View source for Pomerania

{{short description|Historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe}}
{{distinguish|Pomerelia}}
{{redirect-multi|2|Pommern|Pomorze}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| native_name      = <small>{{native name|pl|Pomorze}}<br/>{{native name|de|Pommern}}<br/>{{native name|csb|Pòmòrskô}}</small>
| native_name_lang =
| settlement_type  = Historical region
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 265
| image_style = border:1
| perrow = 2/2/2
| image1 = Calle Dlugie Pobrzeze, Gdansk, Polonia, 2013-05-20, DD 04.jpg{{!}}Panorama of Gdańsk from Motława
| image2 = Torun panorama zza Wisly 2.jpg{{!}}Toruń Old Town
| image3 = Szczecin zamek dziedziniec glowny (1).jpg{{!}}Pomeranian Dukes' Castle in Szczecin
| image4 = WLM - 2020 - Stralsund - St. Nikolai Kirche.jpg{{!}}Stralsund Old Town
| image5 = Dunes of Łeba kz07.jpg{{!}}Dunes of Łeba, Slovincian National Park
| image6 = Die Wissower Klinken.jpg{{!}}Chalk cliffs, Jasmund National Park
| caption1 = [[Gdańsk]] historic center
| caption2 = [[Toruń Old Town]]
| caption3 = [[Ducal Castle, Szczecin]]
| caption4 = [[Stralsund]] Old Town
| caption5 = Dunes of Łeba, [[Slovincian National Park]]
| caption6 = Chalk cliffs, [[Jasmund National Park]]}}
| image_map        = Location of the residence cities of the Dukes of Pomerania (blue) and Pomerelia (ocre) within the modern borders of Pomerania.png
| map_caption      = Contemporary administrative units with ''Pomerania'' in the name, not representing the exact historical region, as they also include parts of other regions
| mapsize          = 270px
| image_shield     = Wappen Pommern.svg
| coordinates      = {{Coord|54.29|18.15|display=title,inline}}
| subdivision_type = Countries
| subdivision_name = Poland<br>Germany
| seat_type        = Largest cities
| seat             = in Poland: [[Gdańsk]], [[Szczecin]]<br>in Germany: [[Greifswald]], [[Stralsund]]
| population_demonym = Pomeranian
| timezone         = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset       = +1
| timezone_DST     = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST   = +2
| blank_name_sec2  = Primary airports
| blank_info_sec2  = [[Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport]]<br>[[Solidarity Szczecin–Goleniów Airport]]
| blank1_name_sec2 = Highways
| blank1_info_sec2 = [[File:A1-PL.svg|32px|link=A1 autostrada (Poland)]] [[File:A6-PL.svg|32px|link=A6 autostrada (Poland)]] [[File:S3-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S3 (Poland)]] [[File:S5-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S5 (Poland)]] [[File:S6-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S6 (Poland)]] [[File:S7-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S7 (Poland)]] [[File:S10-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S10 (Poland)]] [[File:S11-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S11 (Poland)]] [[File:Bundesautobahn 11 number.svg|32px|link=Bundesautobahn 11]] [[File:Bundesautobahn 20 number.svg|32px|link=Bundesautobahn 20]]
}}
'''Pomerania''' ({{langx|pl|Pomorze}} {{IPA|pl|pɔˈmɔʐɛ||Pl-Pomorze.ogg}}; {{langx|de|Pommern}} {{IPA|de|ˈpɔmɐn||De-Pommern.ogg}}; {{langx|csb|Pòmòrskô}}; {{langx|sv|Pommern}}) is a historical region on the southern shore of the [[Baltic Sea]] in [[Central Europe]], split between [[Poland]] and [[Germany]]. The central and eastern part belongs to the [[West Pomeranian Voivodeship|West Pomeranian]], [[Pomeranian Voivodeship|Pomeranian]] and [[Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship|Kuyavian-Pomeranian]] voivodeships of Poland, while the western part belongs to the German states of [[Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania]] and [[Brandenburg]].

Pomerania's historical border in the west is the Mecklenburg-Western Pomeranian border ''[[Urstromtal]]'',{{efn|The border valley is formed by the rivers [[Landgraben (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)|Landgraben]], [[Tollense]], [[Trebel (river)|Trebel]], [[Recknitz]] and [[Randow]]}} which now constitutes the border between the [[Mecklenburg]]ian and Pomeranian part of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while it is bounded by the [[Vistula]] River in the east. The easternmost part of Pomerania is alternatively known as [[Pomerelia]], consisting of four sub-regions: [[Kashubia]] inhabited by ethnic [[Kashubians]], [[Kociewie]], [[Tuchola Forest]] and [[Chełmno Land]].

Pomerania has a relatively low [[population density]], with its largest cities being [[Gdańsk]] and [[Szczecin]]. Outside its urban areas, it is characterized by farmland, dotted with numerous lakes, forests, and small towns. In the west of Pomerania lie several islands, the largest of which are [[Rügen]], the largest island in Germany; [[Usedom]]/Uznam, and [[Wolin]], the largest island in Poland. The region has a rich and complicated political and demographic history at the intersection of several cultures.

==Geography==
[[File:Pomeraniae Ducatus Tabula.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|17th-century map of the [[Duchy of Pomerania]]]]
{{unreferenced-section|date=January 2025}}

===Borders===
Pomerania is the area along the [[Bay of Pomerania]] of the [[Baltic Sea]] between the rivers [[Recknitz]], [[Trebel (river)|Trebel]], [[Tollense]] and [[Augraben (Tollense)|Augraben]] in the west and [[Vistula]] in the east.<ref name=Columbia/><ref name="bartleby.com">The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, 2000, Pomerania [http://www.bartleby.com/61/39/P0433900.html]</ref> It formerly reached perhaps as far south as the [[Noteć]] river, but since the 13th century its southern boundary has been placed further north.

