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Pomeranian Voivodeship or Pomorskie Voivodeship (Polish: Województwo Pomorskie) was an administrative unit of inter-war Poland (from 1919–1939). It ceased to exist in September 1939, following German and Soviet aggression on Poland (see: Invasion of Poland)
Most of its territory became part of current Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, which has the same capital — Toruń — of the interwar voivodeship.
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This was a unit of administration and local government in the Republic of Poland (II Rzeczpospolita) established in 1919 after World War I from the majority of the Prussian province of West Prussia(made out of territories taken in Partitions of Poland which was returned to Poland. Toruń was the capital. In 1938–1939 the voivodeship extended to the south at the expense of Poznań Voivodeship and Warsaw Voivodeship, and was called Great Pomerania afterwards (see: Territorial changes of Polish Voivodeships on April 1, 1938).
During World War II it was occupied by Nazi Germany and unilaterally annexed as Reichsgau Danzig-Westpreussen "(Reich province of Danzig-West Prussia)." Poles and Jews were classified as untermenschen by German authorities, with their fate being slavery and extermination. In 1945 it returned into Polish possession. 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.
Between April 1, 1938 – September 1, 1939, the Voivodeship's area was 25 683 km², and its population - 1 884 400 (according to the 1931 census). It consisted of 28 powiats (counties), 64 cities and 234 villages. Railroad density was high, with 11.4 km. per 100 km² (total length of railroads within the Voivodeship's area was 1 887 km., second in the whole country). Forests covered 26.7% of the Voivodeship, which was higher than the national average (in 1937 the average was 22.2%).
Pomorskie Voivodeship was one of the richest and best developed in interwar Poland. With numerous cities and well-developed rail, it also provided the country with access to the Baltic Sea. Only 8.3% of population was illiterate, which was much lower than the national average of 23.1% (as for 1931). Poles made up majority of population (88%). After World War I the number of Germans was 117,251 in 1926 and 107,555 in 1934.[1] 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 for August 31, 1939:
Biggest cities of the Voivodeship were (data according to the 1931 Polish census):
According to Polish census figures the German minority in 1921 counted 18.8% of the overall population(with 175.771 Germans still remaining in Polish areas), while in 1931 it counted 9.6%(104.992 Germans remaining)[2] Other more detailed estimates below:
| County (German name in brackets)[3] |
ethnic German population (1926) | ethnic German population (1934) |
|---|---|---|
| Kościerzyna (Berent) | 6,884 | 5,974 |
| Wąbrzeźno (Briesen) | 7,615 | 7,344 |
| Chełmno (Kulm) | 7,905 | 7,673 |
| Tczew (Dirschau)/ Gniew (Mewe)/ Świecie (Schwetz) | 20,446 | 17,571 |
| Grudziądz (Graudenz, town) | 3,542 | 3,875 |
| Grudziądz (Graudenz, district) | 9,317 | 8,190 |
| Kartuzy (Karthaus) | 4,800 | 3,927 |
| Chojnice (Konitz) | 9,022 | 8,070 |
| Lubawa (Löbau) | 2,078 | 1,689 |
| Wejherowo (Neustadt)/ Puck (Putzig) | 6,556 | 6,305 |
| Starogard Gdański (Pr. Stargard) | 2,909 | 3,418 |
| Toruń (Thorn, town) | 2,255 | 2,057 |
| Toruń (Thorn, district) | 7,107 | 6,738 |
| Tuchola (Tuchel) | 3,170 | 2,861 |
| Sępólno Krajeńskie (Zempelburg) | 10,866 | 11,130 |
| Pomeranian Voivodship (total) | 117,251 | 107,555 |
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