Pomerania
Pomerania (German: Pommern, Polish: Pomorze, Kashubian: Pòmòrze or Pòmòrskô, Latin: Pomerania or Pomorania) is a historical region on the south coast of the Baltic Sea, now divided between Germany and Poland. It stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the west, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the east. It is inhabited by Germans, Poles and Kashubians. Pomerania was strongly affected by 20th century border and population changes.
Geography
Pomerania is the area along the Bay of Pomerania of the Baltic Sea between the rivers Recknitz in the west and Vistula in the east. It formerly reached as far south as the Noteć (Netze) and Warta (Warthe) rivers, but since 1250 its southern boundary has been placed further north.
The western coastline is jagged, with lots of peninsulae (e.g., Darß-Zingst) and islands (Rügen, Usedom, Wolin and other, small isles) enclosing numerous bays (Bodden) and lagoons (e.g., the Lagoon of Szczecin).
The eastern coastline is smooth. The lakes Łebsko, Jamno and Gardno were formerly bays but have been cut off from the sea.
The easternmost coastline along the Gdańsk Bay (with Bay of Puck) and Vistula Bay has the Hel peninsula and the Vistula peninsula jut out into the Baltic.
The mainland consists of low elevation plains and hills.
Etymology
Pomerania in all languages is derived from Old Slavic po, meaning "by/next to/along", and more, meaning "sea", thus "Pomerania" is literally "seacoast", referring to its proximity to the Baltic Sea.
There is a probable first mention of Pomerania as the Latin longum mare ("long sea") in a monastery document or note from around 1080, the Dagome iudex, a shortened copy of an earlier document supposedly referring to the year 992. The document speaks of Oda von Haldensleben and her husband Dagome, presumably the Polish ruler Mieszko I, and refers to territory gifted by Dagome to the Pope. An imperial document of 1046 makes an actual first mention of "Pomerania" in reference to Zemuzil dux Bomeranorum (Zemuzil, Duke of the Pomeranians). From then on, Pomerania is mentioned repeatedly in the chronicles of Adam of Bremen (ca. 1070) and Gallus Anonymous (ca. 1113).
Subdivisions of Pomerania
Current regions
Current administrative division of Pomerania
Pomerania is currently divided between the following main regions:
- Vorpommern ("Western" or "Hither Pomerania") in Germany, stretching from the Recknitz River to the Oder–Neisse line. This region is part of the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
- Zachodniopomorskie ("West Pomeranian Voivodeship") in Poland, stretching from the Oder–Neisse line to the Słupia River.
- Pomorskie ("Pomeranian Voivodeship"), stretching from the Słupia River to the Vistula delta in the vicinity of Gdańsk. This region is roughly equivalent to historical Pomerelia (German: Pommerellen).
Also, small areas in the south of historical Pomerania today lie within Brandenburg in Germany and within Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Greater Poland Voivodeship and Lubusz Voivodeship in Poland.
Parts of Pomerania and surrounding regions have constituted a euroregion since 1995. The Pomerania euroregion comprises Germany's Vorpommern and Uckermark, Poland's Zachodniopomorskie, and Scania in Sweden.
The term "West(ern) Pomerania" is potentially ambiguous, since it may refer to either Vorpommern (the western part of Pomerania as a whole), or to the present-day West Pomeranian Voivodeship (in fact lying in the eastern portion of historical Pomerania). The term Eastern Pomerania may similarly carry different meanings depending on context.
Historical regions
Most of Pomerania was within the former eastern territories of Germany. During and after World War II, all areas east of the Oder-Neisse line were ceded to Poland, ethnically cleansed of Germans and resettled with Poles. The former German administrative division of the area was replaced by voivodeships of different shape. Also, the traditional German naming for the Pomerenian regions was replaced by a Polish terminology.
- See also: History of Pomerania
Historical Province of Pomerania (outlined in yellow) on the background of modern country borders; Kashubia, known as Gdańsk Pomerania or Pomerelia, is not included.
