Züssow-Wolgast (1863), Stettin- Stolp (1869), and a connection with Danzig (1870).^[4]

In rural areas, many narrow-gauge railways were built for faster transport of crops. The first gas, water, and power plants were built. Streets and canalisation of the towns were modernized.^[20]

The construction of narrow-gauge railways was enhanced by a special decree^[21] of July 28, 1892, implementing Prussian financial aid programs. In 1900, the total of narrow-gauge railways had passed the 1,000 kilometer threshold.^[22]

From 1910 to 1912, most of the province was supplied with electricity as the main lines were built. Plants were built since 1898.^[23]

The Swine and lower Oder rivers, the major water route to Stettin, were deepened to 5 meters and shortened by a canal (Kaiserfahrt) in 1862. In Stettin, heavy industry was settled, making it the only industrial center of the province.^[24]

Stettin was connected to Berlin by the Berlin-Stettin waterway in 1914 after eight years of construction. The other traditional waterways and ports of the province however declined. Exceptions were only the port of Swinemünde, which was used by the navy, the port of Stolpmünde, from which parts of the Farther Pomeranian export was shipped, and the port of Sassnitz, built in 1895 for railway ferries to Scandinavia.^[25]

With the infrastructural improvements, mass tourism to the Baltic coast started. The tourist resort ("Ostseebad") Binz had 80 visitors in 1870, 10,000 in 1900, and 22,000 in 1910. The same phenomenon occurred in other tourist resorts.^[26]

[edit] Agricultural reform

Already in 1807, Prussia issued a decree ("Steinsches Oktoberedikt") abolishing serfdom. Hardenberg issued a decree in September 14, 1811, defining the terms by which serfs were to be released ("Hardenbergsches Regulierungsedikt"). This could either be done by monetary payment or by letting soil to the former lord. These reforms were applied during the early years of the province's existence. The so-called "regulation" was applied to 10,744 peasants until 1838, who paid their former lords 724,954 Taler and handed over 255,952 hectares^[28] of farmland to bail themselves out.^[2]

Tumults arose in 1847 in the towns of Stettin and Köslin due to food shortages, as a result, prices for some foods were fixed.^[29]

In March 2, 1850, a law was passed^[30] settling the conditions on which peasants and farmers could capitalize their property rights and feudal service duties, and thus get a long-term credit (41 to 56 years to pay back). This law made way for the establishment of "Rentenbank" credit houses and "Rentengut" farms. Subsequently, the previous rural structure changed dramatically as farmers, who used this credit to bail out their feudal duties, were now able to self determine how to use their land (so-called "regulated" peasants and farmers, "regulierte Bauern"). This was not possible before, when the jurisdiction had sanctioned the use of farmland and feudal services according not to property rights, but to social status within rural communities and estates.^[31]

From 1891 to 1910, 4,731 "Rentengut" farms were set up, most (2,690) with a size of 10 to 25 hectar.^[27]

[edit] Bismarck era administrative reforms

Otto von Bismarck inherited from his father the Farther Pomeranian estates Külz, Jarchelin and Kniephof. Aiming at a farming career, he studied agriculture at the academy in Greifswald-Eldena. From 1867 to 1874, he bought and expanded the Varzin estates.^[3]

In 1869, Friedrich Albrecht Graf zu Eulenburg drafted a county reform ("Kreisreform") that was promoted by Bismarck. The reform passed the House of Lords in December 7, 1872. Most important, the reform cut the linkage between noble status and the right to vote, the latter now depended on property (one had to be above a certain tax threshold) and not on status, aiming against the overrepresentation of the knights compared to burghers.^[3]

In June 29, 1875, a new constitution for the province was passed ("Provinzialordnung"^[32]), which entered into force in 1876. It redefined the responsibilities of the provincial administration (headed by the Oberpräsident) and the self-administrative institutions ("Provinzialverband", comprising the provincial parliament ("Provinziallandtag"), a "Landeshauptmann" (head) and a "Landesausschuß" (commission)). The Provinzialverband was financed directly from the Prussian state budget. The Landtag was responsible for streets, welfare, education, and culture. Landownership was not a criterion to become elected anymore. The provincial Landtag (Provinziallandtag) was elected by the county representative assemblies ("Kreistag" for counties, "Stadtverordnetenversammlung" for town districts) for a six years' term. A subordinate Kommunallandtag only existed for Regierungsbezirk Stralsund, until it was abolished in 1881.^[33]

