Wikipedia

Pomerania

Not to be confused withPomeranian.
"Pommern" and "Pomorze" redirect here. For other uses, seePommern (disambiguation)andPomorze (disambiguation).

Pomerania(Polish:Pomorze[pɔˈmɔʐɛ]ⓘ;German:Pommern[ˈpɔmɐn]ⓘ;Kashubian:Pòmòrskô;Swedish:Pommern) is a historical region on the southern shore of theBaltic SeainCentral Europe,split betweenPolandandGermany.The central and eastern part belongs to theWest Pomeranian,PomeranianandKuyavian-Pomeranianvoivodeships of Poland, while the western part belongs to the German states ofMecklenburg-Western PomeraniaandBrandenburg.

Pomerania
Pomorze(Polish)
Pommern(German)
Pòmòrskô(Kashubian)
Historical region
Panorama of Gdańsk from Motława
Toruń Old Town
Pomeranian Dukes' Castle in Szczecin
Stralsund Old Town
Dunes of Łeba, Slovincian National Park
Chalk cliffs, Jasmund National Park
Coat of arms of Pomerania
Coat of arms
Contemporary administrative units with Pomerania in the name, not representing the exact historical region, as they also include parts of other regions
Contemporary administrative units withPomeraniain the name, not representing the exact historical region, as they also include parts of other regions
Coordinates:54°17′N18°09′E/ 54.29°N 18.15°E/54.29; 18.15
CountriesPoland
Germany
Largest citiesin Poland:Gdańsk,Szczecin
in Germany:Greifswald,Stralsund
DemonymPomeranian
Time zoneUTC+1(CET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+2(CEST)
Primary airportsGdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport
Solidarity Szczecin–Goleniów Airport
Highways

Pomerania's historical border in the west is the Mecklenburg-Western Pomeranian borderUrstromtal,[a]which now constitutes the border between theMecklenburgianand Pomeranian part of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while it is bounded by theVistulaRiver in the east. The easternmost part of Pomerania is alternatively known asPomerelia,consisting of four sub-regions:Kashubiainhabited by ethnicKashubians,Kociewie,Tuchola ForestandChełmno Land.

Pomerania has a relatively lowpopulation density,with its largest cities beingGdańskandSzczecin.Outside its urban areas, it is characterized by farmland, dotted with numerous lakes, forests, and small towns. In the west of Pomerania lie several islands, the largest of which areRügen,the largest island in Germany;Usedom/Uznam, andWolin,the largest island in Poland. The region has a rich and complicated political and demographic history at the intersection of several cultures.

Geography

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17th-century map of theDuchy of Pomerania

Borders

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Pomerania is the area along theBay of Pomeraniaof theBaltic Seabetween the riversRecknitz,Trebel,TollenseandAugrabenin the west andVistulain the east.[1][2]It formerly reached perhaps as far south as theNotećriver, but since the 13th century its southern boundary has been placed further north.

Landscape

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Most of the region is coastal lowland, being part of theCentral European Plain.Its southern, hilly parts belong to the Baltic Ridge, a belt of terminalmorainesformed during thePleistocene.Within this ridge, a chain ofmoraine-dammed lakesconstitutes thePomeranian Lake District.The soil is generally rather poor, sometimes sandy or marshy.[1]

The western coastline is jagged, with many peninsulas (such asDarß–Zingst) and islands (includingRügen,Usedom,andWolin) enclosing numerous bays (Bodden) and lagoons (the biggest being theLagoon of Szczecin).

The eastern coastline is smooth.Łebskoand several other lakes were formerly bays, but have been cut off from the sea. The easternmost coastline along theGdańsk Bay(with theBay of Puck) andVistula Lagoon,has theHel Peninsulaand theVistula peninsulajutting out into the Baltic.

Subregions

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The Pomeranian region has the following administrative divisions:

The bulk ofFarther Pomeraniais included within the modern West Pomeranian Voivodeship, but its easternmost parts (theSłupskarea) now constitute the northwest of Pomeranian Voivodeship. Farther Pomerania in turn comprises several other historical subregions, most notably the formerPrincipality of Cammin,theNowogardCounty, and theSłupsk and Sławno Land.TheLębork and BytówLand is considered a part ofPomerelia(Kashubia) by the Polish historiography, and ofFarther Pomeraniaby the German historiography.

Parts of Pomerania and surrounding regions have constituted aeuroregionsince 1995. ThePomerania euroregioncomprises Hither Pomerania andUckermarkin Germany, West Pomerania in Poland, andScaniain Sweden.

Nomenclature

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Etymology

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InLechitic languagesthe prefix "po-" meansalong;unlike the word "po", which meansafter.Pomorze,therefore, meansAlong the Sea.This construction is similar to toponymsPogórze(Along the Mountains),Polesie(Along the Forest),Porzecze(Along the River), etc.

Earliest sources

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Pomerania was first mentioned in animperialdocument of 1046, referring to aZemuzil dux Bomeranorum(Zemuzil,Duke of the Pomeranians).[3]Pomerania is mentioned repeatedly in the chronicles ofAdam of Bremen(c. 1070) andGallus Anonymous(ca. 1113).

Terminology and attribution of subdivisions

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The territorial designation "Pomerania" lacks a universally accepted definition, since it may refer either to combined Hither and Farther Pomerania only (in German contemporary and historical usage[4]) or to Hither and Farther Pomerania combined withPomerelia(in Polish contemporary and historical usage).