Vorpommern
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Main article: Western Pomerania
Vorpommern, also Hither or Western Pomerania, comprised the area between the Recknitz and the Oder rivers, making up the western part of the former Province of Pomerania. While most of this region is still within Germany and continues the use of the name, the major cities of Stettin (now Szczecin) and Swinemünde (now Świnoujście) as well as the adjacted area (Stettiner Zipfel) became part of Poland and are now part of the Zachodniopomorskie region.
Vorpommern comprises the formerly independent historical regions Principality of Rügen and County of Gützkow.
Farther Pomerania
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Main article: Farther Pomerania
Farther or Further Pomerania, also Hinterpommern, Eastern Pomerania or Ostpommern are the terms used to describe the eastern part of the former Province of Pomerania, stretching from the Oder River to Lauenburg i. Pom., (now Lebork). All of Farther Pomerania became a part of Poland after World War II and thereafter lost its territorial integrity. The bulk of Farther Pomerania is included within the West Pomeranian Voivodeship comprising the Zachodniopomorskie region. The easternmost parts, most notably the Stolp (now Sluspsk) area today are in the Pomeranian Voivodeship comprising the Gdansk Pomerania region.
In the east, Farther Pomerania comprised the historical Schlawe-Stolp and Lauenburg-Bütow lands. In the South, Farther Pomerania comprised historical Neumark regions (former Grenzmark Posen-West Prussia. The area around former Kolberg (Kolobrzeg) once constituted the historical area of the Cammin bishops' secular reign.
Pomerelia
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Main article: Pomerelia
Pomerelia or Pommerellen is a historical region in the Southeast of Pomerania. Most of this region was not included in the Province of Pomerania but in West Prussia, therefore it is in many cases not considered to be part of Pomerania. Yet, Pomerelia's medieval Samboride dukes were entitled Duke of Pomerania, and in Polish terminology Pomorze (Pomerania) is used for Pomerelia even preferably, while Pomerania proper is termed Zachodniopomorskie (Western Pomerania).
The modern Gdansk Pomerania (major) and Zachodniopomorskie (east) regions, the West Pomeranian Voivodeship (east), Pomeranian Voivodeship (bulk) and the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship (north) encompass the historical Pomerelia, but also many other regions.
Polish terminology
Polish terminology divides Pomerania into:
- Pomorze Zachodnie or Zachodniopomorskie, Pomorze Szczecińskie, or Pomorze Nadodrzańskie (Western Pomerania, the entire area of the former Duchy and Province of Pomerania, roughly the territories referred to in German as Vorpommern and Hinterpommern.)
- Pomorze Wschodnie or Pomorze Gdańskie (Pomerelia, German: Pommerellen). Under Polish administration a number of several different voivodeships all using the name Pomerania have been established in this area: Województwo pomorskie (1466-1772), in English usually Pomerelia, Województwo pomorskie(1919-1938), Województwo wielkopomorskie (1938/39-1945), Województwo pomorskie (1946-75), later renamed into Bydgoszcz Voivodeship, and Województwo pomorskie (est. 1999).
Kashubian terminology
Kashubian geographic terminology with regard to Pomerania is similar to Polish, and distinguishes between Zôpadnô Pòmòrskô (Western Pomerania) and Pòrénkòwô Pòmòrskô (Eastern Pomerania).
