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Gdansk

nds:Danzig
Gdansk coatarms
Coatarms

This articleaboutcity, formusical band see Danzig (band).

Gdańsk or Danzig iscity onsouthern coast ofGdansk Bay (Baltic Sea),biggest citycapitalEastern Pomerania region, north-western Poland, andcounty-status cityPomeranian Voivodship withpopulation460,000 (2002). It ismain city ofKashubian region, wherecalled Gduńsk, andbiggest seaportPoland since 997 (whenwas first mentioned as Gyddanyzc).

The citysituated atMotława river (from Old Prussian languageGerman, Mottlau,old Polish Gdania, from whichname ofcityderived), nearswampy area indelta ofVistula river. Its location atmouth ofVistula, whose waterway system connects 60% ofareaPoland, gives Gdańskunique advantage ascenterPoland's sea trade. Inpast Gdańsk mademostthis advantagewas Poland's largest city until 1770.

Tablecontents
1 Originsits name
2 Administration
3 Economy
4 Education
5 Population
6 History
7 Culture
8 Further reading
9 External links

Originsits name

The name ofsettlement was recorded after St.Adalbert's demise997 A.D. as GyddanzycLatin as Gedanum. Withfoundation ascity1224 ADofficial city name was Danzig, reflectingpresence over many centuries ofGerman-speaking population inHanseatic capital, thriving dueextended tradeNetherlandsEnglandproducts delivered throughVistula river. Alternative spellings from medievalearly modern documentsGyddanyzc, Kdansk, Gdanzc, Dantzk, Dantzig, Dantzigk, DantiscumGedanum.

The official Latin nameGedanum was used simultaniously.

The official city seal1224 stated as follows: SIGILLUM BURGENSIUM DANTZIKE

Image:Motlawa_2002_m.jpg

The Motława RiverGdańsk (2002)
larger image

A major regional port since14th centurysubsequentlyprincipal ship-building centre, today's Gdańsk remains an important industrial centre despitedevelopment in1920s ofnearby portGdynia. The two cities, along withnearby spa townSopot, constitutemetropolitan area977,400 people calledTricity.

Administration

The contemporary Gdansk iscapital ofPomeranian provinceone ofmajor centreseconomicadministrative lifePoland. Many vital agencies ofstatelocal government levels have their main offices here:Provincial Administration Office, Provincial Government, Ministerial Agency ofState Treasury, andAgencyConsumerCompetition Protection, National Insurance regional office, CourtAppeal,High Administrative Court.

Economy

The last two decades or so witnessed profound transformation ofGdansk economy. The prime change liesits structure, withprivate sector rising todominant position. Private businesses today representabsolute majority, particularly inconstruction industryservices. Private entrepreneurs provide 80%all jobs available insectorGdansk.

