Figure 1.--The first shots of World war II were fired in Danzig. The city would remain in Germans hands until th last month oif the War. Here are German Soldiers with children at the Krantor in Danzig, a vestige of the city's Hanseatic past. It is the most famous landmark of Gdańsk, erected in the style of Brick Gothic. From the very beginning of the city it served both as a city gate as well as a harbor crane. The sign says, "Hafenrundfähre nach Neufahrwasser und Weichselmünde". That means harbor ferry to two port forts. Click on the image for an enlsrgement.

Danzig since its creation has been on the borderline between Poland and Germany. It began as a largely Polish town (10th century AD) and is is one of the oldest Polish cities. The German Hansiatic League played an important role in Germanizing ports throughout the Baltic. The city like East Prussia, however, was beyond the boundaries of the Holy Roman Empire, meaning the principal German cultural area. Danzig developed into a predominantly German City with set in a largely Polish countrside. There was also a Dutch influence. Danzig not only was a German city, but it once had a sizable Dutch community. The Old Town is a marvel of Dutch-inspired architecture. Many Dutch-German Mennonites settled there and also other Dutch merchants who had their own ships. They had an important impact on the economy. They also were contributed to the developing city by helping with typical Dutch work like building dikes in the Vistula Delta with their yearly floodings. Napoleon described Danzig as ‘the key to everything’ when he marched his army eastward in the early-19th century. As Prussia expanded after the Napoleonic wars, both Danzig and East Prussia were acquired and after unification becane part of the German Empire. A vibrant Jewish community developed in the 19th century as Germany emancipated Jews. Danzig at the time of World War I had a largely German population with Poles living in the villages surrounding the city. As part of the Versailles Peace Treaty, Danzig was made a free city so Poland would have access to he Baltic Sea and intenationl trade. Danzig was overseen and under the protection of the League of Nations. It was located at the northern terminus of the Polish Corridor or along the Baltic coast. Its status as a free city gave Poland access to the sea. Not making the city part of Poland meant that the largely German inhabitents did not have to live under Polish rule. Both Germany and Poland felt wronged by the League of Nations’ decision. The German residents of the city did not oppose at first the city's new status. The League attempted to protect the rights of the Polish inhabitants who were at first their major concern. The Jewish community was largely Germanized. The NAZIs first won seats in the Danzig Parliament (1930). Local NAZIs took over Parliament soon after Hitler was appointed Chancellor (1933). They proceded to thourgly NAZIfy the city. They supressed the democratic opposition, although not as rutlessly as in the Reich itself. They befgan to take actions against the city's small Jewish population, most of which fled the city. Danzingers enthusatically welcomed German troops when Hitler launched world War II by invaing oland. There was joyous celebration when he visited the city 2 weeks later. With the victory over Poland, Germany abolished the Free City and annexed the city, incorporating it into the newly formed Reichsgau of Danzig-West Prussia. The new NAZI authorities revoked the citizenship of the Poles and Jews still living in the city and reclassified them as 'subjects of the state'. They were subjecting them to forced labor and expulsions. Many were arrested and interned in SS concentration camps, especially Stutthof. Much the same was going on througout Grman occupied western Poland. The whole process, however occurred much more rapidly in Danzig than the rest of the occupied areas. Red Army troops reached the city (ealy 1945). The Whermacht was by this time broken and unable to effectively resist. Germans fled the city. Many who remained were killed. Surviving ethnic Germans were expelled to the West by Sovie and Polish authorities. The pre-war Polish minority and other Poles started returning to the city. The city became part of Poland under the terms of the Potsdam Agreement. This was part of Stalin's decision to shift Poland west. Danzig is now known by its Polish name Gadansk and become famous as the birthplace of Solidarity and Polish resistance to the Soviets and Communism.

History

Danzig since its creation has been on the borderline between Poland and Germany. It began as a largely Polish town (10th century AD) and is is one of the oldest Polish cities. The German Hansiatic League played an important role in Germanizing ports throughout the Baltic. The city like East Prussia, however, was beyond the boundaries of the Holy Roman Empire, meaning the principal German cultural area. Danzig as other souther Bsltic ports developed into a predominantly German City with set in a largely Polish countrside. There was also a Dutch influence. Danzig not only was a German city, but it once had a sizable Dutch community. The Old Town is a marvel of Dutch-inspired architecture. Many Dutch-German Mennonites settled there and also other Dutch merchants who had their own ships. They had an important impact on the economy. They also were contributed to the developing city by helping with typical Dutch work like building dikes in the Vistula Delta with their yearly floodings. Napoleon described Danzig as ‘the key to everything’ when he marched his army eastward in the early-19th century. As Prussia expanded after the Napoleonic wars, both Danzig and East Prussia were acquired and after unification becane part of the German Empire.