As a consequence, the term "West Pomerania" is ambiguous, since it may refer to either Hither Pomerania (in German usage and historical usage based on German terminology[4]), or to combined Hither and Farther Pomerania (in Polish usage and historical usage based on German terminology). In parallel, the term "East Pomerania" may similarly carry different meanings, referring either toFarther Pomerania(in German usage and historical usage based on German terminology[4]), or to Pomerelia (in Polish usage and historical usage based on German terminology).

As a further complication, the borders of the eponymous administrative units have been drawn disregarding mostly the historical ones. The Polish unit calledwojewództwo zachodniopomorskie(West Pomeranian Voivodeship) includes the whole Polish part of Hither Pomerania, but only the western two-thirds of Farther Pomerania, with the remaining easternmost one-third (Słupsk,Ustka,andMiastko) has been part of thewojewództwo pomorskie([East-]Pomeranian Voivodeship). The former regional unit stretches however far more south than the historical region, to include the northern part of the historicalNeumark(Dębno,Chojna,Trzcińsko-Zdrój,Myślibórz,Nowogródek Pomorski,Lipiany,Barlinek,Pełczyce,Suchań,Choszczno,Recz,andDrawno), as well as a strip the historicalGreater Poland(Tuczno,Człopa,Mirosławiec,Wałcz,andCzaplinek), or even a small part ofPomerelia(Biały Bór); in turn the other one comprises only approximately northern two-thirds of Pomerelia but also parts of historicalMalbork Landand Upper Prussia known under the ethnographic designation ofPowiśleand constituting the westernmost strip of historicalPrussia;and finally, the remaining one third ofPomereliaforms part ofwojewództwo kujawsko-pomorskie(Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship), a further regional unit, in this case bearing a name accurately reflecting historical heterogeneity of its territory. Similarity but to lesser extent, borders of the combined German districtsVorpommern-RügenandVorpommern-Greifswalddeviate significantly in numerous locations from the historical ones with Mecklenburg andBrandenburg.As a consequence, the common understanding of the terms has started to be used more and more frequently in the sense of the current administrative units.