Moving fromShipyardRefinery...
The city's industrial kaleidoscopedominated by traditional linesshipbuilding, petrochemicalchemical industry,food processing. Yet,share ofknow-how-based sectors such as electronics, telecommunication, IT engineering, or cosmeticspharmaceuticalsonrise. Amber processing so specific forlocal economyalso prominent. The economy inGdansk areabased on two cornerstone industries. Onethemshipbuildingits traditions going back tomiddle ages, streamlinedthree key directions: large seafaring newbuilds, ship repairsalterations,boatbuilding. New constructions aredomaintwo enterprises: Gdansk Shipyard - Gdynia Yard Group S.A.,Northern Shipyard S.A. Their product range comprises various vessels, e.g. container ships, bulk carriers, ferries, fishing vessels,special purpose boats. These core production linessupplemented withoffer extended by scoresother co-operating businessessubcontractors who manufacture e.g. ship assemblies. Here, one should mention Wisla Yard S.A., Radunia Yard S.A.,Aluship International,latter specialisingaluminium hullsvarious sizes,ship members Gdansk Ship Repair Yard S.A. isEuropeanworld leaderits field. Most ofincomegenerated from repairs commissioned by foreign ship owners. Togetherits subsidiary, Northern Shipyard S.A.,Repair Yardnow expandingscopeits activitiessupplement repairsalterationsnew constructions. The yard offers ferries, container ships,special projects foroff-shore market. The boat builders from Gdansk produce both replicashistoric vessels,modern luxurious sailmotor yachts. Itworth mentioning that"Sea Clipper",largest sailing cruiser inworld, came fromdocks ofprivate boat building yardGdansk. The second pillarGdansk industry rests on oil processingchemicals. Gdansk Refinery SA issecond largest producerliquid fuelsoil derivatives countrywide (its share inliquid fuel market oscillates around 20 per cent). Thanks torevamp programme ofyears 1995-2000plant doubled its production capacity, improvedqualityits productsatsame time reduced its power consumptionpollutant emission. Apart fromGdansk Refinery,city has two other large chemical plants, thatSiarkopol S.A. (sulphur)?Fosfory? Gdansk Phosphorus Producers (providerphosphoric fertilisers enjoyingmarked presence inmarket). Fregata S.A. specialisingcrop protection products, also enjoysgood market position. Inspectrumindustries presentGdansk theretwo branches characterised by high, though not fully utilised, developmental potential. These aremetal-forming industry (with one oflargest slide bearing manufacturersPoland, Federal Mogul Bimet),industrial machine/ equipment manufacturing. The latter includes ship fittings produced by such companies as Elmor SA, Elektromontaz SA, or Hydroster SA. The proximityGdansk Refinery S.A.easy accessraw materials imported by sea create conditions conducive todevelopmentplastics productionprocessing. The availabilitysea-imported raw materials can also triggerdevelopmentfood processing based on imports. These aims can be achieved by involvingexisting food processorsadding newly pursued investments located e.g. withinportGdansk (such as Baltic Malt, short malt producer).

...to Know-How-Based Economy
The traditional industry linesgradually losing position toindustries based on know-howyieldingcharacteristic high added value. The shift can be observed inactivitiese.g. FarmixZiaja, producersexporterscosmeticsan established position incountry, both presentGdanskfunctioning onverge ofoldnew economies. Several manufacturerselectronictelecommunication equipment well-known homeabroad have chosen Gdansk as their prime business location. These are: DGT (large digital telephone exchanges,wirelessspecial communication systems), Unimor Radiocom (e.g. radio communication equipmentaviation), Micronet (subscriber switch-phonesPBXs), Telkom-Telmor (elements oftelecommunication infrastructure),Satel (electronic alarm systems). Implementation ofstate-of-the-art data transmission technologies isarea pondered byscientistsengineers employed byR&D branchanother Gdansk-based company - Intel Technologies Poland. The city isregistered seatYoung Digital Poland, authorstechnologically advanced multi-medial educational software appreciated bothPolandabroad. Gdansk ishometown ofsecond most popular Internet portal incountry, Wirtualna Polska. ItalsobaseLido Technologies Poland that provides IT back-upone oflargest air carriers inworld,German Lufthansa. Apart from these large enterprises,IT sectorGdansk groups several hundred smaller companies producing specialist software (e.g. forhealth service, architects, andbuilding industry), providing maintenanceInternet services (ISP, Internet service creationservicing). The market prevailingly tapped byIT employersGdanskthat ofresearch staffgraduates ofGdansk Technical UniversityUniversityGdansk. The city authoritiesdeterminedsupportprocesses related todevelopment ofknow-how-based industries underbinding legislation. The attitudereflected inup-dated "Gdansk Development Strategy". The document also emphasisesorientation on developing those sectors that might determinestructure oflocal industry infuture.

EntrepreneurialWell-off



Gdańsk haslargest numberjobsoffer inPomeranian region, althoughdeteriorating national economy andworld perspective have affectedunemployment levelwork performance amongresidents. Oscillating around 10 per centall productive inhabitants,unemployment figurestill better thanaverageall provincial citiesalmost twice better thanlevel recorded nationally. Businesses operating inSME sector must be credited highlycurbing unemployment, andtotal numberprivate enterprisessteadily growing. Moreover, growthrecorded evensuch crucial areas as industrybuilding.
 