Jewish Community

A vibrant Jewish community developed in the 19th century as Germany emancipated Jews. There are records of Jews in Gdańsk from a early period (11th century). The number was small and limited with the arrival of the Tutonic Knights and growing German character of the city. The Germans tended to be more hostile to Jews than th Poles and Lithuanians. Thus the status of Jews varied with the rising fortunes of Germans and Poles. A small Jewish community develops (15th century). The city finally became incorporated as part of Prussia in the Second Partition (1793). The German community becomes Germaized. As Jews were emancipated in Prussia and the German Empire, more but still small numbers of Jews began to settle in Danzig. Gradually a vibrant Jewish community developed in the city which was similar in many respects to the many liberal and higly asimilated Jewish communities developing throughout Germany. The Danzig Jewish community maintained comntact with Eastern European Jewish communities, especilly those in Poland, at the time part of the Tsarist Empire. They thus had active commercial dealings with Poland. The Danzig Jewish communnity was notably diverse, including in addition tgo German Jews, both Polish and Russian Jews. There was occasional hrasment by Prussian authoriitie, but this was limited by Chancelor Bismrck's favorable assessment of the Jews and full emncipation, giving Jews the full prptection of German law. After World War I, the local Jewish community increased as many Polish Jews used Danzig as aay post for emigration. Some styed especially after the United states restricted immigration (1924). The German Jews retined political leadership and with the rise of the NAZIs had to face the increasinly difficult task of dealing with NAZI authorities without the protection of the law.

German Empire (1871-1918)

The Polish minority in Danzig began to organize (late-1870s). The first Polish organisation was Ogniwo. A Polish bank was founded -- Bank Bałtycki. A Polish newspaper, Gazeta Gdańska began publishing (1891). Two Polish publishing houses began operating. Danzig Poles focused their cultural life around the Church of Saint Anna. Danzig Poles from the "Straż" movement, organised protests against Prussian Germanization efforts (1907). They objcted to bans on Polish language and expropriation of Polish home owners. Danzig at the time of World War I had a largely German population with Poles living in the villages surrounding the city. Danzig was not directly affected by the War which was fought far to the west and east of the city. Germany defeated the Russiuans in the East but fauled in the East. Germany asked for an armistice before the Allies in the West began the invasion of Germany.

Free City

As part of the Versailles Peace Treaty, Danzig was made a free city so Poland would have access to he Baltic Sea and intenationl trade. Danzig was overseen and under the protection of the League of Nations. It was located at the northern terminus of the Polish Corridor or along the Baltic coast. Its status as a free city gave Poland access to the sea. Not making the city part of Poland meant that the largely German inhabitents did not have to live under Polish rule. Both Germany and Poland felt wronged by the League of Nations’ decision. The German residents of the city did not oppose at first the city's new status. The League attempted to protect the rights of the Polish inhabitants who were at first their major concern. The Jewish community was largely Germanized and untiul the rise of the NAZIs not a target.

NAZI Political Control (1930s)

The NAZIs first won seats in the Danzig Parliament (1930). Local NAZIs took over Parliament soon after Hitler was appointed Chancellor (1933). They proceded to thourgly NAZIfy the city. They supressed the democratic opposition, although not as rutlessly as in the Reich itself. They befgan to take actions against the city's small Jewish population, most of which fled the city. Opposition party gatherings were subject to attacks by NAZI Stormtroopers. City radio being were used for NAZI propaganda. Opposition parties were denied access. Government employees were threatened with dismissal if they didn’t support the NAZI Party. The Polish newspaper Gazeta Gdanska was closed. League officials innthe city protested, but were ignored. Hitler Youth units were formally organized. Another election was held in which saw the NAZI vote increased to 59 percent (1935). Stormtrooprs tried to burn the Synagogue, but were stopped by guards (1938). They finally suceded a few months before the War (Match 1939). Most of the city Jews had already left.

Blitzkrieg Danzig (1939)

World War II actually began in Danzig when the German cruiser 'Schleswig-Holstein' shelled the Polish garrison based at Westerplatte (September 1939). These were the first shots fired in World war II. There was no big fight for Danzig. The NAZis were largely already in control of the city. The only serious resistance was put up by the garrison at Westerplatte. As German troops moved into the city, Danzingers enthusatically welcomed them. They were a small part of Hitler's assault on Poland. There was joyous celebration when Hitler visited the city 2 weeks later (September 18, 1939). A celebrating Führer arriving to Sopot on board his armored train, the Amerika. He checked into the Kasino Hotel (Sofitel Grand). He rode in his large Mercedes. All the city bells rang. Royal Road was decorated with red flags with the swastika. He was greeted with banners, "Danzig Grust seinen Führer' (Danzig welcomes its leader). Some streets were laid with floral carpets.He stayed a week, during which time he received a delegation from Japan, visited the Schleswig-Holstein (German cruiser), Westerplatte, and inspected a parade outside Dwor Artus on Gdansk’s Dlugi Targ.

Annexation

With the victory over Poland, Germany abolished the Free City and annexed the city, incorporating it into the newly formed Reichsgau of Danzig-West Prussia. The new NAZI authorities revoked the citizenship of the Poles and Jews still living in the city and reclassified them as 'subjects of the state'. They were subjected to forced labor and expulsions. Many were arrested and interned in SS concentration camps, especially Stutthof. The SS launched Aktion AB. The Polish intelligentsia and other targets were arrested and incarcerated in numerous camps and prisons, including the Victoriaschule, which was used as a interview and processing center. The city jail was also used. Stutthof would become a notorious concentration camp. Much the same was going on througout German occupied western Poland. The whole process, however occurred much more rapidly in Danzig than the rest of the occupied areas.