West Pomerania East Southeast
Ahrenshoop(westernmost Pomeranian settlement),
Ribnitz-Damgarten(Damgarten only),
Saal,
Prerow,
Zingst,
Barth,
Tribsees,
Franzburg,
Richtenberg,
Grimmen,
Stralsund,
DÄNHOLM 		Rügen
HIDDENSEE,
UMMANZ,
Garz/Rügen,
Bergen auf Rügen,
Putgarten,
VILM,
Sagard,
Binz,
Sassnitz,
Sellin,
Thiessow,
Göhren 		Loitz,
Gützkow,
Greifswald,
Lubmin,
Kröslin,
RUDEN,
GREIFSWALDER OIE,
Wolgast,
Lassan 		Kummerow,
Sommersdorf,
Verchen,
Demmin,
Altentreptow 		Alt Tellin,
Jarmen,
Anklam 		Usedom
Peenemünde,
Karlshagen,
Trassenheide,
Zinnowitz,
GÖRMITZ,
Usedom,
Zempin,
Koserow,
Loddin,
Ückeritz,
Bansin,
Heringsdorf,
Ahlbeck 		Pasewalk,
Torgelow,
Ueckermünde,
Eggesin,
Löcknitz,
Penkun,
Altwarp,
Pomellen(easternmost settlement inM.-V.) 		Schwedt/Oder(districts north of theWelseriver only),
Gartz (Oder),
Mescherin(easternmost Pomeranian settlement in Germany) 		Uznam/Wolin
Świnoujście,
Międzyzdroje,
Wolin,
Międzywodzie,
CHRZĄSZCZEWSKA,
Dziwnów(left-bank) 		Goleniów,
Police,
Nowe Warpno,
Szczecin,
Dąbie 		Widuchowa,
Gryfino,
Banie,
Pyrzyce 		Maszewo,
Stargard,
Stepnica,
Dziwnów(right-bank with historic centre),
Kamień Pomorski,
Golczewo,
Ińsko,
Dobrzany,
Dolice,
Chociwel,
Gryfice,
Gościno,
Płoty,
Nowogard,
Łobez,
Węgorzyno,
Resko,
Trzebiatów 		Świdwin,
Połczyn-Zdrój,
Kalisz Pomorski,
Drawsko Pomorskie,
Złocieniec,
Kołobrzeg,
Koszalin,
Polanów,
Sianów,
Karlino,
Tychowo,
Bobolice,
Białogard,
Biały Bór,
Szczecinek,
Sławno,
Darłowo 		Ustka,
Słupsk,
Miastko 		Łeba,
Lębork,
Bytów
(Lauenburg and Bütow Land
German:Lande Lauenburg und Bütow
Polish:Ziemia lęborsko-bytowska) 		Człuchów,
Chojnice,
Kościerzyna,
Kartuzy,
Żukowo,
Puck,
Władysławowo,
Jastarnia,
Hel 		Wejherowo,
Reda,
Rumia,
(so-calledLittle Kashubian Tricity)
Gdynia,
Sopot,
Gdańsk
(Tricity)
Pruszcz Gdański,
Nowy Staw,
Krynica Morska 		Starogard Gdański,
Skarszewy,
Pelplin,
Tczew,
Gniew 		Świecie,
Nowe 		Tuchola,
Pruszcz 		Toruń,
Grudziądz,
Chełmno,
Chełmża,
Wąbrzeźno,
Kowalewo Pomorskie,
Jabłonowo Pomorskie,
Radzyń Chełmiński,
Łasin,
Brodnica(part north ofDrwęcawith historic center),
Golub
Current countries Germany Poland
Current administrative regions Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
(Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) 		Brandenburg województwo zachodniopomorskie
(West Pomeranian Voivodeship) 		województwo pomorskie
(Pomeranian Voivodeship) 		województwo kujawsko-pomorskie
(Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship)
Vorpommern-Rügen Vorpommern-Greifswald Mecklenburgische Seenplatte Vorpommern-Greifswald Uckermark
German terminology
(corresponding English term) 		Pommern[1]
(Pomerania)
bounded in the west by theRecknitz,TrebelandLake Kummerow,and in the east by thePiaśnica 		Pomerellen, Pommerellen[1]
(Pomerelia)[1]
AfterPartitions of Poland,part of the widerWestpreussen
(West Prussia)
beforePartitions of Poland,part of the widerKöniglich-Preußen or Preußen Königlichen Anteils
(Royal Prussia)
Vorpommern
(Hither Pomerania, Fore Pomerania)
in modern usage the part located in Germany only 		Hinterpommern
(Farther/Further Pomerania, Rear Pomerania) 		Kaschubei[5]
(Kashubia)
areas south-east ofKönitz(Schwarzwasser,Czersk):Tucheler Heide
(Tuchola Forest),
Koschneiderei 		Kociewie Tucheler Heide
(Tuchola Forest),
Koschneiderei 		Kulmerland
(Chełmno Land)
Neuvorpommern
(New Hither Pomerania)
western part ofSwedish Pomeraniathat went from Sweden to Prussia in 1815
 Altvorpommern
(Old Hither Pomerania)
eastern part ofSwedish Pomeraniathat went from Sweden to Prussia in 1720
Westpommern
(Western Pomerania)
mainland west of theZarowandRügenarchipelago 		Mittelpommern
(Middle Pomerania)
mainland east of theZarowas well asUsedomandWolin 		Ostpommern
(Eastern Pomerania)
Mittelpommerscher Keil
(Middle Pomeranian Wedge)
excludingUznamandWolin
Polish terminology
(corresponding English term) 		Pomorze Zachodnie
(Western Pomerania)
Pomorze Nadodrzańskie
(OderPomerania)
 Pomorze Wschodnie
(Eastern Pomerania)
Pomorze Nadwiślańskie
(VistulaPomerania)
beforeWorld War IIsimplyPomorze[1]
(Pomerelia,[1]literally Pomerania)
beforePartitions of Poland,part of the widerPrusy Królewskie
(Royal Prussia)
Pomorze Zaodrzańskie
(Trans-Oder Pomerania)
Pomorze Wołogoskie
(Wołogoszcz orGerman:WolgastPomerania) 		Pomorze Szczecińskie
(Szczecin Pomerania)
Pomorze Zachodniew węższym znaczeniu
(Western Pomerania in narrower sense)
 Pomorze Środkowe
(Middle Pomerania)
Pomorze Koszalińsko-Słupskie
(Koszalin and Słupsk Pomerania) 		Pomorze Gdańskie
(Gdańsk Pomerania)
 Ziemia chełmińska
(Chełmno Land)
ethnocultural region
Pomorze Przednie
(Hither Pomerania, Fore Pomerania)in modern usage the part located in Germany only 		Pomorze Tylne
(Farther/Further Pomerania, Rear Pomerania)usage limited mainly to translations of German texts 		Kaszuby
(Kashubia)
ethnocultural region
areas south-east of Chojnice (Czarna Woda,Czersk):Bory Tucholskie
(Tuchola Forest)
ethnocultural region,
Kosznajderia
former ethnocultural region 		Kociewie
ethnocultural region 		Bory Tucholskie
(Tuchola Forest)
ethnocultural region,
Kosznajderia
former ethnocultural region
Kashubianterminology
(corresponding English term) 		Zôpadnô Pòmòrskô
(Western Pomerania) 		Lãbòrskò-bëtowskô Zemia
(Lębork and Bytów Land)
 Pòrénkòwô Pòmòrskô
(Eastern Pomerania)
Kaszëbë
(Kashubia
ethnocultural region) 		Kòcéwskô (Kociewie)
ethnocultural region 		Tëchòlsczé Bòrë (Tuchola Forest)
ethnocultural region,
Kòsznajderiô (Kosznajderia)
former ethnocultural region 		Chełmińskô Zemia (Chełmno Land)
ethnocultural region

History

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Main article:History of Pomerania

Prehistory to the Middle Ages (circa 400 A.D. – 1400 A.D.)

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Main articles:Early history of PomeraniaandPomerania during the Early Middle Ages
Poland with Pomerania under the rule ofMieszko I,c. 960-992.Dagome iudexfirst defined Poland's geographical boundaries (including Pomerania) and placed the lands under the protection of theApostolic See.

Settlement in the area called Pomerania for the last 1,000 years started by the end of theVistula Glacial Stage,some 13,000 years ago.[6]Archeological traces have been found of various cultures during theStoneandBronze Age,Baltic peoples,Germanic peoplesandVenetiduring theIron Ageand, in theDark Ages,West Slavic tribesandVikings.[7][8][9][6][10][11][12]Starting in the 10th century,early Polish rulerssubdued the region, successfully integrating the eastern part with Poland, while the western part fell under the suzerainty of Denmark and theHoly Roman Empirein the late 12th century.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19]Gdańsk,established during the reign ofMieszko I of Polandhas since become Poland's main port (apart from periods of Poland losing control over the region).