Private BusinessesGdańsk
Year 1995 1999 2000 2001
Total 33445 48756 51761 54252
Industry 4488 7068 7479 7720
Building 3268 5541 5846 5905

Source: A Guide toSocialEconomic SituationGdańsk.
Statistical OfficeGdańsk, 2002.
In terms ofaverage pay Gdańsk continuesbe competitive comparedsuch provincial cities as Warsaw or Katowice. The relatively high average remuneration translateshigher purchasing potential amonghouseholds, hence higher turnover ofFMCGdurable consumer goods, which makes Gdańsk an attractive selling market.
Comparedother regionslarge citiescostretainingtop managementtier two managerial staffmoderate. The average remunerationthese job groups20-30 per cent lower thanother large urban agglomerations such as Warsaw, Katowice, or Poznań.

Education

Altogether: numberuniversities: 10 (2001) Numberstudents: 60,436 (2001) Numbergraduates: 10,439 (2001)

many others universitiesschools

Modern division into neighbourhoods

The CityGdanskdivided into 30 quarters.

See here forlist, areapopulation eachthem.
nr
name
population
areakm2
density
os/km2
1 Osowa 8053 13,6 592
2 Oliwa 22431 18,5 1209
3 Żabianka, Jelitkowo 23145 2,1 10923
4 Przymorze Małe 18017 2,3 7786
5 Przymorze Wielkie 36260 3,3 10840
6 VII Dwór 4879 3,2 1 507
7 Strzyża 6569 1,2 5 571
8 Zaspa-Młyniec 16471 1,3 13144
9 Zaspa-Rozstaje 15118 1,9 7833
10 Brzeźno 16514 2,7 6123
11 Matarnia 5613 14,9 376
12 Brętowo 7944 7,4 1074
13 Wrzeszcz 65427 9,9 6622
14 Letnica 2024 4,5 452
15 Nowy Port 12913 2,3 5603
16 Piecki-Migowo 23593 3,8 6224
17 Suchanino 12937 1,3 9812
18 Siedlce 17584 2,6 6684
19 Wzgórze Mickewicza 2578 0,6 4268
20 Aniołki 6774 2,3 2949
21 Młyniska 4551 4,0 1136
22 Stogi z Przeróbką 19866 16,9 1173
23 Śródmiecie 39770 5,5 7219
24 Krakowiec-Górki Zachodnie 2301 8,8 261
25 Wyspa Sobieszewska 3570 34,3 104
26 Kokoszki 4659 20,0 233
27 Chełm i Gdańsk Południe 43264 30,8 1404
28 Orunia-w.Wojciech-Lipce 20317 19,7 1032
29 Olszynka 3514 7,7 458
30 Rudniki 2104 14,5 145

Population


ca.1000: 1,000 inhabitants
ca.1235: 2,000 inhabitants

ca.1600: 40,000 inhabitants
ca.1650: 70,000 inhabitants
ca.1700: 50,000 inhabitants
ca.1750: 46,000 inhabitants
1793: 36,000 inhabitants
1800: 48,000 inhabitants
1825: 61,900 inhabitants
1840: 65,000 inhabitants
1852: 67,000 inhabitants
1874: 90,500 inhabitants
1880: 108,500 inhabitants
1900: 140,600 inhabitants
1910: 170,300 inhabitants
1920: city+rural areas = 360,000 inhabitants (85-90% Germans, 10-15% Poles)
1925: 210,300 inhabitants
1939: 250,000 inhabitants

1946: 118,000 inhabitants
1950: ? inhabitants
1960: 286,900 inhabitants
1970: 365,600 inhabitants
1975: 421,000 inhabitants
1980: 456,700 inhabitants
1990: ? inhabitants
1994: 464,000 inhabitants
2000: ? inhabitants
2002 : 460,000 inhabitants

See also: Population ofTricity metropolitan area (Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot).