===Landscape===
Most of the region is coastal lowland, being part of the [[North European Plain|Central European Plain]]. Its southern, hilly parts belong to the Baltic Ridge, a belt of terminal [[moraine]]s formed during the [[Pleistocene]]. Within this ridge, a chain of [[moraine-dammed lake]]s constitutes the [[Pomeranian Lake District]]. The soil is generally rather poor, sometimes sandy or marshy.<ref name=Columbia/>

The western coastline is jagged, with many peninsulas (such as [[Darß]]–[[Zingst]]) and islands (including [[Rügen]], [[Usedom]], and [[Wolin]]) enclosing numerous bays ([[Bodden]]) and lagoons (the biggest being the [[Lagoon of Szczecin]]).

The eastern coastline is smooth. [[Łebsko lake|Łebsko]] and several other lakes were formerly bays, but have been cut off from the sea. The easternmost coastline along the [[Gdańsk Bay]] (with the [[Bay of Puck]]) and [[Vistula Lagoon]], has the [[Hel Peninsula]] and the [[Vistula peninsula]] jutting out into the Baltic.

===Subregions===
The Pomeranian region has the following administrative divisions:

* [[Western Pomerania]] (''Vorpommern'') in northeastern Germany, stretching from the Recknitz river to the [[Germany–Poland border]]. This region is part of the [[States of Germany|federal state]] of [[Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania]]. The southernmost part of historical Western Pomerania (the [[Gartz]] area) is now in [[Brandenburg]], while its historical eastern parts (the [[Oder]] estuary) are now in Poland. Western Pomerania comprises the historical regions inhabited by Western Slavic tribes Rugians and Volinians,{{citation needed|date=August 2014}} otherwise the [[Principality of Rügen]] and the [[County of Gützkow]].
* The [[Zachodniopomorskie|West Pomeranian Voivodeship]] (''Zachodniopomorskie'') in Poland, stretching from the Oder–Neisse line to the [[Wieprza]] river, encompassing most of historical Pomerania in the narrow sense (as well as small parts of historic [[Greater Poland]] and [[Lubusz Land]]).
* The [[Pomeranian Voivodeship]], with similar borders to [[Pomerelia]], stretching from the Wieprza river to the [[Vistula]] delta in the vicinity of [[Gdańsk]].
* The northern half of the [[Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship]], comprising most of [[Tuchola Forest#Ethnocultural region|Tuchola Forest]] and [[Chełmno Land]].

The bulk of [[Farther Pomerania]] is included within the modern West Pomeranian Voivodeship, but its easternmost parts (the [[Słupsk]] area) now constitute the northwest of Pomeranian Voivodeship. Farther Pomerania in turn comprises several other historical subregions, most notably the former [[Principality of Cammin]], the [[Nowogard]] County, and the [[Słupsk and Sławno Land]]. The [[Lębork and Bytów]] Land is considered a part of [[Pomerelia]] ([[Kashubia]]) by the Polish historiography, and of [[Farther Pomerania]] by the German historiography.

Parts of Pomerania and surrounding regions have constituted a [[euroregion]] since 1995. The [[Pomerania euroregion]] comprises Hither Pomerania and [[Uckermark]] in Germany, West Pomerania in Poland, and [[Scania]] in Sweden.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="155px">
File:Pomerania in Poland.png|"Narrow Pomerania" or Western Pomerania in Poland
File:EKD Pommern.svg|The German part of Pomerania
File:Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Map Districts Border Mecklenburg Western Pomerania - Landkreise Grenzen Karte MV MeckPomm.svg|The border between Pomerania and [[Mecklenburg]] running through [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]]
File:Małe regaty na jeziorze Wdzydze.jpg| [[Wdzydze Lake]] ([[Pomeranian Voivodeship]])
File:Słowiński Park Narodowy 102.jpg|[[Słowiński National Park]] (Pomeranian Voivodeship)
File:Niechorze Widok z latarni 3 (Piotr Kuczynski).jpg|Typical Pomeranian beach ([[West Pomeranian Voivodeship]])
File:WPN2.jpg|[[Wolin National Park]] (West Pomeranian Voivodeship)
File:Hiddensee Landsat.jpg|[[Hiddensee]] ([[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]]/[[Western Pomerania]])
File:Kap Arkona2.jpg|[[Cape Arkona]] (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern/Western Pomerania)
</gallery>

==Nomenclature==
===Etymology===
In [[Lechitic languages]] the prefix "po-" means ''along''; unlike the word "po", which means ''after''. '''Pomorze''', therefore, means ''Along the Sea''. This construction is similar to toponyms [[Pogórze (disambiguation)|Pogórze]] (''Along the Mountains''), [[Polesie]] (''Along the Forest''), [[Porzecze (disambiguation)|Porzecze]] (''Along the River''), etc.

===Earliest sources===
Pomerania was first mentioned in an [[Holy Roman Empire|imperial]] document of 1046, referring to a ''Zemuzil dux Bomeranorum'' ([[Zemuzil, Duke of Pomerania|Zemuzil]], Duke of the Pomeranians).<ref>Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, pp.23,24, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref> Pomerania is mentioned repeatedly in the chronicles of [[Adam of Bremen]] (c. 1070) and [[Gallus Anonymus|Gallus Anonymous]] (ca. 1113).