In 1891, a county reform was passed,^[34] allowing more communal self-government. Municipalities hence elected a "Gemeindevorstand" (head) and a "Gemeindevertretung" (communal parliament). Gutsbezirk districts, i.e. estates not included in counties, could be merged or dissolved.^[35]

[edit] Administrative subdivisions

Until 1932, the province was subdivided into the government regions (Regierungsbezirk) Köslin (Eastern part, Farther Pomerania), Stettin (Southwestern part, Altvorpommern), and Stralsund (Northwestern part, Neuvorpommern). The Stralsund region was merged into the Stettin region in 1932. The provincial capital was Stettin (now Szczecin), the Regierungsbezirk capitals were Köslin (now Koszalin), Stettin, and Stralsund, respectively.

[edit] Province of West Prussia

From 1807–1813 during the Napoleonic Wars, southern parts of West Prussia were added to the Duchy of Warsaw, a Napoleonic client state. In 1815 the province, restored to the Kingdom of Prussia, was administratively subdivided into the Regierungsbezirke Danzig and Marienwerder. From 1829–1878 West Prussia was combined with East Prussia to form the Province of Prussia, after which they were reestablished as separate provinces. The region became part of the German Empire in 1871 during the unification of Germany.

[edit] Population

Ethnic composition of West Prussia
year	1858[36]	1890[37]	1905[38]	1910[36]
total population	?	1.433.681	1.641.936	?
% Poles (including Kashubians)	30,9%	33,8%	34,4%	~35%
% Germans * including bilinguals	69,1%	66,2%*	65,6%*	~65%

• 1875 - 1,343,057^{[citation needed]}
• 1880 - 1,405,898^{[citation needed]}
• 1890 - 1,433,681 (717,532 Catholics, 681,195 Protestants, 21,750 Jews, others)^{[citation needed]}
• 1900 - 1,563,658^[38] (800,395 Catholics, 730,685 Protestants, 18,226 Jews, others)^{[citation needed]}
• 1905 - 1.641.936 (including 437.916 Poles, 99.357 Kashubians)^[38]

[edit] World War I and aftermath

As a result of the Versailles Peace Treaty (1919) after World War I, Pomerania was divided between Poland and Germany. Most of the German-Prussian province of West Prussia fell to Poland as the so-called Polish Corridor, and constituted the Pomeranian Voivodeship (województwo pomorskie) with the capital at Toruń (Thorn). The western remainder were merged into Posen-West Prussia in 1922, while the eastern remainder became part of Regierungsbezirk West Prussia within East Prussia. The Danzig (Gdansk) area was made the Free City of Danzig.

[edit] Polish Corridor

The Polish Corridor was that part of interwar Poland which gave the country access to the Baltic Sea. In the course of the reestablishment of the previously partitioned Polish state as a result of the Treaty of Versailles, the "corridor" was established from 70%^[39] of the dissolved former province of West Prussia, comprising Pomerelian areas and the Chelmno (Kulmer) Land, thereby cutting Germany off from her province of East Prussia and the Free City of Danzig. Within Poland the corridor mostly constituted the Pomeranian Voivodeship (województwo pomorskie). The term was first used by Polish politicians and came into international use, but was later criticised by Polish politicians as a German nationalistic term.^[40]

After the seaport workers of the Free City of Danzig harbour went on strike throughout the Polish-Soviet War the Polish Government decided to build a new seaport at Gdynia (Gdingen) in the territory of the Corridor. A large part of the German population of the Polish Corridor left the area after its cession to the Second Polish Republic had been published in June 1919. Poland took over complete control on January 20, 1920. Those people who wanted to stay in their hometowns had to take Polish citizenship, as Poland refused to accept German citizens living in its territory. Former public officials were not accepted as Polish citizens and had to leave the area. Other people, declining to give up German citizenship, had also to leave the Corridor.^[41] Due to the reduced population German schools were closed and property of former Germans residents was confiscated.