History

Early times

Before Gdansk was established,vicinity was inhabited by populations belonging tovarious archealogical cultures ofStone Age, Bronze AgeIron Age. Settlements existed inareaseveral centuries beforebirthChrist. The coast was called 'Gothiscandza' by Jordanes; Tacitus also referredithis Germania. Both historians believedareabe populated.

Itnot sure whether its early inhabitants,Kashubians developed here or migrated toarea, but itsurewere already there byyear 600. Theretraces ofcraftsfishing settlement from 8th-9th,-in10th century - an important strongold ofPomeranian dukesat least 1.000 inhabitants.

Foundation ofCity

Although there were already wooden structures,year 997 hasrecent years been consideredbedate offoundation ofcity itself, asyearwhich Saint AdalbertPrague (sent byPolish king BoleslavBravebaptize his new subjectsPrussia) travelled throughcastleGdańsk (Gyddanyzc):1997 Poland celebratedmillenniumGdańsk's foundation by Mieszko I, DukePolandcompete withportsSzczecinWolin onOder River.

In 1000 Gdańsk belonged toPomeranian provincePoland,tobishopricKolobrzeg, from ca 1015 toPomeranian bishopricKruszwica,in 1124town had been assigned todioceseWloclawek (CuiaviaPomerania), while several crusades were ordered bypopes,'christianize'pagan Prussians.

Spellings ofname from medievalearly modern documentsGyddanzyc, Kdansk, Gdanzc, Dantzk, Dantzk, Dantzig, Dantzigk, DantiscumGedanum.

Capital ofPomeranian Duchy (1138-1294/1308)

In12th century, Poland was divided into several provinces underoverlordship ofHigh-dukeCracow. In realityduchyPomerania was gaining moremore independence. Gdańsk wascapitalan entire dynasty ofdukes,most famous being Mestwin I (1207-1220) Swantipolk IIGreat (1215-1266)Mestwin II (1271-1294)

In ca. 1235city had some 2.000 inhabitantswas grantedcharter (byduke Swantipolk) incorporatingLübeck rights. Moremore merchants fromHansa citiesLübeckBremen settled incity. Gdansk rosebecome one ofmore important tradingfishing ports alongBaltic Sea coast.

In 1282/1294 Mestwin II,last dukeEastern Pomerania ceded all his lands including GdanskDuke (later King) Przemysl IIPoland. After his assassination1296,city was temporary ruled bykingsBohemiaPoland, Wenceslaus IIhis son Wenceslaus III.

Occupation byTeutonic Knights (1308-1454)

Atbeginning of14th century,region was plunged into war involving PolandBrandenburg towest. Brandenburg's claim toGdansk Pomerania was based ontreatyAugust 8, 1305 between Brandenburg's rulersWenceslaus III, promisingMeissen territory toBohemian crownexchangeGdansk Pomerania (the contract was not made).

Duringcourse ofwar, Gdansk was seized (November 1308) byTeutonic Knights, calledby Wladislaw LokietekPoland. Allinhabitants ofcity, both PolishGerman, were brutally slaughtered. The Teutonic Order continued its invasion ofPolish lands, incorporating them into its domains. In September 1309, Margrave WaldemarBrandenburg sold his ficticious claim toterritory toTeutonic Order10,000 marks. At this timecity became also known under its German name "Danzig". This was alsostart ofseriesconflicts between Poland andTeutonic Order. The massacresometimes disputed by some, but nevertheless aftersupposed event there was some stagnationeven reversaldevelopmentGdansk, which could confirm it.