===Terminology and attribution of subdivisions===
The territorial designation "Pomerania" lacks a universally accepted definition, since it may refer either to combined Hither and Farther Pomerania only (in German contemporary and historical usage<ref name=eghere/>) or to Hither and Farther Pomerania combined with [[Pomerelia]] (in Polish contemporary and historical usage).

As a consequence, the term "West Pomerania" is ambiguous, since it may refer to either Hither Pomerania (in German usage and historical usage based on German terminology<ref name=eghere/>), or to combined Hither and Farther Pomerania (in Polish usage and historical usage based on German terminology). In parallel, the term "East Pomerania" may similarly carry different meanings, referring either to [[Farther Pomerania]] (in German usage and historical usage based on German terminology<ref name=eghere>e.g. [[:File:Pomerania 1653.PNG|here]] (Sheperd Atlas), or in [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZdAnAAAAMAAJ&dq=western+pomerania+date:0-1940&pg=PA483 old Enc Britannica]</ref>), or to Pomerelia (in Polish usage and historical usage based on German terminology).

As a further complication, the borders of the eponymous administrative units have been drawn disregarding mostly the historical ones. The Polish unit called ''województwo zachodniopomorskie'' ([[West Pomeranian Voivodeship]]) includes the whole Polish part of Hither Pomerania, but only the western two-thirds of Farther Pomerania, with the remaining easternmost one-third ([[Słupsk]], [[Ustka]], and [[Miastko]]) has been part of the ''województwo pomorskie'' ([East-][[Pomeranian Voivodeship]]). The former regional unit stretches however far more south than the historical region, to include the northern part of the historical [[Neumark]], located in the previous medieval border area between Pomerania and [[Greater Poland]] ([[Chojna]], [[Trzcińsko-Zdrój]], [[Myślibórz]], [[Nowogródek Pomorski]], [[Lipiany]], [[Barlinek]], [[Pełczyce]], [[Suchań]], [[Choszczno]], [[Recz]], and [[Drawno]]), as well as a strip the historical [[Greater Poland]] ([[Tuczno]], [[Człopa]], [[Mirosławiec]], [[Wałcz]], and [[Czaplinek]]), or even a small parts of [[Pomerelia]] ([[Biały Bór]]) and [[Lubusz Land]] ([[Dębno]]); in turn the other one comprises only approximately northern two-thirds of Pomerelia but also parts of historical [[Malbork Land]] and Upper Prussia known under the ethnographic designation of [[Powiśle (region)|Powiśle]] and constituting the westernmost strip of historical [[Prussia (region)|Prussia]]; and finally, the remaining one third of [[Pomerelia]] forms part of ''województwo kujawsko-pomorskie'' ([[Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship]]), a further regional unit, in this case bearing a name accurately reflecting historical heterogeneity of its territory. Similarity but to lesser extent, borders of the combined German districts [[Vorpommern-Rügen]] and [[Vorpommern-Greifswald]] deviate significantly in numerous locations from the historical ones with Mecklenburg and [[Brandenburg]]. As a consequence, the common understanding of the terms has started to be used more and more frequently in the sense of the  current administrative units.