The main burial sites of Pomeranian dukes of the houses ofGriffinandSobiesław
Ducal CastleinSzczecin
St. Peter's Church inWolgast
Eldena AbbeyinGreifswald
Oliwa CathedralinGdańsk

In the 12th century, theDuchy of Pomerania(western part), as a vassal state of Poland,became Christianunder saintOtto of Bamberg(the Apostle of the Pomeranians); at the same timePomerelia(eastern part) became a part ofdiocese of Włocławekwithin Poland. Since the late 12th-early 13th century, theGriffinDuchy of Pomeraniastayed with the Holy Roman Empire and thePrincipality of Rugiawith Denmark, while Pomerelia, under the ruling ofSamborides,was a part of Poland.[20][21][22][23]Pomerania, during its alliance in theHoly Roman Empire,shared borders withWest Slavicstate Oldenburg, as well as Poland and the expandingMargraviate of Brandenburg.In the early 14th century theTeutonic Knightsinvaded and annexedPomerelia from Poland intotheir monastic state,which already included historicalPrussia.As a result of the Teutonic rule, in German terminology the name of Prussia was also extended to conquered Polish lands likeGdańsk Pomerania,although it was not inhabited byBalticPrussiansbutLechiticPoles. Meanwhile, theOstsiedlungstarted to turn Slavic narrow Pomerania into an increasingly German-settled area; the remainingWendsand Polish people, often known asKashubians,continued to settle within Pomerelia.[24][25]In 1325 the line of the princes of Rügen died out, and the principality was inherited bythe Griffins.[26]

Renaissance (circa 1400–1700) to Early Modern Age

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Main articles:Pomerania during the High Middle Ages,Pomerania during the Late Middle Ages,andPomerania during the Early Modern Age
Location of thePomeranian Voivodeshipwithin thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

In 1466, with theTeutonic Order's defeat in theThirteen Years' War,Pomerelia became again part of thePolish Crownand formed thePomeranian Voivodeshipwithin the provinces ofRoyal PrussiaandGreater Poland.[27]While the German population in the Duchy of Pomerania adopted theProtestant reformationin 1534,[28][29][30]the Polish (along withKashubian) population remained with theRoman Catholic Church.TheThirty Years' Warseverely ravaged and depopulated narrow Pomerania; few years later this same happened to Pomerelia (theDeluge).[31]With the extinction of theGriffin houseduring the same period, theDuchy of Pomerania was dividedbetween theSwedish EmpireandBrandenburg-Prussiain 1648,while Pomerelia remained in with the Polish Crown.

Modern Age

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Main articles:History of Pomerania (1806–1933),History of Pomerania (1933–1945),andHistory of Pomerania (1945–present)
The Prussian Province of Pomerania within Prussia and the German Empire circa 1871
TheProvince of Pomerania
The flag used in the German part of Pomerania

Prussiagained the southern partsofSwedish Pomeraniain 1720,[32]: 341–343 invaded and annexed Pomerelia from Polandin 1772 and 1793, andgained the remainder of Swedish Pomerania in 1815,after theNapoleonic Wars.[32]: 363, 364 The formerBrandenburg-Prussian Pomeraniaand the former Swedish parts were reorganized into the PrussianProvince of Pomerania,[32]: 366 whilePomereliawas made part of theProvince of West Prussia.With Prussia, both provinces joined the newly constitutedGerman Empirein 1871. Under German rule, the Polish minority suffered discrimination and oppressive measures aimed at eradicating its culture.

Following the German Empire's defeat in World War I, however, eastern Pomerania/Pomereliawas returned to the rebuilt Polish state, while German-majority Gdańsk/Danzig was transformed into the independentFree City of Danzig.In the interbellum, the border with Poland and the creation of what German propaganda called the "Polish Corridor"were often contested in Germany. Irredentist claims towards Poland were one of the factors contributing to the rise of theNazi Partyin Germany. In 1938 Germany's Province of Pomerania was expanded to include northern parts of the former Province ofPosen–West Prussia(part of historicGreater Poland).

Under theNazi government,the persecution of Poles in the German-controlled part of Pomerania intensified. In January 1939, Germany resumedexpulsions of Polesand many were also forced to flee.[33]TheSturmabteilung,Schutzstaffel,Hitler YouthandBund Deutscher Ostenlaunched attacks on Polish institutions, schools and activists.[34]From May to August 1939, theGestapocarried out arrests of Polish leaders, activists, entrepreneurs, and even some staff of the Consulate of Poland in Szczecin.[35]

World War II

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German battleshipSMSSchleswig-Holsteinfiring at the Polish Military Transit Depot during thebattle of Westerplatte,1939

In September 1939, Germanyinvaded PolandstartingWorld War II.The first battle of the war,at Westerplatte,was fought in the region. Afterwards the Polish part of Pomerania wasannexedby Germany, and made part of theReichsgau Danzig-West Prussia.TheNazisdeported the Pomeranian Jewsto a reservation near Lublin.[36]The Polish population suffered heavily during theNazi oppression;more than 40,000 died in executions, death camps, prisons andforced labour,primarily those who were teachers, businessmen, priests, politicians, former army officers, and civil servants.[37]Thousands of Poles and Kashubians sufferedexpulsion,their homes taken over by the German military and civil servants, as well as some Baltic Germans resettled there between 1940 and 1943 in accordance with theLebensraumpolicy. TheStutthof concentration campwith numerous subcamps was located in the region. There were also numerous Nazi prisons, forced labour camps, and multipleprisoner-of-war camps,including the largeStalag II-BandStalag II-D,for Polish,French,Belgian, Dutch, Serbian,Italian,American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealander and otherAlliedPOWs.Połczyn-Zdrójwas the location of aGermanisationcamp forkidnapped Polish children.[38]ThePolish resistance movementwas active both in the pre-war Polish part and the pre-war German part of Pomerania.