Demographics
Polish Voivodeship/
German Kreis |
Capitals |
Registration
plates |
Area
w km² |
Population
Polish 31 December 1999
German 2001 |
Territorial code |
Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship |
Bydgoszcz¹
Toruń² |
C |
17,969.72 |
2,100,771 |
04 |
Pomeranian Voivodeship |
Gdańsk |
G |
18,292.88 |
2,192,268 |
22 |
West Pomeranian Voivodeship |
Szczecin |
Z |
22,901.48 |
1,732,838 |
32 |
(¹) - the site of the Voivod office. (²) - the site of the Voivod council |
Polish Pomerania total |
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59,164.08 |
6,025,877 |
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Nordvorpommern |
Grimmen |
NPV |
2,168 |
117,722 |
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Ostvorpommern |
Anklam |
OVP |
1,910 |
113,623 |
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Rügen |
Bergen auf Rügen |
RÜG |
974 |
74,400 |
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Uecker-Randow |
Pasewalk |
UER |
1,624 |
83,459 |
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Demmin (district) |
Demmin |
DM |
1,921 |
93,700 |
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Greifswald |
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HGW |
52.2 |
52,984 |
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Stralsund |
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HST |
est. 52.2 |
60,000 |
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German Pomerania total |
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8,701 |
595,888 |
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The biggest cities are (with population figures for 1999):
- in Polish Pomerania
- Tricity metropolitan area (population (2001): 1,035,000; area 1,332,51 km²), including:
- Gdańsk (458,988) (1905: 159,685)
- Gdynia (253,521)
- Sopot (46,000)
- Szczecin (416,988) (1905: 224,078)
- Bydgoszcz (369,151)
- Toruń (206,158)
- Koszalin (112,375)
- Słupsk (102,370)
- Grudziądz (98,000)
- Stargard Szczeciński (72,000)
and Świnoujście, Kołobrzeg, Sopot, Malbork, Kwidzyn, Szczecinek, Lębork, Chojnice, Iława, Ostróda, Police, Wałcz
- in German Pomerania
- Greifswald (52,984)
- Stralsund (63,000)
- Wolgast
- Barth
History
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Main article: History of Pomerania
History of Pomerania |
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Early history
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Early Middle Ages
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High Middle Ages
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Late Middle Ages
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Early Modern Age
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1806-1933
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1933-1950
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1950-present
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Prehistory and Early Middle Ages
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Main articles: Early history of Pomerania and Pomerania during the Early Middle Ages
The history of settlement in Pomerania goes back some 10,000 years. Archeological traces have been found of megalith cultures after the Ice Age, followed by Baltic tribes in the Bronze Age, Germanic tribes and, in the Middle Ages, Slavic tribes. Written records appear in the 10th century mentioning repeated conflicts between the Slavic Pomeranian tribes and early Poland. Polish dukes on several occasions subdued parts of the region from the southeast, while the Holy Roman Empire and Denmark augmented their territory from the west and north.
High Middle Ages to Early Modern Age
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Main articles: Pomerania during the High Middle Ages, Pomerania during the Late Middle Ages, and Pomerania during the Early Modern Age
In the High Middle Ages, the area was ruled by local dukes of the House of Pomerania (Griffins) and the Samborides, at various times vassals of Denmark, the Holy Roman Empire and Poland. From the late 12th century, the Griffin Duchy of Pomerania stayed with the Holy Roman Empire and the Principality of Rugia with Denmark, while Denmark, Brandenburg, Poland and the Teutonic Knights struggled for control in Samboride Pomerelia. The Teutonic Knights succeeded in integrating Pomerelia into their monastic state in the early 14th century. Meanwhile the Ostsiedlung started to turn Pomerania into a German-settled area; the remaining Slavic Pomeranians, who became known as Kashubians, continued to settle within the rural East. In 1325 the line of the princes of Rugia (Rügen) died out, and the principality was inherited by the Griffins. In 1466, with the Teutonic Order's defeat, Pomerelia became subject to the Polish Crown as a part of Royal Prussia. While the Duchy of Pomerania adopted the Protestant reformation in 1534, the Kashubians of Pomerelia remained with the Roman Catholic Church. The Thirty Years' War severely ravaged and depopulated most of Pomerania. With the extinction of the Griffin house during the same period, the Duchy of Pomerania was divided between the Swedish Empire and Brandenburg-Prussia in 1648.
Modern Age
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Main articles: History of Pomerania (1806-1933), History of Pomerania (1933-1950), and History of Pomerania (1950-present)
Prussia gained the southern parts of Swedish Pomerania in 1720, Pomerelia in 1772, and the remainder of Swedish Pomerania in 1815. The former Duchy of Pomerania was reorganized into the Prussian Province of Pomerania, while Pomerelia was transformed into the Province of West Prussia. With Prussia, both provinces joined the newly constituted German Empire in 1871. Following the empire's defeat in World War I, Pomerelian territory formed the Polish Corridor and the Free City of Danzig. Germany's Province of Pomerania was expanded in 1938 to include northern parts of the former Province of Posen–West Prussia, and in 1939 the annexed Polish Corridor became part of the wartime "Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia".
After Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II, the German–Polish border was shifted west to the Oder–Neisse line. The German population of the areas east of the line was expelled, and the area was resettled with Poles (some themselves expellees from former eastern Poland) and some Ukrainians (resettled under Operation Wisła). Western Pomerania (Vorpommern) remained in Germany, although Stettin (Szczecin), Police and Swinemünde (Świnoujście) went to Poland despite being west of the Oder. Today German Pomerania forms the eastern part of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, while the Polish part of the region is divided between West Pomeranian Voivodeship and Pomeranian Voivodeship, with their capitals in Szczecin and Gdańsk respectively.
History of Pomerania |
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Early history of Pomerania (before the Migration Period) |
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Ertebølle-Ellerbek culture · Linear Pottery culture · Funnelbeaker culture · Havelland culture · Corded Ware culture · Nordic Bronze Age · Lusatian culture · Jastorf culture · Pomeranian culture · Oxhöft (Oksywie) culture · Willenberg (Wielbark) Culture
Indo-Europeans · Veneti · Germanic peoples · Goths · Rugians · Gepides · Slavs
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Pomerania during the Early Middle Ages (Migration Period to 11th century) |
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Billung march (936-983) · Northern march (936-983) · Jomsvikings · Slavic Pomeranians: Early Pomeranian duchies (before 1121) · Rani: Rani kingdom (before 1168) · Veleti, Liuticians, Lutician Federation (983-1068) · Gützkow (before 1128)
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Pomerania during the High Middle Ages (12th and 13th centuries) |
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Principality of Rugia · Duchy of Pomerania · County of Gützkow · Lands of Schlawe and Stolp · Duchies of Pomerelia · List of Pomeranian duchies and dukes · Ostsiedlung · German Pomeranians · Uckermark · Circipania · Diocese of Kammin
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Pomerania during the Late Middle Ages (14th and 15th centuries) |
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Principality of Rugia · Duchy of Pomerania · Lands of Schlawe and Stolp · Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights · Lauenburg and Bütow Land · Uckermark
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Pomerania during the Early Modern Age (16th to 18th centuries) |
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History of Pomerania (1806-1933) |
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Province of Pomerania · West Prussia · Polish Corridor · Free City of Danzig · Posen-West Prussia
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History of Pomerania (1933-1950) |
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History of Pomerania (1950-present) |
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Historical Demography of Pomerania |
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Goths · Rugians · Rani · Veleti/Liuticians · Slavic Pomeranians · Ostsiedlung · German Pomeranians · Expulsion of Germans
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Treaties affecting Pomerania |
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Treaty of Kremmen (1236) · Treaty of Landin (1250) · Treaty of Soldin (1309) · Treaty of Templin (1317) · Peace of Thorn (1411) · Second Peace of Thorn (1466) · Treaty of Prenzlau (1448/72/79) · Treaty of Stettin (1570) · Treaty of Stettin (1630) · Peace of Westphalia (1648) · Treaty of Stettin (1653) · Treaty of Labiau (1656) · Treaty of Wehlau (1657) · Treaty of Bromberg (1657) · Peace of Oliva (1660) · Peace of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1679) · Treaty of Frederiksborg (1720) · Treaty of Stockholm (1720) · Treaty of Kiel (1814) · Congress of Vienna (1815) · Treaty of Versailles (1919) · Potsdam Agreement (1945)
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Historical Regions |
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Western Pomerania · Farther Pomerania · Lands of Schlawe and Stolp · Lauenburg and Bütow Land · Draheim · Pomerelia
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Timeline
- 2000 BC: Baltic peoples