Throughout the East Prussian plebiscite in July 1920 Polish authorities tried to prevent traffic through the Corridor, interrupting any postal, telegraphic and telephonic communication. On March 10, 1920, the British representative on the Marienwerder Plebiscite Commission, H.D. Beaumont, wrote of numerous continuing difficulties being made by Polish officials and added "as a result, the ill-will between Polish and German nationalities and the irritation due to Polish intolerance towards the German inhabitants in the Corridor (now under their rule), far worse than any former German intolerance of the Poles, are growing to such an extent that it is impossible to believe the present settlement (borders) can have any chance of being permanent.... It can confidently be asserted that not even the most attractive economic advantages would induce any German to vote Polish. If the frontier is unsatisfactory now, it will be far more so when it has to be drawn on this side (of the river) with no natural line to follow, cutting off Germany from the river bank and within a mile or so of Marienwerder, which is certain to vote German. I know of no similar frontier created by any treaty."^[42]

Due to these difficulties, ongoing after the East Prussian Plebiscite ended with a significant German success, the German Ministry for Transport established the Seedienst Ostpreußen ("Sea Service East Prussia") in 1922 to provide a ferry connection to the German exclave of East Prussia, independent of transit through Polish territory.

[edit] Land reform

In 1925 the Polish government enacted a land reform program intending to expropriate landowners. While 39 percent of the agricultural land of the Corridor area was owned by Germans, the first annual list of properties to be reformed included 10,800 hectares from 32 German landowners and 950 hectares from seven Poles. The voivode, Wiktor Lamot, stressed that “the part of Pomorze [i.e. Pomerania] through which the so-called corridor runs must be cleansed of larger German holdings”. The coastal region “ must be settled with a nationally conscious Polish population.. Estates belonging to Germans must be taxed more heavily to encourage them voluntarily to turn over land for settlement. Border counties, ... particularly a strip of land ten kilometers wide, must be settled with Poles. German estates that lie here must be reduced without concern for their economic value or the views of their owners.”

Prominent politicians and members of the German minority were the first to be included on the land reform list and whose property was attached.^[43]

[edit] Ethnic composition

Most of the area was inhabited by Poles, Germans, and Kashubians. Since 1886, a Settlement Commission was set up by Prussia to enforce German settlement^[44] while at the same time Germans migrated west during the Ostflucht. In 1910 42,5% of the population was German (421,029 Germans) including German soldiers stationed in the area and public officials sent to admnistrate the area. In 1921 Germans counted 18,8% (175,771). Over the next decade, the German population decreased by another 70,000 to a share of 9,6%.^[45] Also, there was a Jewish minority. in 1905, Kashubians numbered about 72,500.^[46]

[edit] Exodus of the German population^[6]

The Versailles treaty had stipulated that Germans in the part of German Reich territory to be ceded to Poland, the Polish Corridor, had until 1922 to make the choice for Polish or German citizenship.

The book Orphans of Versailles [2] states, that as result of disloyalty of German citizens, who openly expressed their joy at Polish defeats in Polish-Soviet war, Other places witnessed violent demonstrations against the minority, in Chelmno/Culm the Starost reportedly encouraged Poles" If a German or Jew dares to say anything against the Polish State, (to) tie him up and drag him through the streets to the starost's office or to the court." Although the Versailles Treaty gave Germans until January 1922 to make the choice for Polish or German citizenship, many were compelled to declare right away, either for Germany (and expulsion) or for Poland and induction into the Polish army. In one village four Germans were killed in mob violence and numerous others arrested on basis of denunciations by Polish neighbors.

Germans were thus confronted with the "choice" to be Polish and to enlist in a Polish army, (that directly following World War I started a war against Soviet Russia), or give up everything and move away.

In his book Alfred de Zayas documents several thousand cases [3] filed by German minorities against Poland's confiscation of farms in the 1920s and 30s in what had become Poland.

In addition the area was abandoned by numerous Germans (a number estimated for 10% of Germans [4]) who were public officials and other workers with no ties to the province or military personnel (German garrisons were included in Prussian censuses as part of population).