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%"
|-
! rowspan="2" |
! West
! colspan="16" | Pomerania
! East
| colspan="5" align="right"| Southeast
|- align="center"
|[[Ahrenshoop]],{{efn|Westernmost Pomeranian settlement.}}<br>[[Ribnitz-Damgarten]] ''(Damgarten only)'',<br>[[Saal, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|Saal]],<br>[[Prerow]],<br>[[Zingst, Germany|Zingst]],<br>[[Barth, Germany|Barth]],<br>[[Tribsees]],<br>[[Franzburg]],<br>[[Richtenberg]],<br>[[Grimmen]],<br>[[Stralsund]],<br>''[[Dänholm|DÄNHOLM]]''
|'''[[Rügen]]'''<br>''[[Hiddensee|HIDDENSEE]]'',<br>''[[Ummanz|UMMANZ]]'',<br>[[Garz/Rügen]],<br>[[Bergen auf Rügen]],<br>[[Putgarten]],<br>''[[Vilm|VILM]]'',<br>[[Sagard]],<br>[[Binz]],<br>[[Sassnitz]],<br>[[Sellin]],<br>[[Thiessow]],<br>[[Göhren, Rügen|Göhren]]
|[[Loitz]],<br>[[Gützkow]],<br>[[Greifswald]],<br>[[Lubmin]],<br>[[Kröslin]],<br>''[[Ruden (island)|RUDEN]]'',<br>''[[Greifswalder Oie|GREIFSWALDER OIE]]'',<br>[[Wolgast]],<br>[[Lassan, Germany|Lassan]]
|[[Kummerow]],<br>[[Sommersdorf, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|Sommersdorf]],<br>[[Verchen]],<br>[[Demmin]],<br>[[Altentreptow]]
|[[Alt Tellin]],<br>[[Jarmen]],<br>[[Anklam]]
|'''[[Usedom]]'''<br>[[Peenemünde]],<br>[[Karlshagen]],<br>[[Trassenheide]],<br>[[Zinnowitz]],<br>''[[Görmitz|GÖRMITZ]]'',<br>[[Usedom (town)|Usedom]],<br>[[Zempin]],<br>[[Koserow]],<br>[[Loddin]],<br>[[Ückeritz]],<br>[[Bansin]],<br>[[Heringsdorf]],<br>[[Ahlbeck]]
|[[Pasewalk]],<br>[[Torgelow]],<br>[[Ueckermünde]],<br>[[Eggesin]],<br>[[Löcknitz]],<br>[[Penkun]],<br>[[Altwarp]],<br>Pomellen{{efn|Easternmost settlement in [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]].}}
|[[Prenzlau]],<br>[[Brüssow]],<br>[[Schwedt/Oder]],{{efn|Districts north of the [[Welse]] river only.}}<br>[[Gartz (Oder)]],<br>[[Mescherin]]{{efn|Easternmost Pomeranian settlement in Germany.}}
|'''[[Uznam]]/[[Wolin]]'''<br>[[Świnoujście]],<br /> [[Międzyzdroje]],<br /> [[Wolin (town)|Wolin]],<br/> [[Międzywodzie]],<br/> ''[[Chrząszczewska Island|CHRZĄSZCZEWSKA]]'',<br /> [[Dziwnów]] (left-bank)
|[[Goleniów]],<br />[[Police, West Pomeranian Voivodeship|Police]],<br />[[Nowe Warpno]],<br /> [[Szczecin]],<br />[[Dąbie, Szczecin|Dąbie]]
|[[Widuchowa, West Pomeranian Voivodeship|Widuchowa]], <br/>[[Gryfino]], <br/>[[Banie]],<br/> [[Pyrzyce]]
|[[Maszewo]],<br/>[[Stargard]],<br/>[[Stepnica]],<br/>[[Dziwnów]],{{efn|Right-bank with historic centre.}}<br/>[[Kamień Pomorski]],<br/> [[Golczewo]],<br/>[[Ińsko]],<br/>[[Dobrzany]],<br/>[[Chociwel]], <br/>[[Gryfice]], <br/> [[Gościno]], <br/>[[Płoty]], <br/>[[Nowogard]],<br/>[[Łobez]],<br/>[[Węgorzyno]],<br/>[[Resko]],<br/>[[Trzebiatów]],<br/>[[Dobra, Łobez County|Dobra]]
|[[Świdwin]], <br/>[[Połczyn-Zdrój]], <br/>[[Drawsko Pomorskie]],<br/>[[Kołobrzeg]], <br />[[Koszalin]],<br/>[[Karlino]], <br /> [[Tychowo]], <br/> [[Bobolice]],<br/>[[Białogard]], <br/>[[Biały Bór]],<br />[[Szczecinek]],<br/>[[Mielno]],<br />[[Kalisz Pomorski]],{{efn|name=gp|Also considered part of the historical region of [[Greater Poland]] in the medieval period.}}<br/>[[Złocieniec]],{{efn|name=gp}}<br/>[[Barwice]]{{efn|name=gp}}
|[[Sławno]],<br />[[Darłowo]],<br/>[[Polanów]],<br/>[[Sianów]]
|[[Ustka]],<br />[[Słupsk]],<br />[[Miastko]],<br/>[[Kobylnica, Pomeranian Voivodeship|Kobylnica]]
|[[Łeba]],<br />[[Lębork]],<br />[[Bytów]]
|[[Biały Bór]]
|[[Czarne]],<br/>[[Człuchów]]
|[[Chojnice]]
|[[Ostrowite, Gmina Chojnice|Ostrowite]]
|[[Borowy Młyn, Bytów County|Borowy Młyn]],<br/>[[Borzyszkowy]]
|[[Czersk]],<br/>[[Brusy]]
|[[Kościerzyna]], <br /> [[Kartuzy]], <br /> [[Żukowo]], <br />[[Puck, Poland|Puck]],<br />[[Władysławowo]],<br />[[Jastarnia]],<br />[[Hel, Poland|Hel]],<br />[[Wejherowo]],<br />[[Reda, Poland|Reda]],<br />[[Rumia]],<br /><small>(so-called [[Little Kashubian Tricity]])</small><br />[[Gdynia]],<br />[[Sopot]],<br />[[Gdańsk]]<br /><small>([[Tricity, Poland|Tricity]])</small>
|[[Pruszcz Gdański]],<br/>[[Nowy Staw]]
|[[Krynica Morska]]
|[[Narmeln]]<ref>{{cite book|last1=Biskup|first1=Marian|last2=Tomczak|first2=Andrzej|year=1955|title=Mapy województwa pomorskiego w drugiej połowie XVI w.|language=pl|location=Toruń|page=129}}</ref>
|[[Starogard Gdański]],<br />[[Skarszewy]],<br />[[Pelplin]],<br /> [[Tczew]],<br/>[[Gniew]],<br/>[[Skórcz]]
|[[Świecie]],<br />[[Nowe]]
|[[Obrowo, Tuchola County|Obrowo]]
|[[Tuchola]],<br />[[Pruszcz, Świecie County|Pruszcz]]
|[[Toruń]],<br />[[Grudziądz]],<br />[[Chełmno]],<br />[[Chełmża]],<br />[[Wąbrzeźno]],<br /> [[Kowalewo Pomorskie]],<br />[[Jabłonowo Pomorskie]],<br />[[Radzyń Chełmiński]],<br />[[Łasin]],<br />[[Brodnica]],{{efn|Part north of [[Drwęca]] with historic center.}}<br />[[Golub-Dobrzyń|Golub]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
|  text-align:left;"|'''Current countries'''
|colspan="8"|Germany
|colspan="17"|Poland
|Russia
|colspan="5"|Poland
