Pomeranian Voivodeship (1919–1939)


The Pomeranian Voivodeship or Pomorskie Voivodeship was an administrative unit of interwar Poland. It ceased to function in September 1939, following the German and Soviet invasion of Poland.
Most of the territory of Pomeranian province became part of the current Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, of which one of two capitals is the same as the interwar voivodeship's Toruń; the second one is Bydgoszcz.
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 established in 1919 after World War I from the majority of the Prussian province of West Prussia.
During World War II, it was occupied by Nazi Germany and unilaterally annexed as Reichsgau Danzig-Westpreussen. 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 was formed, including annexed territories of the Free City of Danzig and of German Prussian Province of Pomerania and German Prussian Province of East Prussia. The bulk of the old voivodeship was enlarged by annexed territories of the German Prussian Province of Pomerania and later renamed into Bydgoszcz voivodeship. In the years 1975–1998, it was reorganized into the voivodeships of Gdańsk, Elbląg, Bydgoszcz, Toruń, and Włocławek.

Area and counties

Between April 1, 1938 and September 1, 1939, the Voivodeship's area was 25 683 km², and its population - 1 884 400. It consisted of 28 powiats, 64 cities, and 234 villages. Railroad density was high, with 11.4 km. per 100 km². Forests covered 26.7% of the voivodeship, which was higher than the national average.
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. Only 8.3% of population was illiterate, which was much lower than the national average of 23.1%. Poles made up majority of population.
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 and 1.6% Jews.
This is the list of the Pomorskie Voivodeship counties as of August 31, 1939:
Biggest cities of the Voivodeship were :
According to Polish census figures, the German minority in 1921 counted 18.8% of the overall population, while in 1931 it counted 9.6%.
Other more detailed estimates below:
County
ethnic German population ethnic German population
Kościerzyna 6,8845,974
Wąbrzeźno 7,6157,344
Chełmno 7,9057,673
Tczew / Gniew / Świecie 20,44617,571
Grudziądz 3,5423,875
Grudziądz 9,3178,190
Kartuzy 4,8003,927
Chojnice 9,0228,070
Lubawa 2,0781,689
Wejherowo / Puck 6,5566,305
Starogard Gdański 2,9093,418
Toruń 2,2552,057
Toruń 7,1076,738
Tuchola 3,1702,861
Sępólno Krajeńskie 10,86611,130
Pomeranian Voivodship 117,251107,555

Voivodes