- 1200 BC: Germanic peoples (e.g. the Rugians) until the Migration Period
- 6th century AD: Germanic Goth and Getae, Gutones, Vidivarier, Aesti, are recorded by Jordanes at Gothiscandza
- Slavic peoples, such as the Volinians, Liuticians start to arrive
- 918: western parts March of the Billungs (Duchy of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire)
- 10th–12th century: several warlords try to conquer Pomerania
- Harald I of Denmark and later kings
- Mieszko I of Poland since 970, succeeded in 979 between Oder and Vistula
- 1005: Pomerania regains independence
- 1040: war between the Duke of Poland Casimir I the Restorer and a Zemuzil, Duke of Pomerania
- 1046: negotiations between the dukes in Meißen, Pomerania remains independent but has to pay a yearly tribute to Poland
- 1116–1121: Bolesław III Wrymouth conquers Pomerania, first known dukes of the Griffins (West) and Samborides (East)
- 1135-1138: Griffin duchy regains independece
- Denmark (1168/1186–1227)
- 1168: Danish expedition lead by Roskilde archbishop Absalon takes Duchy of Rügen
- 1170s and early 1180s: various encounters between Pomeranians and Danes. Danes raid Circipania and Wolin
- 1186 All Pomerania under Danish control
- 1227 Denmark defeated in Bornhöved battle, Danish unable to keep Pomerania thereafter
- various small duchies; see Griffins (until 1637), Samborides, Pomeranian duchies and dukes
- Holy Roman Empire
- 1150: Brandenburg Albert the Bear
- 1164: Henry the Lion in the Battle of Verchen defeats the Griffin dukes who join Henry's Duchy of Saxony
- 1181: Bogislaw I of the Griffins, son of Wartislaw I, swears allegiance to Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa[1] after he had dissolved Henry the Lion's duchy
- 1308: The monastic state of the Teutonic Knights purchases the Margraviate of Brandenburg's disputed claim to Pomerelia (Gdańsk-Pomerania) after conquering the territory[2]
- 1466: Second Peace of Thorn: the Teutonic Order cedes Pomerelia to the King of Poland as part of what is later called Royal Prussia
- 1648: Peace of Westphalia, Hither Pomerania becomes Swedish Pomerania
- several wars between Brandenburg-Prussia, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Sweden[3]
- German Confederation, German Empire
- 1815: all of Pomerania within the Kingdom of Prussia[4]
- After World War I
- 1919: Treaty of Versailles, most of West Prussia (including Pomerelia or Gdańsk-Pomerania) becomes part of the Second Polish Republic as the so-called Polish Corridor
- 1939: Nazi Germany annexes the territories lost in 1919
- 1945: Soviet capture, Oder-Neisse line becomes new border between Poland and Germany, the historical duchy / province of Pomerania ceases to exist
- 1945/46: Pomeranian population from Farther and Eastern Hither Pomerania, except for Polish and Kashubs, is expelled to post-war Germany, as well as the German population of all other "German territories under Polish and Soviet control". The area is resettled and rebuilt by Polish who were expelled from Polish settlement areas annexed by the Soviets. Hither Pomerania without the Stettin/Szczeczin area and Wollin/Wolin was fused with Mecklenburg to form the (East-) German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the former Farther Pomeranian area is roughly represented by Polish West Pomerania
Museums
The Pomeranian State Museum in Greifswald, dedicated to the history of Pomerania, has a variety of archeological findings and artefacts from the different periods covered in this article. At least 50 museums in Poland cover history of Pomerania, the most important of them The National Museum in Gdańsk[5], The Malbork Castle Museum [6], Ethnographic Museum in Toruń [7], Central Pomerania Museum in Słupsk [8], Darłowo Museum [9], Koszalin Museum [10], National Museum in Szczecin [11].
See also
- History of Pomerania
- Kashubian-Pomeranian Association
- Pomerania State Museum
- Pomeranian
Further reading
Publications in English
- Byrnes, James F., Speaking Frankly, New York, 1947.
- Keesing's Research Report, Germany and Eastern Europe since 1945, New York, 1973, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 72-7729. ISBN 0-684-13190-0
- de Zayas, Alfred M, Nemesis at Potsdam, Routledge, (1st edition 1977), Revised edition 1979, ISBN 0-7100-0458-3
- Boehlke, LeRoy, Pomerania - Its People and Its History, Pommerscher Verein Freistadt, Germantown, WI, U.S.A., 1983.