AfterNazi Germany's defeat in World War II, the German–Polish border was shifted west to theOder–Neisse line,[39]and all of Pomerania was in theSoviet Occupation Zone.[32]: 512–515 [40]: 373ff The German inhabitants of theformer eastern territories of Germanyand Poles of German ethnicity from Pomerelia wereexpelled.Between 1945 and 1948, millions of ethnic Germans (Volksdeutsche) and German citizens (Reichsdeutsche), were removed from former German territory now governed by Poland and other Eastern European countries. Many German civilians were sent to internment and labor camps where they were used as forced labor as part of German reparations to countries in Eastern Europe. The death toll attributable to the flight and expulsions is disputed, with low-range estimates in the hundreds of thousands (see:Flight and expulsion of Germans (1944–1950)). The area was resettled primarily with Poles of Polish ethnicity, (some themselvesexpelleesfromformer eastern Poland) and somePoles of Ukrainian ethnicity(resettled underOperation Vistula) and fewPolish Jews.[40]: 381ff [41][42]Most of Hither orWestern Pomerania(Vorpommern) remained in Germany, and most of the expelled Pomeranians found refuge there, later many moved on to other German regions and abroad. Today German Hither Pomerania forms the eastern part of the state ofMecklenburg-Vorpommern,while the Polish part is divided mainly between theWest Pomeranian,Pomeranianvoivodeships, with their capitals in Szczecin andGdańsk.During the 1980s, theSolidarityandDie Wende( "the change" ) movements overthrew theCommunist regimesimplemented during the post-war era; since then, Pomerania isdemocratically governed.

Pomeranian dialect and traditions still live in the country of Brazil in a colony where the language is still spoken. The arrival of Pomerania immigrants with Germans and Italians helped form the state ofEspírito Santosince the early 1930s.[43]Their importance and respect are one of the cultural signatures of the area. The Brazilian city ofPomerode(in the state ofSanta Catarina) was founded by Pomeranian Germans in 1861 and is considered the most typically German of all the German towns of southern Brazil.

Demographics

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See also:Historical demography of Pomerania
Kashubiansin regional dress
Woman in the regional costume of theMönchgutarea onRügen

The German part ofWestern Pomeraniais inhabited byGerman Pomeranians.In other parts, Poles are the dominant ethnic group since theterritorial changes of Poland after World War II,and the resultingPolonization.Kashubians,descendants of themedieval West Slavic Pomeranians,are numerous in ruralPomerelia.

GermanHither Pomeraniahad a population of about 470,000 in 2012 (districts ofVorpommern-RügenandVorpommern-Greifswaldcombined) – while the Polish districts of Hither Pomerania had a population of about 580,000 in 2012 (SzczecinandŚwinoujściecities with powiat rights,Police County,as well asGoleniówWolinandMiędzyzdrojegminas combined). So overall, about 1.15 million people live in the historical region of Hither Pomerania today, while theSzczecin metropolitan areareaches even further.[citation needed]

Pomerelia is dominated by theTricitymetropolitan area(Pomeranian Voivodeship) with its population in 2012 estimated at least at 1,035,000 and the area at 1,332,51 km2,encompassing theTricityitself with a population of 748,986 combining the eponymous three cities ofGdańsk(population 460,427),Gdynia(population 248,726) andSopot(population 38,217), as well as theLittle Kashubian Tricitywith a population of 120,158 people (2012), formed by the City ofWejherowo(population 50,310 in 2012) and the towns (urban gminas) ofRumia(population 49,230 in 2020) andReda(population 26,011 in 2019). The area also includes two smaller towns ofŻukowoandPruszcz Gdańskibelonging to the eponymous urban-rural gminas, and a number of rural gminas.

Region Seat Registration
plates 		Area
(km2) 		Population
(Poland 2019/2021,
Germany 2022)
West Pomeranian Voivodeship Szczecin Z 22,892 1,682,003
Pomeranian Voivodeship Gdańsk G 18,293 2,337,769
Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship
Pomeranian part only 		ToruńVoivod council
BydgoszczVoivod office; not in Pomerania 		C 11,980 1,124,517
Polish Pomerania 53,165 5,144,289
Landkreis Vorpommern-Greifswald Greifswald VG, ANK, GW, HGW, PW, SBG, UEM, WLG 3,927 237,355
Landkreis Vorpommern-Rügen Stralsund VR, GMN, HST, NVP, RDG, RÜG 3,188 227,683
Amt Demmin-LandandCity of Demmin
inLandkreis Mecklenburgische Seenplatte 		Demmin MSE, AT, DM, MC, MST, MÜR, NZ, RM, WRN 443 17,301
Amt Treptower Tollensewinkel
inLandkreis Mecklenburgische Seenplatte 		Altentreptow MSE, AT, DM, MC, MST, MÜR, NZ, RM, WRN 414 13,581
Amt Gartz (Oder)
inLandkreis Uckermark,Brandenburg 		Gartz (Oder) UM, ANG, PZ, SDT, TP 264 6,682
City of Schwedt/Oder
inLandkreis Uckermark,Brandenburg;Pomeranian parts only: Hohenfelde, Jamikow, Kummerow, Kunow, Schönow 		Schwedt/Oder UM, ANG, PZ, SDT, TP 71 1,028
Municipality of Zettemin
inLandkreis Mecklenburgische Seenplatte;historically a Pomeranian enclave of seven villages (theSäben Dörper), southeast ofMalchin,surrounded byMecklenburg 		Zettemin MSE, AT, DM, MC, MST, MÜR, NZ, RM, WRN 19 267
German Pomerania 8,326 503,897
Pomerania 61,491 5,648,186

Cities in Pomerania

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Altogether, there are 16 cities in the broad-sense Pomerania, understood as comprising alsoPomerelia.Their list is presented below and includes the 14 municipalities in Poland electing a city mayor (Polish:prezydent miasta) instead of a town mayor (Polish:burmistrz), with 9 of them holding the status of acity with powiat rights(Polish:miasto na prawach powiatu,anindependent city), as well as the 2 municipalities in Germany holding the status of a district-belonging city (German:Große kreisangehörige Stadt), as no city of the German part of Pomerania holds currently any higher status, such as a partially of fullyindependent city(German:Große selbständige Stadt,Kreisfreie Stadt,orStadtkreis), or acity-state(German:Stadtstaat).

