Gdansk, Poland
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Located in the region of Pomerania, and sitting along the , is one of ‘s most important cities. Nestled at the delta of the Vistula River, and with a population of roughly 470,000, is the primary maritime trading port of , housing much of the nations shipyards and maritime industries. has had a long and complex history, marked by the struggle between east and west, and between the ‘s independence and supplication. has been the historical axis upon which both the powers of Germany and have turned, with the ‘s history playing a pivotal role in the rise of each nation. Till this , is a that has on show its rich and storied heritage, with its museums and architecture displaying the influences that formed the today.
Early Beginnings & The Teutonic Order
The earliest traces of settlement in the area date back to around the 10th century AD, with much of the settlement located in the area around today’s , found in the ‘s . The was ruled as part of the Pomeralian duchy of , connecting with the profitable trade routes of the . It is in this era around the 13th century that saw its importance rise as one of the hubs of this Baltic maritime network, later becoming known as the Hanseatic league. ‘s connection with this network over the years saw the slowly grow in size, with sizable populations from German states such as Lübeck establishing markets and trading in the . The early 13th century saw the ‘s playing host to one such merchant settlement around the ‘s .
Following the ‘s takeover by the Danish in the year 1301, the Polish king hired the German military order the ‘Teutonic Knights‘ to retake the for the Kingdom of . However, when the knights arrived in 1308 they instead massacred much of the ‘s population and occupied the , adding the to the Order’s realm, which now stretched from in the west, along the to Estonia in the north. The knights displaced much of the ‘s local inhabitants over the ensuing century, replacing them instead with German settlers. It is also during this time period that began to see further growth again, with abundant trade from and Teutonic Prussia making the wealthy, which was further enhanced with the ‘s accession to the Hanseatic League in the year 1361. As the ‘s demography shifted during this period, the became more widely known as ‘Danzig’, its German name, which would largely persist up until 1945.
and the Free of Danzig
Teutonic rule in Danzig would persist until the year 1454, when the ‘Prussian Confederation’, rose up in rebellion against the abuses of the Teutonic Order, instead swearing allegiance to in . With the aid of the Kingdom of , under the famous King Casimir IV, the former territory of the Teutons was liberated, with the Duchy of Prussia becoming a Polish fief, and the of Danzig being granted exclusive privileges and allowed to operate as an autonomous, or ‘free ‘. Danzig’s time as a free was extremely prosperous, being allowed to mint its own currency, as well as being exempted from taxes and tariffs on trade with , Lithuania, and Ruthenia; which at the time formed a greater political entity known as the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Over the following centuries Danzig would come to be the the largest in the region, reaching its apex around the year 1754 with a population of over 77,000, the largest in Eastern Europe. Danzig’s position as the largest and most prosperous in would persist for years until being eclipsed by the growing , which would later become ‘s capital . This period also saw growing diversity in the again, with Germans, Polish, Latvians, as well as Dutch and Flemish forming a sizable part of the free ‘s population.
Prussia and the World Wars
The 18th century saw the decline of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, with successive wars with its neighbours, such as Sweden, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, weakening the state significantly. The beginning of the end came with a succession of partitions between the major powers, with the first occurring in 1772, and the last in 1795; these effectively dissolved any remnants of an independent Polish state. It was the second of these partitions that saw the transition of Danzig from Polish free , to possession of the Prussian state in 1793. The disconnection of Danzig from the flow of goods coming from the Commonwealth was disastrous for the ‘s economy, which heavily relied upon this as its source of wealth. Danzig was briefly made a free once more between 1807 and 1814 during the Napoleonic Wars, yet despite the ‘s protests in the lead up to the 1814 Congress of Vienna, it was re-annexed by Prussia following the wars.
The status of Danzig shifted once more towards free following Germany’s loss in World War I, and the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. Here the of Danzig operated once more as an independent under special provision of the Polish state, which had also re-emerged following the war. However, unlike its earlier history, this period of time did not see harmony or prosperity in the Polish-Danziger relationship. German nationalism and Nazism was a powerful force following the war, and Danzig’s overwhelmingly German population resented its inclusion in the Polish state, rather than that of greater Germany. Danzig’s Polish community at this time endured extreme discrimination, and policies aimed at Germanisation were rife within the ‘s administration. The culmination of this tension occurred in 1939 with Germany famously declaring ‘Danzig or War’, pressuring to cede the territory or face invasion. However, at this point in the rise of fascist Germany, the policy of appeasement had finally run its course, with the Treaty of Munich declaring ‘Peace in our time’, proving an abject failure. British and French guarantees of Polish independence finally met with German aggression, and with the invasion of Danzig began the Second World War.
Post World War II
In the aftermath of World War II, Danzig was reincorporated into proper, being renamed in its traditional Polish, . Unfortunately during the war, upwards of 90% of the had been destroyed by allied bombing, leaving the decimated. Communist rule in the post-war period saw the forced migration of millions of Germans from its eastern territories, who now lived outside its post-war borders. In addition, vestiges of German or Prussian heritage were systematically erased by communist authorities. Over time, much of the area was gradually repopulated by ethnic Poles, rebuilding the decimated and re-forging anew the identity of the . In later years the would become internationally known as the birthplace of the solidarity trade union movement, which later swept across and put an end to Communist rule in 1989. Today is a popular tourist destination, and major port , dotted with museums and sites dedicated to its rich historical legacy.
Traveling to
There are a bounty of places and experiences to see on a , many of which are easy and suited for a , while others can make for an entertaining ; in either case is certainly a with plenty to see and do. During your , a good to start would be the , the ‘s . The is where many of the ‘s historical buildings can be found, as well as some of its best food. Running through the centre of the is the ‘‘ or , which is the main road running through the centre of the district. At each end of this road is a large gate marking the end points of the way, with the Golden gate at the Western end, and the to the East, just before the . Along the way you may want to see the , an impressive which has stood since 1633, as well as Artus Court just behind it, which also serves as a wing of the history . Back off the main strip you can also see the of St Mary’s, which is the largest brick church in the world, with a unique and distinct style, carefully restored after the Second World War.
At the intersection between the and , just by the the amazing Flemish inspired , you can also find the Hall. The hall is one of the ‘s oldest buildings, and is a remarkable example of Gothic-Renaissance architecture, parts of it even date back as far as the 14th century. Nearby, you will also come upon the waterfront, which straddles the and features picturesque riverside houses, stalls, cafes, as well as a 15th century docking crane or ‘Zuraw’. Further north it is also worth taking a look at the of the Second World War, which pays tribute to ‘s heritage, and the legacy of that catastrophic time. Further afield, you may want to take a out to . Built entirely out of brick in the early 14th century, was a Teutonic stronghold, named Marienburg in honour of the virgin Mary. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of ‘s national historic ‘s. One of the best way to take in ‘s sights and history is with a small group , Odyssey specialises in this kind of , offering a tailored and familiar that is ideal for the discerning traveller.