- von Krockow, Christian, Hour of the Women, UK edition 1992, Faber & Faber, ISBN 0-571-14320-2
- Herrick, Linda, & Wendy Uncapher, Pomerania - Atlantic Bridge to Germany, Origins, Janesville, WI, U.S.A., 2005.
Publications in Polish
- Gerard Labuda (ed.), Historia Pomorza, vol. I (to 1466), parts 1–2, Poznań 1969
- Gerard Labuda (ed.), Historia Pomorza, vol. II (1466–1815), parts 1–2, Poznań 1976
- Gerard Labuda (ed.), Historia Pomorza, vol. III (1815–1850), parts 1–3, Poznań
- Gerard Labuda (ed.), Historia Pomorza, vol. IV (1850–1918), part 1, Toruń 2003
- Marian Biskup (ed.), Śląsk i Pomorze w historii stosunków polsko-niemieckich w średniowieczu. XII Konferencja Wspólnej Komisji Podręcznikowej PRL-RFN Historyków 5–10 VI 1979 Olsztyn, Instytut Zachdni, Poznań 1987
- Antoni Czubiński, Zbigniew Kulak (ed.), Śląsk i Pomorze w stosunkach polsko-niemieckich od XVI do XVII w. XIV Konferencja Wspólnej Komisji Podręcznikowej PRL-RFN Historyków, 9–14 VI 1981 r. Zamość, Instytut Zachodni, Poznań 1987
- Szkice do dziejów Pomorza, vol. 1-3, Warszawa 1958–61
- B. Wachowiak, Rozwój gospodarczo-społeczny Pomorza Zachodniego od połowy XV do początku XVII wieku, Studia i Materiały do dziejów Wielkopolski i Pomorza, 1958, z. 1
- J. Wiśniewski, Początki układu kapitalistycznego na Pomorzu Zachodnim w XVIII wieku, Studia i Materiały do dziejów Wielkopolski i Pomorza, 1958, z. 1
- A. Wielopolski, Gospodarka Pomorza Zachodniego w latach 1800–1918, Szczecin 1959
- W. Odyniec, Dzieje Prus Królewskich (1454–1772). Zarys monograficzny, Warszawa 1972
- Dzieje Pomorza Nadwiślańskiego od VII wieku do 1945 roku, Gdańsk 1978
- Zygmunt Boras, "Książęta Pomorza Zachodniego", Poznań 1969, 1978, 1996
- Zygmunt Boras, "Stosunki polsko-pomorskie w XVI w", Poznań 1965
- Zygmunt Boras, "Związki Śląska i Pomorza Zachdoniego z Polską w XVI wieku", Poznań 1981
- Kazimierz Kozłowski, Jerzy Podralski, "Poczet Książąt Pomorza Zachodniego", KAW, Szczecin 1985
- Lech Bądkowski, W. Samp. "Poczet książąt Pomorza Gdańskiego", Gdańsk 1974
- B. Śliwiński, "Poczet książąt gdańskich", Gdańsk 1997
- Wojciech Myślenicki, "Pomorscy sprzymierzenscy Jagiellończyków", Wydawnictwo Poznańskie, Poznań 1979
- Józef Spors, "Podziały administracyjne Pomorza Gdańskiego i Sławieńsko-Słupskiego od XII do początków XIV w", Słupsk 1983
- Kazimierz Ślaski, "Podziały terytorialne Pomorza w XII-XII w.", Poznań 1960
- Benon Miśkiewicz, "Z dziejów wojennych Pomorza Zachodniego. Cedynia 972-Siekierki 1945", Wydawnictwo Poznańskie, Poznań 1972
Publications in German
- M. Wehrmann, Geschichte von Pommern, vol. 1–2, Gotha 1919–21
- M. Spahn, Verfassungs- und Wirtschaftsgeschichte des Herzogtums Pommern von 1476 bis 1625, Leipzig 1896
- B. Schumacher, Geschichte Ost- und Westpreussens, Würzburg 1959
External links
Internet directories
Culture and history
Maps of Pomerania