Travel Guide
History of Gdansk
The area around the Vistula delta was inhabited by populations belonging to the various archaeological cultures of the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. Settlements existed in the area for several centuries BC. It is known that the Pomeranians migrated to the area, but it is sure they settled in neighboring areas in Pomerania with the general Slavic people's movement to the north and west from the Pripjet marshes after 600. There are traces of a crafts and fishing settlement from the 8th–9th centuries.
980 - Duke Mieszko I of Poland dedicated a fortress built in the region
997 - The official year of foundation of Gdansk
1000 - Gdansk belonged to the territory later called Pomerania, and was assigned to the bishopric in Kolobrzeg, which after only five years was destroyed in a pagan Pomeranian uprising
1168 - the Cistercians built a monastery in nearby Oliwa (today within the city limits)
12th century - In the 12th century, Poland managed to take control over Pomerelia, yet soon after Poland was divided into several autonomous provinces formally under the overlordship of the High-Duke of Krakow. Therefore, the Pomerelian duchies regained independence. Gdansk was a main burgh (stronghold) of the ruling dynasty of the Samborides, the most famous being Mestwin I (1207–1220) Swantopolk II (1215–1266) and Mestwin II (1271–1294)
1308 – 1454 – Gdansk as part of territory of Teutonic Order
1454-1466 - Thirteen Years' War
1466-1793 - Gdansk as part of Poland
1793-1805 - Gdansk as part of Prussia
1807-1814 - Gdansk as free city
1815-1871 - Gdansk as part of Prussia
1871-1918 - Gdansk as part of Imperial Germany
1918-1939 - Gdansk as a free city
1939 - Germany officially annexed the Free City; The Nazi regime murdered the Polish postmen defending the Polish Post Office: this was one of the first war crimes during the war
1939-1945 - Gdansk Nazi Germany
1945, 30 March - the Soviet Red Army seized Danzig. In the following days, Soviet (and allegedly Polish) soldiers were given completely free hand in the city. Danzig was the scene of brutal violence, rapes, murders, and robbery, and eventually the city was set on fire
1945 - Gdansk as territory of Poland
1970 - Gdansk was the scene of anti-government demonstrations which led to the downfall of Poland's communist leader Wladyslaw Gomulka
1980 - the birthplace of the Solidarity trade union movement called in Polish “Solidarnosc”
Add your comment
Add your comment