|- style="text-align:center;"
|rowspan="2" text-align:left;"|'''Current administrative regions'''
|colspan="7"|[[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]]<br/>(Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania)
|[[Brandenburg]]
|colspan="6" rowspan="2"|województwo zachodniopomorskie<br/>([[West Pomeranian Voivodeship]])
|colspan="2" rowspan="2"|województwo pomorskie<br/> ([[Pomeranian Voivodeship]])
|rowspan="2"|województwo zachodniopom.<br/>([[West Pomeranian Voivodeship]])
|colspan="8" rowspan="2"|województwo pomorskie<br/> ([[Pomeranian Voivodeship]])
|rowspan="2"|Калининградская область ([[Kaliningrad Oblast]])
|rowspan="2"|województwo pomorskie<br/> ([[Pomeranian Voivodeship]])
|colspan="4" rowspan="2"|województwo kujawsko-pomorskie<br/> ([[Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship]])
|- style="text-align:center;"
|colspan="2"|[[Vorpommern-Rügen]]
|[[Vorpommern-Greifswald]]
|[[Mecklenburgische Seenplatte (district)|Mecklenburgische Seenplatte]]
|colspan="3"|[[Vorpommern-Greifswald]]
|[[Uckermark (district)|Uckermark]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
|rowspan="5"  text-align:left;"|'''German terminology'''<br/>(corresponding English term)
|colspan="16"|Pommern<ref name=Columbia>[http://www.bartleby.com/65/po/Pomerani.html The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, 2001–07] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829002114/http://www.bartleby.com/65/po/Pomerani.html |date=29 August 2008 }}</ref><br/>(Pomerania)<br/><small>bounded in the west by the [[Recknitz]], [[Trebel (river)|Trebel]] and [[Lake Kummerow]], and in the east by the [[Piaśnica]]</small>
| style='border-style: solid  solid  none  solid' colspan="15"|Pomerellen, Pommerellen<ref name=Columbia/><br/>([[Pomerelia]])<ref name=Columbia/><br/> <small>After [[Partitions of Poland]], part of the wider</small> Westpreussen<br/>([[West Prussia]])<br/><small>before [[Partitions of Poland]], part of the wider</small> Königlich-Preußen or Preußen Königlichen Anteils<br/>([[Royal Prussia]])
|- style="text-align:center;"
|colspan="10"|Vorpommern<br/>([[Hither Pomerania]], Fore Pomerania)<br /><small>in modern usage the part located in Germany only</small>
|colspan="6" rowspan="2"|[[Farther Pomerania|Hinterpommern]]<br/>(Farther/Further Pomerania, Rear Pomerania)
| style='border-style: none  solid  solid  solid' colspan="2" rowspan="4"|
| style='border-style: solid  solid  none  solid' colspan="2" rowspan="3"|Tucheler Heide<br/>([[Tuchola Forest]])
|colspan="3" rowspan="4"|Kaschubei<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Kaschubei |title=Duden online Kaschubei | date= 12 June 2019}}</ref>
| style='border-style: none  solid  solid  solid' rowspan="4"|
|colspan="2" rowspan="4"|Frische Nehrung<br/>([[Vistula Spit]])
|colspan="2" rowspan="4"|[[Kociewie]]
| style='border-style: solid  solid  none  solid' colspan="2" rowspan="3"|Tucheler Heide<br/> ([[Tuchola Forest]])
|rowspan="4"|Kulmerland <br/> ([[Chełmno Land]])
|- style="text-align:center;"
|colspan="3"|[[New Western Pomerania|Neuvorpommern]] <br/> (New Hither Pomerania)<br/><small>western part of [[Swedish Pomerania]] that went from Sweden to Prussia in 1815</small><br />
|colspan="7"|[[Old Western Pomerania|Altvorpommern]] <br/> (Old Hither Pomerania)<br/><small>eastern part of [[Swedish Pomerania]] that went from Sweden to Prussia in 1720</small><br />
|- style="text-align:center;"
|colspan="5" rowspan="2"|Westpommern <br/>(Western Pomerania) <br/><small>mainland west of the [[Zarow]] and [[Rügen]] archipelago</small>
| style='border-style: solid  solid  none  solid;' colspan="7"|Mittelpommern (Middle Pomerania) <br/><small>mainland east of the [[Zarow]] as well as [[Usedom]] and [[Wolin]]</small>
| style='border-style: solid  solid  none  solid' colspan="4"|Ostpommern<br/>(Eastern Pomerania)
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style='border-style: none  dotted  solid  solid;'|
| style='border-style: dotted  dotted  solid  dotted;'  colspan="5"|Mittelpommerscher Keil<br/> (Middle Pomeranian Wedge) <br/> <small>excluding [[Uznam]] and [[Wolin]]</small> 
| style='border-style: none  solid  solid  dotted;'|
| style='border-style: none  dotted  solid  solid;'|
| style='border-style: dotted  dotted  solid  dotted;' colspan="2"|Lande Schlawe und Stolp<br/>([[Lands of Schlawe and Stolp]])
| style='border-style: dotted  solid  solid  dotted'|Lande Lauenburg und Bütow<br/>([[Lauenburg and Bütow Land]])
| style='border-style: none  dotted  solid  solid'|
| style='border-style: dotted  dotted  solid  dotted'|Koschneiderei
| style='border-style: dotted  dotted  solid  solid'|Koschneiderei
|- style="text-align:center;"
|rowspan="4" text-align:left;"|'''Polish terminology'''<br/>(corresponding English term)
|colspan="15"|[[Western Pomerania|Pomorze Zachodnie]]<br/>(Western Pomerania)<br/>Pomorze Nadodrzańskie<br/>([[Oder]] Pomerania)<br/>