Cities in the historical region of Hither Pomerania

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Cities in the historical region of Farther Pomerania

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Cities in the historical region of Pomerelia

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Culture

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Languages and dialects

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For historical language, seePomeranian language.

Polishis the dominating language in the Polish part of Pomerania.Kashubian dialectsare also spoken by theKashubiansinPomerelia.

In the German part of Pomerania,Standard Germandominates. The historical German dialects of Pomerania are, however,Low German.The Pomeranian dialects were all part of theEast Low Germansubgroup:Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommerschin the west, Central Pomeranian (Mittelpommersch) in Central Pomerania around Szczecin (then Stettin), andEast Pomeranianin the east. The regions east of thePiaśnicariver are not considered Pomeranian according to German terminology, but eitherWest Prussianor Pomerelian.Danzig Germanwas hence classified asLow Prussian,like the dialects ofEast Prussia(Königsberg).

Those parts of Pomerania that remained German after 1945 are almost entirely located in theMecklenburgisch-Vorpommerscharea. Only the regions between theZarowriver in the west and theOderriver in the east are historically part of the Central Pomeranian dialect region: the southern shores of theSzczecin Lagoon(Ueckermünde), the towns along theUeckerandRandowrivers, and those parts of Pomerania that are now inBrandenburg(Gartzand the northern districts ofSchwedt/Oder). Central Pomeranian is also spoken along the historically Brandenburgian headwaters of theUeckerriver (Prenzlau). InMecklenburg-Vorpommern,however, the dominating Low German standard version is the Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch dialect, and Central Pomeranian texts are often rewritten.

East Pomeranian,Low Prussian,and Standard German were dominating east of theOder-Neisse linebeforemost of its speakers were expelled after World War II.Kashubianand East Low German are also spoken by the descendants of émigrées, most notably in the Americas (e.g. Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Canada).Slovincianwas spoken at theFarther Pomeranian–Pomerelian frontier, but is now extinct.

  • A map of Polish dialects. The Pomorze region contains theKashubian languageand a mix of Polish dialects from other parts of the country.
  • Pomerania historically lay in theLow Germandialect region:Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch,Central Pomeranian (on the map:Mittelpommerisch) andEast Pomeranian(on the map: Hinterpommerisch) dialects. The regions east of thePiaśnicariver are not regarded as speaking East Pomeranian according to German terminology, and the Low German dialects that were spoken there are calledLow Prussian.
  • The Central Pomeranian dialect region ofLow German,east of theZarowand north of theWelse,where "Ohren" (ears) is pronounced like "oan" and "orn" (now bounded by the Oder-Neisse line in the east)

Cuisine

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For typical food and beverages of the region, seePomeranian cuisine.

Museums

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Museums in the Polish part

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National MuseuminSzczecin
National MuseuminGdańsk
District MuseuminToruń
Museum of the Second World WarinGdańsk

At least 50 museums in Poland cover the history of Pomerania, the most important of them being theDistrict Museum in Toruń,the Museum in Grudziądz, the National Museum inGdańsk,theNational Maritime Museum, Gdańsk,the Museum of Sopot, theEmigration Museumin Gdynia, the Museum of Polish Navy in Gdynia, the Museum of Kociewie in Starogard Gdański, the Museum of Kashubian and Pomeranian Literature and Music in Wejherowo, the Kashubian Museum in Kartuzy, the Central Pomerania Museum inSłupsk,[45]theDarłowoMuseum,[46]theKoszalinMuseum,[47]theMuseum of Polish Armsin Kołobrzeg, the Museum of Archeology and History in Stargard, theNational MuseuminSzczecin,[48]theMuseum of the Puck Region,and the Museum of Maritime Fisheries in Świnoujście.

Other notable museums include the Museum of the National Anthem (Muzeum Hymnu Narodowego) inBędominat the birthplace ofJózef Wybicki,author of the lyrics of thenational anthem of Poland,and theCopernicus House in Toruń,birthplace of famed astronomerNicolaus Copernicus.TheDiocesan Museum in Pelplincontains one of the finest collections ofmedieval artin Poland, and the country's sole copy of theGutenberg Bible.Medievalopen-air museumsare theGrodziskoinSopotandSkanseninWolin.There are also theDar Pomorza,ORPBłyskawicaandSSSołdekmuseum ships.

Several museums devoted to World War II history are located in Polish Pomerania, including theMuseum of the Second World Warin Gdańsk, the Guardhouse no. 1 at Westerplatte (a branch of the Museum of Gdańsk), the Museum of Coastal Defence inHel,theStutthofMuseum inSztutowowith the branchPiaśnicaMuseum inWejherowo,the Museum of thePomeranian Walland World War II inSzczecinek,and the Armory Museum inKłanino.

There are also aquaria: theGdynia Aquariumand theSeal Sanctuary in Hel.