Initiallynew rulers triedreduceeconomic significanceGdansk, by abolishinglocal government andpriviledges ofLubeck traders, but laterhadacceptfact that Gdansk wasbiggest seaport ofregion. Subsequentlycity flourished, benefiting from major investmenteconomic prosperityPoland, which stimulated trade alongVistula. The city becamefull member ofHanseatic League by 1361, but its merchants remained resentful atbarriers totrade upVistula riverPoland, along withlackpolitical rights instate ruled ininterest ofOrder's religiously-motivated knight-monks.

PossesionGdansk byTeutonic Order was questioned alltime byPolish kings LadislausShortCasimirGreat what led toseriesbloody warslegal-suits inpapal court13201333. Finally1343 peace was concluded whenTeutonic Knights accepted thatcontrol Gdansk Pomerania as an alm or giftPolish kings,they also acknolegdedfuedal overlordshipPoland. Polish rightsPomerania were no longer questioned andPolish kings retainedtitle DukePomerania.

LeaderRoyal Prussia (1454/66-1793)

In 1440, Gdansk joinednearby Hanseatic citiesElblagTorunformPrussian Confederation, which was supported by Casimir IVPolandits rebellion (February 1454) againstTeutonic Order's rule. The resulting "War ofCities" or Thirteen Years' War ended withOrder's defeatits surrender toPolish crown (Second TreatyThorn, October 1466)its rightsGdansk Pomerania andrest ofarea subsequently known as Polish or Royal Prussia.

The 15th16th centuries brought changes tocity's cultural heritage. These changes could be seen inarts, language,in Gdansk contributions toworldscience. In 1471,refurbished sailing ship under Gdansk captain Paul Beneke broughtfamous altar painting titled: Latest Judgement (Jüngste Gericht) by artist Hans MemlingGdansk. Around 1480-1490, tablets were installed at St. Mary's church, depictingTen Commandments (1) inLow German language. In 1566,official language ofcity's governing institutions was changed fromLow German used throughoutHanseatic citiesHigh German.

Georg Joachim Rheticus visitedmayorGdansk1539, while he was workingNicolaus Copernicusnearby Frombork. The mayorGdansk gave Rheticus financial assistance forpublication ofNarratio Prima, published byGdansk printer Rhode1540 andthis day consideredbest introduction toCopernican theory. WhileGdansk, Rheticus, who was alsocartographernavigational instrument maker, interviewed Gdansk pilots astheir navigational needs. He presentedTabula chorographica auff PreusseDuke AlbertPrussia1541.

The Danzig printer Andreas Hünefeld(t) (Hunsfeldus) (1606-1652) printedDanzig edition ofRosicrucian Manifestos. Later on, he publishedpoemsMartin Opitz. The famous poet Opitz had died1639his friend,pastorGdansk, known as Bartholomaeus Nigrinus, togethertwo associates editedOpitz poems forHünefeld printing house.

In 1606distillery named Der Lachs (the Salmon) was founded , which produced oneDanzig's most famous products,liqueur named Danziger Goldwasser ("Danzig gold water"), made from herbswith small 22-carat gold flakes floating inbottle. The recipethis wentthose expelled1945western Germany, wherecontinuedbe produced.

From14th century untilmid-17th century Gdansk experienced rapid growth, becominglargest city onBaltic seaboard by16th century owingits large trade withNetherlandsits handlingmostPoland's seaborne trade, trasported viaVistula river. The city's prosperity was severely damaged, however, byThirty Years' War (1618-1648) andSecond Northern War (1655-1660),it suffered an epidemicbubonic plague1709.

Gdansk took partall Hanseatic League conferences untillast one1669. By that timeUnited Provincesother long-distance overseas commercial powers had overtakenBaltic trade centres such as Danzig.

In 1743Danzig Research Society (Naturforschende GesellschaftDanzig) was formed by Daniel Gralath.

InKingdomPrussia (1793-1806, 1815-1919)

Infirst oflate 18th century PartitionsPoland (1772), German-speaking inhabitantsDanzig, aswas usually called, fought fiercelystayPoland whilemajorityPolish Pomerania fell toKingdomPrussia. Danzig was surrounded byPrussian territories until 1793, whenwas incorporated intoPrussian kingdom as part ofprovinceWest Prussia, reverting under Napoleon Bonapartedirect Prussian rule aftersecond brief period (1807-14) asfree city.