War Experience

NAZI partisans now totally in control demanded the removal of all vestiges of the Poles. Flags, signs and anything else remotely Polish was torn down, torched and destroyed. The Reich racial policies came into force overnight with the NAZI seizure of the city. The Racial Hygiene Corts established ordered the castration of men and sterilization of women considered dangerous to the 'purity of Nordic race'. There were beheading by guillotine.[Więzienna] The courts in Danzig and the annexed territories of Poland were used to take actions against Poles. Even more commonly actions like evictions and forced renmovals were taken againsr Poles without any judicial action. The NAZIs referred to Poles as 'subhumans' and 'Polish rabble. [Wydawn] Wheb there were court actions, some judges ordered tougher sentences than for Germans because of their alleged racial inferiority. [Wachsmann, pp. 202-03.] Albert Forster was the NAZI Governor and Gauleiter of Danzig-West Prussia Danzig (Danzig and the region to the south). Forster was rfresponsible for terrible atrocities against Jews and Poles. He dilgently pursued the Holocasust. He was, however, somewhat more moderate than fellow Gauletier Arthur Greiser in the adjacent Warthegau . The two argued and Greiser complained to Himmler about Forster. Forster was willing to Germanize some of the POlish population , ignoring some NAZI racual doctrine. He was involved, however in the murder of other Poles. He objected to settling urban GErmans repatriayted frim the Baltics. He needed faemers to replace the Poles he was expelling. The War went well for the NAZIs at first. Danzigers and most ither Germans did not suffer greatly. Casualties at gthe fint were light anbd ratiuining was not severe. Zoppot/Sopot was a popular place for soldiers on rest and recreation. Only with the Soviet invasion (June 1941) did casualties begin to increase and ratioing begin to become more rstrictive. The first real taste of the War cme with the first British air raids. The British abnd then the Americans targeted the shipyards and munitions factories. Facilities in te city produced U-Boats and V1 and V2 rockets. The Zaspa airfield was also hit. The War for most Danzingers seemed far off. Authorities began trnsporting cultural treasures to safrer locations west (1943). The War began to come home to Danzingers (1944). Danzig became a major transit point. With the onset of Soviet Operation Bagration (June 1944), refugees began arrivingf from the East. Growing Allies airpower meant bombing raids became more common. A trickle turned into a flood. The populatrion swollen with refugees reached 1.5 milliomn people. There were no way of feeding or caring for the vast sea of humanity flowing into the city. Suspected deserters were dabgeled from lampposts and trees of al. Zwyciestwa (or Hindenburg Allee . The beautiful medievl city became a Dantean hell.

Red Army

Red Army troops reached Danzig in the final months of the War. The Soviets as part of their East Pomeranian Offensive, reached the Baltic Sea coast (March 4, 1945). The Germans withdrew toward Danzig. The Germans tried to evacuate women, children, and wounded soldiers by sea. There were long lines toi get aboard the availabke ships. The Red Army surrounded the cuty (March 22). The NAZIs were not able to turn Danzig into a serious Fortress City. The fight for the city was relatuvely short, there was no protracted battle , but it lasted 6 days. he Whermacht was by this time broken and unable to effectively resist. One historian writes, "Fighter bombers strafed the towns and port areas. Soviet Shturmoviks treated civilian and military targets alike. A church was as good as a bunker, especially when it seemed as if the objective was to flatten every building which still protruded conspicuously above the ground... Tens of thousands of women and children, terrified of losing their places in the queues to escape, provided unmissable targets" [Beevor] A great portion of the city was destroyed in the resulting battle. Many thousand Danzigers were killed along with a equal numbers of refugees fleeing west froim the Red Army and stranded in the city also lost their lives.

Flight

Germans fled the city. Many who remained were killed. Surviving ethnic Germans were expelled to the West by Sovie and Polish authorities. The pre-war Polish minority and other Poles started returning to the city.

Poland

The city became part of Poland under the terms of the Potsdam Agreement. Soviet policy was to move the Polish nation west. This was part of Stalin's decision to shift Poland west. Danzig is now known by its Polish name Gadansk and become famous as the birthplace of Solidarity and Polish resistance to the Soviets and Communism.

Sources

Beevor, Antony.

Wachsmann, Nikolaus. Hitler's Prisons: Legal Terror in Nazi Germany.

Więzienna, Służba. Okręgowy Inspektorat Służby Więziennej Gdańsk (Areszt Śledczy Gdańsk).

Wydawn, Edmund Zarzycki. Eksterminacyjna i dyskryminacyjna działalność hitlerowskich sądów okręgu Gdańsk-Prusy Zachodnie w latach 1939-1945 (Uczelniane WSP: 1981).

Created: 6:01 AM 12/31/2011
Last updated: 8:30 AM 9/28/2018