[edit] Free City of Danzig

The Free City of Danzig included the major city of Danzig (Gdańsk) as well as Zoppot (Sopot), Tiegenhof (Nowy Dwór Gdański), Neuteich (Nowy Staw) and some 252 villages and 63 hamlets. Covering a total area of 1,966 square kilometers (754 sq mi), the territory was roughly twice the size of the Napoleonic statelet.

[edit] Polish rights declared by Treaty of Versailles

The Free City was to be represented abroad by Poland and forced to be in a customs union with it. The German railway line that connected the Free City with newly created Poland was to be administered by Poland. Similarly, the Westerplatte (until then a city beach), was also given to Poland, which created a military post within the city's harbour. There was also a separate Polish post-office established besides the existing municipal one.

[edit] League of Nations High Commissioners

Unlike mandated territories, which were entrusted to member countries, Danzig like the Territory of the Saar Basin remained under the authority of the League of Nations itself, with representatives of various countries taking on the role of High Commissioner:^[47]

[edit] Population

The Free City had a population of 357,000 (1919), 95% of whom were German-speakers,^[48] with the rest mainly speaking either Kashubian or Polish.

The Treaty of Versailles, which had severed Danzig and surrounding villages from Germany, now required that the newly formed state had its own citizenship, based on residency. German inhabitants lost their German nationality with the creation of the Free City, but were given the right within the first two years of the state's existence to re-obtain it; however, if they did so they were required to leave their property and make their residence outside of the Free State of Danzig area in the remaining part of Germany.^[49]

It became clear almost at once that the overwhelming German majority population of the Free State resented the concessions which had been made to Poland and their dismemberment from Germany. Professor Burckhardt, the League of Nations' High Commissioner in Danzig found, by 1939, his position as absolute arbiter in the endless disputes almost untenable.

[edit] Province of Pomerania

During the First World War, no battles took place in the province.^[50]

Nevertheless, the war had an impact on society, economy, and administration. During the war, the provincial administrative institutions were subordinate to the military and headed by military officials. Mobilization resulted in work force shortage affecting all non-war-related industry, construction, and agriculture. Women, minors and POWs partially replaced the drafted men. Import and fishing declined when the ports were blocked. With the war going on, food shortages occurred, especially in the winter of 1916/17. Also coal, gas, and electricity were at times unavailable.^[51]

When the Treaty of Versailles entered into force in January 10, 1920, the province's eastern frontier became the border to the newly created Second Polish Republic, comprising most of Pomerelia in the so-called Polish Corridor. Minor border adjustments followed, where 9,5 km² of the province became Polish and 74 km² of former West Prussia (parts of the former counties of Neustadt in Westpreußen and Karthaus)^[52] were merged into the province.^[50]

[edit] Province of the Free State of Prussia

After the Kaiser was forced to resign, the province became part of the Free State of Prussia within the Weimar Republic.^[50]

[edit] November Revolution of 1918

During the November Revolution of 1918, revolutionary counsils of soldiers and workers took over the Pomeranian towns (Stralsund in November 9, Stettin, Greifswald, Pasewalk, Stargard, and Swinemünde in November 10, Barth, Bütow, Neustettin, Köslin, and Stolp in November 11). In January 5, 1919, "Workers' and Soldiers' Counsils" ("Arbeiter- und Soldatenräte") were in charge of most of the province (231 towns and rural municipalities). The revolution was peaceful, no riots are reported. The councils were led by Social Democrats, who cooperated with the provincial administration. Of the 21 Landrat officials, only five were replaced, while of the three heads of the government regions ("Regierungspräsident") two were replaced (in Stralsund and Köslin) in 1919.^[53]

In November 12, 1918, a decree^[54] was issued allowing farmworkers' unions to negotiate with farmers (Junkers). The decree further regulated work time and wages for farmworkers.^[55]

In May 15, 1919, street fights and plunder occurred following Communist assemblies in Stettin. The revolt was put down by the military. In late August, strikes of farmworkers occurred in the counties of Neustettin and Belgard. The power of the counsils however declined, only a few were left in the larger towns in 1920.^[55]