Perhaps more unusual museums include the Amber Museums in Gdańsk andJarosławiec,and theMuseum of Gingerbreadin Toruń.

Museums in the German part

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OzeaneuminStralsund
Inside theOzeaneum
UkranenlandinTorgelow
Pomeranian State MuseuminGreifswald

There are around 40 museums in the district ofVorpommern-Rügen,the most notable of which are:

In the district ofVorpommern-Greifswaldare located around 30 museums, among which:

Education

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Universities

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The University of Greifswald, founded in 1456 (teaching since 1436), is the oldest university in Pomerania.

There are four traditional (non-profiled and multi-faculty,publicresearch) universities in the region, namely theUniversity of Greifswald,theUniversity of Szczecin,theUniversity of Gdańskand theNicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń,the oldest of which, theUniversity of Greifswald,was founded whenGreifswaldbelonged toDuchy of Pomerania,thus being one of theoldest universities in the world.

The technical universities are theGdańsk University of Technology,West Pomeranian University of Technologyin Szczecin, andKoszalin University of Technology.

University of Applied Sciences

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The Stralsund University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule Stralsund) inStralsundhas around 2,400 students.

Economy

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Agriculture primarily consists of raising livestock, forestry, fishery, and the cultivation ofcereals,sugar beets,and potatoes. Industrial food processing is increasingly relevant in the region. Key producing industries areshipyards,mechanical engineering facilities (i.e.renewable energycomponents), andsugar refineries,along with paper and wood fabricators.[1]Service industries today are an important economical factor in Pomerania, most notably with logistics, information technology,life science,biotechnology,health care, and otherhigh-techbranches oftenclusteringaround research facilities of the Pomeranian universities.

Since the late 19th century, tourism has been an important sector of the economy, primarily in the numerousseaside resortsalong the coast.

The PolishŚwinoujście LNG terminalis located in Pomerania.

Sports

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TheTricity Derby,contested byArka GdyniaandLechia Gdańsk,is the largestfootball derbyin Pomerania

Sports enjoying either great popularity or success in Pomerania arefootball,basketball,speedway,handball,volleyballandrugby union.

Most popular and accomplished football teams areArka Gdynia,Lechia GdańskandPogoń Szczecin,based in the three largest cities.

Among the most successful Polish basketball teams are the Arka Gdyniamen'sandwomen'steams. Other popular men's clubs areCzarni Słupsk,Spójnia Stargard,Trefl Sopot,Wilki Morskie Szczecin,Polpharma Starogard Gdański.

The most successful speedway club isKS Toruń,while other popular teams areWybrzeże GdańskandGKM Grudziądz.

The most successful men's handball team isWybrzeże Gdańsk,and other popular club isPogoń Szczecin,whereas successful women's teams arePogoń SzczecinandArka Gdynia.

With ten Polish Championship titlesKPS Chemik Policeis among the most successful women's volleyball clubs in Poland (as of October 2023).

RC Lechia Gdańsk,Ogniwo SopotandRC Arka Gdyniaare all multiple times Polish champions in rugby union, winning a combined total of 28 titles (as of November 2023).

Largest stadiums areStadion Gdańsk,Stadion Miejski im. Floriana Krygierain Szczecin,MotoArena ToruńandStadion Miejskiin Gdynia. Main indoor arenas includeErgo Arenain Gdańsk/Sopot,Gdynia Arenain Gdynia andNetto Arenain Szczecin.