|colspan="16"|[[Pomorze Wschodnie]]<br/>(Eastern Pomerania)<br/>Pomorze Nadwiślańskie<br/>([[Vistula]] Pomerania)<br/><small>before [[World War II]] simply</small> Pomorze<ref name=Columbia/><br/>(Pomerelia,<ref name=Columbia/> literally Pomerania)<br/><small>before [[Partitions of Poland]], part of the wider</small> [[Royal Prussia|Prusy Królewskie]]<br/>(Royal Prussia)
|- style="text-align:center;"
|colspan="8"|Pomorze Zaodrzańskie<br>(Trans-Oder Pomerania)<br>[[Pomerania-Wolgast|Pomorze Wołogoskie]]<br>(Wołogoszcz or {{langx|de|Wolgast}} Pomerania)
|colspan="4"|Pomorze Szczecińskie<br/> (Szczecin Pomerania)<br/>Pomorze Zachodnie w węższym znaczeniu<br/>(Western Pomerania in narrower sense)<br/>
|colspan="3"|Pomorze Środkowe<br/>(Middle Pomerania)<br/>Pomorze Koszalińsko-Słupskie<br/>(Koszalin and Słupsk Pomerania)
| style='border-style: solid  solid  none  solid' colspan="15"|[[Gdańsk Pomerania|Pomorze Gdańskie]]<br/>(Gdańsk Pomerania)
|rowspan="3"|Ziemia chełmińska<br/> ([[Chełmno Land]])<br/><small>ethnocultural region</small>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|colspan="9" rowspan="2"|Pomorze Przednie<br/>([[Hither Pomerania]], Fore Pomerania)<br/><small>in modern usage the part located in Germany only </small>
| style='border-style: solid  solid  none  solid' colspan="6"|[[Farther Pomerania|Pomorze Tylne]]<br/>(Farther/Further Pomerania, Rear Pomerania)<br/><small>usage limited mainly to translations of German texts</small>
| style='border-style: solid  solid  none  solid;'|[[Kashubia|Kaszuby]]<br/>(Kashubia)
| style='border-style: none  solid  none  solid;' colspan="2" rowspan="2"|
| style='border-style: solid  solid  none  solid' colspan="2"|Bory Tucholskie<br/>([[Tuchola Forest]])<br/><small>ethnocultural region</small>
| style='border-style: solid  solid  none  solid;' colspan="3"|[[Kashubia|Kaszuby]]<br/>(Kashubia)<br/><small>ethnocultural region</small>
|rowspan="2"|Żuławy Wiślane<br/>([[Vistula Fens]])
|colspan="2" rowspan="2"|Mierzeja Wiślana<br/>([[Vistula Spit]])
|colspan="2" rowspan="2"|[[Kociewie]]<br/><small>ethnocultural region</small>
| style='border-style: solid  solid  none  solid' colspan="2"|Bory Tucholskie<br/> ([[Tuchola Forest]])
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style='border-style: none  dotted  solid  solid' colspan="4"|
| style='border-style: dotted  solid  solid  dotted' colspan="2"|Ziemia słupsko-sławieńska<br/>([[Słupsk and Sławno Land]])
| style='border-style: dotted  dotted  solid  solid'|[[Ziemia lęborsko-bytowska]]<br/>(Lębork and Bytów Land)
| style='border-style: none  dotted  solid  dotted'|
| style='border-style: dotted  solid  solid  dotted'|Kosznajderia<br/><small>former ethnocultural region</small>
| style='border-style: dotted  dotted  solid  solid'|[[Gochy]]
| style='border-style: dotted  dotted  solid  dotted'|Zabory<ref>{{cite book|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich|volume=XIV|year=1895|language=pl|location=Warszawa|page=201}}</ref>
| style='border-style: none  solid  solid  dotted'|
| style='border-style: dotted  dotted  solid  solid'|Kosznajderia<br/><small>former ethnocultural region</small>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|rowspan="3" text-align:left;"|'''[[Kashubian language|Kashubian]] terminology'''<br/>(corresponding English term)
|colspan="15" rowspan="3"|Zôpadnô Pòmòrskô<br/>(Western Pomerania)
|rowspan="3"|Lãbòrskò-bëtowskô Zemia<br/> ([[Lębork and Bytów|Lębork and Bytów Land]])<br/>
| style='border-style: solid  solid  none  solid' colspan="15"|Pòrénkòwô Pòmòrskô<br/>(Eastern Pomerania)
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style='border-style: none  solid  none  solid' colspan="4"|
| style='border-style: solid  solid  none  solid' colspan="3"|Kaszëbë<br/>(Kashubia)<br/><small>ethnocultural region</small>
|rowspan="2"|Wiselny Zëławë<br/>([[Vistula Fens]])
| style='border-style: none  solid  solid  solid' colspan="2" rowspan="2"|
|colspan="2" rowspan="2"|Kòcéwskô<br/>([[Kociewie]])<br/><small>ethnocultural region</small>
| style='border-style: solid  solid  none  solid' colspan="2"|Tëchòlsczé Bòrë ([[Tuchola Forest]]) <br/><small>ethnocultural region</small>
|rowspan="2"|Chełmińskô Zemia<br/>([[Chełmno Land]])
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style='border-style: none  dotted  solid  solid' colspan="3"|
| style='border-style: dotted  solid  solid  dotted'|Kòsznajderiô (Kosznajderia)<br/><small>former ethnocultural region</small>
| style='border-style: dotted  dotted  solid  solid'|Gòchë<br/>([[Gochy]])
| style='border-style: dotted  dotted  solid  dotted'|Zabòrë<br/>(Zabory)
| style='border-style: none  solid  solid  dotted'|
| style='border-style: dotted  dotted  solid  solid'|Kòsznajderiô (Kosznajderia)<br/><small>former ethnocultural region</small>
|}