[edit] Counter-revolution

Conservative and right-wing groups evolved in opposition to the revolutions achievements.^[56] Landowners formed the Pommerscher Landbund in February 1919, which by 1921 had 120,000 members and from the beginning was supplied with arms by the 2nd army corps in Stettin. Paramilitias ("Einwohnerwehr") formed throughout the spring of 1919.^[55]

Pommerscher Landbund units participated in the nationalist Kapp Putsch in Berlin, 1920.^[55]

Members of the "Iron Division" ("Eiserne Division"), a dissolved Freikorps in the Baltic, reorganized in Pomerania, where the Junkers hosted them on their estates as a private army.^[55]

Also, counter-revolutionary Pomeranians formed Freikorps participating in fights in the Ruhr area.^[55]

[edit] Constitution of 1920

In 1920 (changed in 1921 and 1924), the Free State of Prussia adopted a democratic constitution for her provinces. The constitution granted a number of civil rights to the Prussian population and enhanced the self-government of the provinces.^[55]

The provincial and county parliaments (Landtag and Kreistag) were hence elected directly by the population, including women, in free and secret votes.^[7]

The "Provinzialverband", which included all self-governmental institutions of the province such as the provincial parliament ("Provinziallandtag"), gained influence on the formerly Berlin-led provincial government: The Provinzialverband would hence elect the "Oberpräsident" (head of the administration) and appoint representatives for the Reichsrat assembly in Berlin. Furthermore, the Provinzialverband officials could hence self determine how to spend the money they received from Berlin.^[7]

[edit] Economy

The border changes however caused a severe decline in the province's economy. Farther Pomerania was cut off Danzig by the corridor. Former markets and supplies in the now Polish territories became unavailable.^[50]

Farther Pomeranian farmers had sold their products primarily to the eastern provinces, that were now part of the Second Polish Republic. Due to high transport costs, the markets in the West were unavailable too. The farmers reacted by modernizing their equipment, improving the quality of their products, and applying new technical methodes. As a consequence, more than half of the farmers were severely indepted in 1927. The government reacted with the Osthilfe program, and granted credits to favourable conditions.^[57]

Stettin particularly suffered from a post-war change in trade routes. Before the territorial changes, it had been on the export route from the Kattowitz industrial region in now Polish Upper Silesia. Poland changed this export route to a new inner-Polish railway connecting Kattowitz with the new-build port of Gdingen within the corridor.^[50]

As a counter-measure, Prussia invested in the Stettin port since 1923. While initially successful, a new economical recession led to the closure of one of Stettin's major shipyard, Vulcan-Werft, in 1927.^[58]

The province also reacted to the availability of new traffic vehicles. Roads were developed due to the upcoming cars and busses, four towns got electric street cars, and an international airport was build in Altdamm near Stettin.^[58]

The Pomeranian agriculture underwent a crisis. Programs were started to regain soil that had turned into swamps during the wartime, and even to establish new settlements by setting up settlement societies. The results were mixed. On the one hand, 130,858 hectar of farmland were settled with 8,734 new-build settlements^[59] until 1933. The settlers originated in Pomerania itself, Saxony and Thuringia, also refugees from the former Province of Posen^[60] settled in the province. On the other hand, people left the rural communities en masse and turned to Pomeranian and other urban centers (Landflucht). In 1925, 50,7% of the Pomeranians worked in agricultural professions, this percentage dropped to 38,2% in 1933.^[61]

With the economic recession, unemployment rates reached 12% in 1933, compared to an overall 19% in the empire.^[62]