The feelinggrief felt bycitizensDanzig when their city was incorporated intostatePrussia was reflected inpessimistic philosophyArthur Schopenhauer. Fromfirst partitionPoland,city lost its function asprincipal portPolish exports viaBaltic,ceasedberegion's largest port asexperiencedprolonged economicdemographic slump.

From 1824 until 1878, EastWest Prussia were combined assingle province underPrussian kingdom. But although Danzig waspartKingdomPrussia,was nevermember of1815-66 German Confederation (Deutsche Bund). AfterConfederation's dissolution,city was included innewly created German Empire1871.

Free City (1920-1939)

Following Germany's defeatWorld War I,Allied power inTreatyVersailles (1919), decidedcreate Free CityDanzig (undercommissioner appointed byLeagueNations) coveringcity itself,seaport, andsmall surrounding territory. The LeagueNations rejectedcitizens' petitionhave their city officially named asFree Hanseatic cityDanzig (Freie Hansastadt Danzig). However,League recognized them as citizensDanzig,thus no longer possessorsGerman citizenship.

The strategic aimPoland wasreturn torelationship Poland hadits main portGdansk before 1772. However, atcrucial timePolish-Soviet war, when Soviet army triedcapture Warsaw, Danzig workers went on strikeblock deliveryammunition toPolish army. This move set both sides inconflict that markshistory ofFree CityDanzig.

A customs unionPoland was createdgaveDanzig Westerplatte port toPolish republic, asPolish military transit depot. The separation ofDanzig port, post officecustoms office undertreaty was saidbe justified by Poland's needdirect access toBaltic Sea. Poland then stationed small squadtroops at Westerplatte. Directly nextDanzig, Poland began buildinglarge portGdynia.

DuePolish-German trade war 1925-1934, Poland was more focused then everhistory oninternational trade. For example,new railway line was buildconnect Silesia withcoast andnew tariffs madevery cheapsend goods through Polish ports rather then German ones. DanzigGdynia becamebiggest ports onBaltic sea. The splendid timeeconomy was badly used by Gdansk, since leaders ofcity were keen on showing their nationalistic views rather then developmentpeacefulfriendly relationsPoland.

The Free CityDanzig - (German Freie Stadt Danzig) issued its own stampscurrency (the Gulden). Many examplesstampscoins, bearinglegend Freie Stadt Danzig, survivecollections. The desirerescindAllied Powers' decision onstatus ofcity's 400,000 citizens,majoritythem local Kasub descents. Nevertheless, itbelieved, that 96 percentthem were believersuncompromised German patriotism,saw no other future than reunificationGermany. This culminated inelection ofNazi Party governmentDanzig's electionsMay 1933.

German incorporationDanzig was onenationalistic territorial claims that every government ofWeimar Republic put on its agenda. WhenNazi government camepowerGermany1933,hadgovernmentDanzig stagemilitary incidentDanzig1934. Both countries were on edgewar, but since Poland had showed its strengthunited political will, Germany decidedcompromise.

A Polish-German non-aggression agreement was signed andFree City's government was ordered byNazisstop making problems between PolandDanzig. PolandDanzig entered brief periodgood economic cooperationprosperity. Neverthless,totalitarian society was being constructed,beingmemberminority -- either Polish or Jewish -- required stamina infaceeveryday actsviolencepersecutions.

In 1939Jewish community decided that all members should leave, not only Danzig, butwhole region, asrealisedwould be soon inhandsNazis. This was successfully achieved.