==History==
{{main article|History of Pomerania}}{{History of Pomerania}}

===Prehistory to the Middle Ages (circa 400 A.D. – 1400 A.D.)===
{{main article|Early history of Pomerania|Pomerania during the Early Middle Ages}}
[[File:Polska 960 - 992.svg|thumb|Poland with Pomerania under the rule of [[Mieszko I]], c. 960-992. ''[[Dagome iudex]]'' first defined Poland's geographical boundaries (including Pomerania) and placed the lands under the protection of the [[Apostolic See]].]]

Settlement in the area called Pomerania for the last 1,000 years started by the end of the [[Vistula Glacial Stage]], some 13,000 years ago.<ref name=Hoops422/> Archeological traces have been found of various cultures during the [[Stone Age|Stone]] and [[Bronze Age]], [[Baltic peoples]], [[Germanic peoples]] and [[Vistula Veneti|Veneti]] during the [[Iron Age]] and, in the [[Middle Ages|Dark Ages]], [[West Slavs|West Slavic tribes]] and [[Vikings]].<ref>From the First Humans to the Mesolithic Hunters in the Northern German Lowlands, Current Results and Trends – THOMAS TERBERGER. From: Across the western Baltic, edited by: Keld Møller Hansen & Kristoffer Buck Pedersen, 2006, {{ISBN|87-983097-5-7}} {{OCLC|43087092}}, Sydsjællands Museums Publikationer Vol. 1 {{cite web |url=http://www.uni-greifswald.de/~histor/~ufg/mitarbeiter/terberger/Terberger1_LoRes.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=1 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911072452/http://www.uni-greifswald.de/~histor/~ufg/mitarbeiter/terberger/Terberger1_LoRes.pdf |archive-date=11 September 2008 }}</ref><ref name=Piskorski18ff>Jan M Piskorski, ''Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten'', 1999, pp.18ff, {{ISBN|83-906184-8-6}}</ref><ref name=Wernicke16ff>Horst Wernicke, ''Greifswald, Geschichte der Stadt'', Helms, 2000, pp.16ff, {{ISBN|3-931185-56-7}}</ref><ref name=Hoops422>Johannes Hoops, Reallexikon der germanischen Altertumskunde, Walter de Gruyter, p.422, {{ISBN|3-11-017733-1}}</ref><ref>A. W. R. Whittle, Europe in the Neolithic: The Creation of New Worlds, Cambridge University Press, 1996, p.198, {{ISBN|0-521-44920-0}}</ref><ref name="Buchholz pp.22,23">Werner Buchholz, ''Pommern'', Siedler, 1999, pp.22,23, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref><ref name="Herrmann, pp.237ff,244ff">Joachim Herrmann, ''Die Slawen in Deutschland'', Akademie-Verlag Berlin, 1985, pp.pp.237ff,244ff</ref> Starting in the 10th century, [[Piast Poland|early Polish rulers]] subdued the region, successfully integrating the eastern part with Poland, while the western part fell under the suzerainty of Denmark and the [[Holy Roman Empire]] in the late 12th century.<ref name="Herrmann, pp.261,345ff">Joachim Herrmann, ''Die Slawen in Deutschland'', Akademie-Verlag Berlin, 1985, pp.261,345ff</ref><ref>Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten, 1999, p.32, {{ISBN|83-906184-8-6}} {{OCLC|43087092}}:pagan reaction of 1005</ref><ref>Werner Buchholz, ''Pommern'', Siedler, 1999, p.25, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}: pagan uprising that also ended the Polish suzerainty in 1005</ref><ref>A. P. Vlasto, ''Entry of Slavs Christendom'', CUP Archive, 1970, p.129, {{ISBN|0-521-07459-2}}: abandoned 1004 – 1005 in face of violent opposition</ref><ref name="Berend">Nora Berend, ''Christianization and the Rise of Christian Monarchy: Scandinavia, Central Europe and Rus' C. 900–1200'', Cambridge University Press, 2007, p.293, {{ISBN|0-521-87616-8}}, {{ISBN|978-0-521-87616-2}}</ref><ref name="Warner">David Warner, ''Ottonian Germany: The Chronicon of Thietmar of Merseburg'', Manchester University Press, 2001, p.358, {{ISBN|0-7190-4926-1}}, {{ISBN|978-0-7190-4926-2}}</ref><ref name="Borgolte">Michael Borgolte, Benjamin Scheller, ''Polen und Deutschland vor 1000 Jahren: Die Berliner Tagung über den "Akt von Gnesen"'', Akademie Verlag, 2002, p.282, {{ISBN|3-05-003749-0}}, {{ISBN|978-3-05-003749-3}}</ref> [[Gdańsk]], established during the reign of [[Mieszko I of Poland]], has since become Poland's main port (apart from periods of Poland losing control over the region).