Curiosities

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See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^abcdefghThe Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, 2001–07Archived29 August 2008 at theWayback Machine
  2. ^The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, 2000, Pomerania[1]
  3. ^Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, pp.23,24,ISBN3-88680-272-8
  4. ^abce.g.here(Sheperd Atlas), or inold Enc Britannica
  5. ^"Duden online Kaschubei".12 June 2019.
  6. ^abJohannes Hoops, Reallexikon der germanischen Altertumskunde, Walter de Gruyter, p.422,ISBN3-11-017733-1
  7. ^From the First Humans to the Mesolithic Hunters in the Northern German Lowlands, Current Results and Trends – THOMAS TERBERGER. From: Across the western Baltic, edited by: Keld Møller Hansen & Kristoffer Buck Pedersen, 2006,ISBN87-983097-5-7OCLC43087092,Sydsjællands Museums Publikationer Vol. 1"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 11 September 2008.Retrieved1 October2008.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^Jan M Piskorski,Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten,1999, pp.18ff,ISBN83-906184-8-6
  9. ^Horst Wernicke,Greifswald, Geschichte der Stadt,Helms, 2000, pp.16ff,ISBN3-931185-56-7
  10. ^A. W. R. Whittle, Europe in the Neolithic: The Creation of New Worlds, Cambridge University Press, 1996, p.198,ISBN0-521-44920-0
  11. ^Werner Buchholz,Pommern,Siedler, 1999, pp.22,23,ISBN3-88680-272-8
  12. ^Joachim Herrmann,Die Slawen in Deutschland,Akademie-Verlag Berlin, 1985, pp.pp.237ff,244ff
  13. ^Joachim Herrmann,Die Slawen in Deutschland,Akademie-Verlag Berlin, 1985, pp.261,345ff
  14. ^Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten, 1999, p.32,ISBN83-906184-8-6OCLC43087092:pagan reaction of 1005
  15. ^Werner Buchholz,Pommern,Siedler, 1999, p.25,ISBN3-88680-272-8:pagan uprising that also ended the Polish suzerainty in 1005
  16. ^A. P. Vlasto,Entry of Slavs Christendom,CUP Archive, 1970, p.129,ISBN0-521-07459-2:abandoned 1004 – 1005 in face of violent opposition
  17. ^Nora Berend,Christianization and the Rise of Christian Monarchy: Scandinavia, Central Europe and Rus' C. 900–1200,Cambridge University Press, 2007, p.293,ISBN0-521-87616-8,ISBN978-0-521-87616-2
  18. ^David Warner,Ottonian Germany: The Chronicon of Thietmar of Merseburg,Manchester University Press, 2001, p.358,ISBN0-7190-4926-1,ISBN978-0-7190-4926-2
  19. ^Michael Borgolte, Benjamin Scheller,Polen und Deutschland vor 1000 Jahren: Die Berliner Tagung über den "Akt von Gnesen",Akademie Verlag, 2002, p.282,ISBN3-05-003749-0,ISBN978-3-05-003749-3
  20. ^Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten, 1999, pp.35ff,ISBN83-906184-8-6OCLC43087092
  21. ^Gerhard Krause, Horst Robert Balz,Gerhard Müller,Theologische Realenzyklopädie,De Gruyter, 1997, pp.40ff,ISBN3-11-015435-8
  22. ^Werner Buchholz,Pommern,Siedler, 1999, p.34ff,87,103,ISBN3-88680-272-8
  23. ^Jan M. Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten, 1999, p.43,ISBN83-906184-8-6OCLC43087092
  24. ^Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten, 1999, pp.77ff,ISBN83-906184-8-6OCLC43087092
  25. ^Werner Buchholz,Pommern,Siedler, 1999, pp.45ff,ISBN3-88680-272-8
  26. ^Werner Buchholz,Pommern,Siedler, 1999, pp.115,116,ISBN3-88680-272-8
  27. ^Werner Buchholz,Pommern,Siedler, 1999, p. 186,ISBN3-88680-272-8
  28. ^Werner Buchholz,Pommern,Siedler, 1999, pp. 205–212,ISBN3-88680-272-8
  29. ^Richard du Moulin Eckart,Geschichte der deutschen Universitäten,Georg Olms Verlag, 1976, pp.111, 112,ISBN3-487-06078-7
  30. ^Gerhard Krause, Horst Robert Balz, Gerhard Müller,Theologische Realenzyklopädie,Walter de Gruyter, 1997, pp.43ff,ISBN3-11-015435-8
  31. ^Werner Buchholz, ' "Pommern,Siedler, 1999, pp. 263, 332, 341–343, 352–354,ISBN3-88680-272-8
  32. ^abcdWerner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999,ISBN3-88680-272-8
  33. ^Cygański, Mirosław (1984). "Hitlerowskie prześladowania przywódców i aktywu Związków Polaków w Niemczech w latach 1939-1945".Przegląd Zachodni(in Polish) (4): 45.
  34. ^Cygański, p. 46
  35. ^Cygański, pp. 46-47, 51-52
  36. ^Leni Yahil, Ina Friedman, Haya Galai,The Holocaust: The Fate of European Jewry, 1932–1945,Oxford University Press US, 1991,ISBN0-19-504523-8,p.138: 12/13 February 1940, 1,300 Jews of all sexes and ages, extreme cruelty, no food allowed to be taken along, cold, some died during deportation, cold and snow during resettlement, 230 dead by 12 March, Lublin reservation chosen in winter, 30,000 Germans resettled before to make room[2]
  37. ^"Poland".Encyclopædia Britannica.8 July 2023.
  38. ^"Lebensborn".Połczyn-Zdrój(in Polish).Retrieved3 November2023.
  39. ^"It is difficult to credit with good faith any person who asserts that Poland's western boundary was fixed by the Potsdam conference, or that there was a promise that it would be established at some particular place." See:Speaking Franklyby James F. Byrnes, New York & London, 1947, p.79-81. Byrnes, a Judge and former State Governor, served as a close adviser to President Truman and became US Secretary of State in July 1945. In that capacity, Byrnes attended the Potsdam Conference and the Paris Conference.
  40. ^abJan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten,ISBN83-906184-8-6OCLC43087092
  41. ^Tomasz Kamusella in Prauser and Reeds (eds),The Expulsion of the German communities from Eastern Europe,p.28, EUI HEC 2004/1[3]Archived1 October 2009 at theWayback Machine
  42. ^Philipp Ther, Ana Siljak,Redrawing Nations: Ethnic Cleansing in East-Central Europe, 1944–1948,2001, p.114,ISBN0-7425-1094-8,ISBN978-0-7425-1094-4
  43. ^"Os pomeranos: um povo sem Estado finca suas raízes no Brasil"(in Portuguese). 29 December 2014.
  44. ^Entwicklungsprioritäten der Metropolregion StettinArchived5 March 2016 at theWayback Machine(German PDF; 1,7 MB)
  45. ^"Muzeum Pomorza Środkowego – Strona główna".Muzeum.slupsk.pl.Retrieved30 July2010.
  46. ^"Muzeum w Darłowie – Zamek Książąt Pomorskich zaprasza".Muzeumdarlowo.pl.Retrieved30 July2010.
  47. ^"Muzeum w Koszalinie".Muzeum.koszalin.pl.Retrieved30 July2010.
  48. ^"Muzeum Narodowe w Szczecinie – Aktualności".Muzeum.szczecin.pl.Retrieved30 July2010.
  49. ^Peenetal / Peene-Haff-MoorArchived2012-01-14 at theWayback Machineat bfn.de
  50. ^"Słowiński National Park".Wellbeing.Retrieved3 November2023.
  1. ^The border valley is formed by the riversLandgraben,Tollense,Trebel,RecknitzandRandow
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Culture and history

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Maps of Pomerania

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