World War II (1939-1945)

FollowingannexationAustria andSudetenland, GermanyOctober 1938 urgedterritory's cessionGermany. Not surprisingly, Poland refusedaccept this threat and, on September 1, 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, initiating World War II. On September 2 Germany officially annexedFree City. The Nazi regime murderedPolish postmen defendingPolish Post Office afterCOF: this was one offirst war crimes during WWII. Other Polish soldiers defendingWesterplatte stronghold surrendered after 7 daysfighting. In October 1939, Danzig, together withrest ofPolish Pomerania tosouthwest, becameGerman Reichsgau (administrative district)Danzig-West Prussia (Danzig-Westpreussen).

Many Poles from Danzig were sentconcentration camps, mainlyneighbouring Stuthof. KashubPolish intelligentsia were killed inPiasnica mass murder site, estimated at 60,000 victims.

Atbeginning1945 Germany started evacuating civilians from Danzig. MostGermans fledcity, many by seaborne evacuationSchleswig-Holstein. This happened during winter, underbombsin constant dangersubmarines.

On March 30, 1945Soviet Army seized Danzig. Infollowing days, Soviet soldiers were given completely free hand incity. Danzig were scenebrutal violence, rapes, murders,robbery,eventuallycity was set on fire.

The official German history estimates that about 100,000 Danzigers -quarter ofcity's prewar population - lost their lives inwar, includingevacuationSoviet capture ofcity.

Post-WWII

Already beforeendWorld War II,Yalta Conference had agreedplace Danzig, now once again Gdansk, under de facto Polish administration,this decision was confirmed atPotsdam Conference, though no peace treaty makingformal (de jure) was signed. A Communist-led Polish administration was declaredGdansk. Nevertheless,city were seriously devastated.

Polish sovereignty were finally recognized by Germany alongOder-Neisse line.

Afterwar ended, nearly all citizensGermany that remained incity were recognized asenemy aliens, citizensan enemy country. Poles widely believed thatDanzigers' blametriggeringWWII could not be rejected.

Most ofGermans hadface special verification committees that hadjudgepersonal behaviour duringGerman time. Many failed, even if their families' rootsGdansk went back many centuries, orwereKashubian descent, but had shown their supportGermany during WWII. The commiteesoften criticised, sincewere established bycommunist governmenttheir members were not always competent.

Later on, questionscitizenship weresubjectjudicial process. Nevertheless, if somebody was granted Polish citizenship, he was not ableemigrateGermany on his volition. After 1948, Stalin madePolish government closeborderthose who wantedjoin their familiesGermany. PeopleGerman origin were repressedhadobtain special permissionsemigration.

Inwhole process, mostpre-war German citizensDanzig leftGermany

New Polish residents were settledGdansk from other partsPolandfrom Polish-speaking areas east ofCurzon Line that were annexed bySoviet Union after WWII. Many local Kasubs also moved intocity. The city was thus transformed fromcity where mostpeople communicated usingGerman language - portrayedDanzig native Günter Grass's novels The Tin DrumDog Years - intocity were mostpeople communicated using Polish.

Eventually, Polish artisans restored much ofold city's architecture, 90 percent destroyed inwar, but removed nearly all German inscriptions. All German namesstreets, buildings, shipyardsdistricts were changedPolish names, such as Długi TargLangemarkt (Long Market),city's main pedestrian center.

Gdansk wassceneanti-government demonstrations which led todownfallPoland's communist leader Wladyslaw GomulkaDecember 1970,ten years later wasbirthplace ofSolidarity trade union movement, whose opposition togovernment led toendcommunist party rule (1989) andelection as presidentPolandits leader Lech Walesa. It remains todaymajor portindustrial city.

A list of173 mayors ofCityGdansk from 1347March 1945 was compiled bycurrent Gdansk city governmentcan be found on their recent website withinvitation for"First World Gdańsk Reunion", which took placeMay 2002. This list demonstratesshifting ethnicity ofcity's inhabitants beforeafterWorld Wars.

Famous people bornGdansk/Danzig

Famous people living or workingGdansk/Danzig

Culture

to be written yet

Further reading

External links

Internet directories


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