[edit] References

v • d • e  · Geography of Pomerania · Regions Current Vorpommern ("Western" or "Hither Pomerania") · Zachodniopomorskie · Pomerelia (Kashubia) · Pomerania euroregion Former Farther Pomerania · Circipania · Lauenburg and Bütow Land · Lands of Schlawe and Stolp Administration Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Germany) · West Pomeranian Voivodeship (Poland) · Pomeranian Voivodeship (Poland) Towns Lists List of towns in Vorpommern · List of towns in Farther Pomerania · Pomeranian cities, towns and villages · List of placenames in the Province of Pomerania (A-H · I-P · Q-Z) Largest >100,000 Tricity (Gdańsk · Gdynia · Sopot) · Szczecin · Koszalin · Słupsk >50,000 Stargard · Stralsund · Greifswald Islands Greifswalder Oie · Hiddensee · Rügen · Ummanz · Usedom · Vilm · Wolin Peninsulae Fischland-Darß-Zingst · Jasmund · Hela · Mönchgut · Wittow Rivers Dievenow · Grabowa · Ina · Oder · Parsęta · Peene · Peenestrom · Randow · Recknitz · Rega · Ryck · Słupia · Świna · Tollense · Trebel · Uecker · Vistula · Wieprza Lakes Lake Dąbie · Lake Gardno · Kummerower See · Łebsko Lake · Lake Miedwie Bays, lagoons Bay of Gdańsk · Bay of Greifswald · Bay of Pomerania · Szczecin Lagoon National parks Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park  · Jasmund National Park  · Lower Oder Valley National Park · Wolin National Park · Słowiński National Park

v • d • e  · History of Pomerania  · 10,000 BC–600 AD ·  · 600–1100 ·  · 1100–1300 ·  · 1300–1500 ·  · 1500–1806 ·  · 1806–1933 ·  · 1933–1945 ·  · 1945–present   Administrative Western Pomerania and Farther Pomerania (before 1945) Billung March · Northern March · Principality of Rugia · Duchy of Pomerania (House of Pomerania · List of Dukes · Cammin · Gützkow · Schlawe-Stolp · Lauenburg-Bütow · Partitions · P.-Stolp) · Swedish Pomerania · Brandenburgian Pomerania (Draheim) Province of Pomerania (Neumark · Posen-West Prussia · List of placenames) · Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Zachodniopomorskie (after 1945) Szczecin Voivodeship · Koszalin Voivodeship · Słupsk Voivodeship · West Pomeranian Voivodeship Pomerelia Kashubia Medieval duchies (Samborides) · State of the Teutonic Order · Royal Prussia · West Prussia · Polish Corridor · Free City of Danzig · Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia · Pomeranian Voivodeship (Kashubian placenames)   Ecclesiastical Roman Catholic Conversion of Pomerania · Diocese of Kolberg (hist.) (Congress of Gniezno) · Diocese of Cammin (hist.) · Diocese of Roskilde (hist.) · Diocese of Włocławek (Leslau) (hist.) Archdiocese of Berlin · Archdiocese of Szczecin-Kamień · Diocese of Koszalin-Kołobrzeg · Diocese of Pelplin Protestant Protestant Reformation · Pomeranian Evangelical Church   Demographical Archaeological cultures Hamburg · Maglemosian · Ertebølle-Ellerbek · Linear Pottery · Funnelbeaker · Havelland · Corded Ware · Comb Ceramic · Nordic Bronze Age · Lusatian · Jastorf · Pomeranian · Oxhöft (Oksywie) · Willenberg (Wielbark) · Gustow · Dębczyn (Denzin) Peoples Gepids · Goths · Lemovii · Rugii · Vidivarii · Vistula Veneti · Slavic Pomeranians · Prissani · Rani · Ukrani · Veleti/Liuticians · Velunzani · German Pomeranians  · Kashubians  · Poles  · Slovincians Major demographic events Migration period  · Ostsiedlung  · WWII flight and expulsion of Germans  · post-WWII settlement of Poles and Ukrainians Languages and dialects West Germanic Low German: Low Prussian and Pomeranian (Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch · East Pomeranian) · Standard German West Slavic Polabian† · Polish · Pomeranian (Kashubian · Slovincian†)   Treaties Kremmen (1236) · Landin (1250) · Soldin (1309) · Templin (1317) · Stralsund (1354) · Stralsund (1370) · Thorn (1411) · Soldin (1466) · Thorn (1466) · Prenzlau (1448/72/79) · Pyritz (1493) · Grimnitz (1529) · Stettin (1570) · Franzburg (1627) · Stettin (1630) · Westphalia (1648) · Stettin (1653) · Labiau (1656) · Wehlau (1657) · Bromberg (1657) · Oliva (1660) · Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1679) · Stockholm (1719/1720) · Frederiksborg (1720) · Kiel (1814) · Vienna (1815) · Versailles (1919) · Potsdam (1945)