{{multiple image |align=left |caption_align=center |perrow=4 |total_width=340 |header=The main burial sites of Pomeranian dukes of the houses of [[House of Griffin|Griffin]] and [[Samborides|Sobiesław]]
| image1=65429 Szczecin zamek ksiazat pomorskich 17.JPG
| image2=Wolgast St.-Petri-Kirche 2013-06-21 17.JPG
| image3=Eldena Abbey ruins V (33895254798).jpg
| image4=Archcathedral Basilica in Oliwa.jpg
| caption1=[[Ducal Castle, Szczecin|Ducal Castle]] in [[Szczecin]]
| caption2=St. Peter's Church in [[Wolgast]]
| caption3=[[Eldena Abbey]] in [[Greifswald]]
| caption4=[[Oliwa Cathedral]] in [[Gdańsk]]
}}
In the 12th century, the [[Duchy of Pomerania]] (western part), as a vassal state of Poland, [[Conversion of Pomerania|became Christian]] under saint [[Otto of Bamberg]] (''the Apostle of the Pomeranians''); at the same time [[Pomerelia]] (eastern part) became a part of [[diocese of Włocławek]] within Poland. Since the late 12th-early 13th century, the [[House of Griffin|Griffin]] [[Duchy of Pomerania]] stayed with the Holy Roman Empire and the [[Principality of Rugia]] with Denmark, while Pomerelia, under the ruling of [[Samborides]], was a part of Poland.<ref name=Piskorski35ff>Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten, 1999, pp.35ff, {{ISBN|83-906184-8-6}} {{OCLC|43087092}}</ref><ref name=Realenzyklopedie40ff>Gerhard Krause, Horst Robert Balz, [[Gerhard Müller (Lutheran theologian)|Gerhard Müller]], ''[[Theologische Realenzyklopädie]]'', De Gruyter, 1997, pp.40ff, {{ISBN|3-11-015435-8}}</ref><ref>Werner Buchholz, ''Pommern'', Siedler, 1999, p.34ff,87,103, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref><ref name=Piskorski43>Jan M. Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten, 1999, p.43, {{ISBN|83-906184-8-6}} {{OCLC|43087092}}</ref> Pomerania, during its alliance in the [[Holy Roman Empire]], shared borders with [[West Slavs|West Slavic]] state Oldenburg, as well as Poland and the expanding [[Margraviate of Brandenburg]]. In the early 14th century the [[Teutonic Knights]] [[Teutonic takeover of Danzig (Gdańsk)|invaded and annexed]] Pomerelia from Poland into [[Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights|their monastic state]], which already included historical [[Prussia (region)|Prussia]]. As a result of the Teutonic rule, in German terminology the name of Prussia was also extended to conquered Polish lands like [[Gdańsk Pomerania]], although it was not inhabited by [[Balts|Baltic]] [[Old Prussians|Prussians]] but [[Lechites|Lechitic]] Poles. Meanwhile, the [[Ostsiedlung]] started to turn Slavic narrow Pomerania into an increasingly German-settled area; the remaining [[Wends]] and Polish people, often known as [[Kashubians]], continued to settle within Pomerelia.<ref name=Piskorski77ff>Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten, 1999, pp.77ff, {{ISBN|83-906184-8-6}} {{OCLC|43087092}}</ref><ref>Werner Buchholz, ''Pommern'', Siedler, 1999, pp.45ff, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref> In 1325 the line of the princes of Rügen died out, and the principality was inherited by [[House of Pomerania|the Griffins]].<ref>Werner Buchholz, ''Pommern'', Siedler, 1999, pp.115,116, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref>

===Renaissance (circa 1400–1700) to Early Modern Age===
{{main article|Pomerania during the High Middle Ages|Pomerania during the Late Middle Ages|Pomerania during the Early Modern Age}}
[[File:RON województwo pomorskie map.svg|thumb|Location of the [[Pomeranian Voivodeship (1466–1772)|Pomeranian Voivodeship]] within the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]]]
In 1466, with the [[Teutonic Order]]'s defeat in the [[Thirteen Years' War (1454–1466)|Thirteen Years' War]], Pomerelia became again part of the [[Polish Crown]] and formed the [[Pomeranian Voivodeship (1466–1772)|Pomeranian Voivodeship]] within the provinces of [[Royal Prussia]] and [[Greater Poland Province, Crown of the Kingdom of Poland|Greater Poland]].<ref>Werner Buchholz, ''Pommern'', Siedler, 1999, p. 186, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref> While the German population in the Duchy of Pomerania adopted the [[Protestant reformation]] in 1534,<ref name="Buchholz pp.205-220">Werner Buchholz, ''Pommern'', Siedler, 1999, pp. 205–212, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref><ref>Richard du Moulin Eckart, ''Geschichte der deutschen Universitäten'', Georg Olms Verlag, 1976, pp.111, 112, {{ISBN|3-487-06078-7}}</ref><ref name="Realenzyklopädie, p.43ff">Gerhard Krause, Horst Robert Balz, Gerhard Müller, ''Theologische Realenzyklopädie'', Walter de Gruyter, 1997, pp.43ff, {{ISBN|3-11-015435-8}}</ref> the Polish (along with [[Kashubians|Kashubian]]) population remained with the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. The [[Thirty Years' War]] severely ravaged and depopulated narrow Pomerania; few years later this same happened to Pomerelia (''the [[Deluge (history)|Deluge]]'').<ref>Werner Buchholz, '"Pommern'', Siedler, 1999, pp. 263, 332, 341–343, 352–354, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref> With the extinction of the [[House of Griffin|Griffin house]] during the same period, the [[Treaty of Stettin (1653)|Duchy of Pomerania was divided]] between the [[Swedish Empire]] and [[Brandenburg-Prussia]] [[Peace of Westphalia|in 1648]], while Pomerelia remained in with the Kingdom of Poland. In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, [[French people|French]] [[Huguenot]] communes were established in [[Gdańsk]], [[Stargard]], [[Prenzlau]], [[Schwedt]], [[Kołobrzeg]], [[Pasewalk]] and [[Szczecin]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Muret|first=Eduard|title=Geschichte der Französischen Kolonie in Brandenburg-Preußen, unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Berliner Gemeinde. Aus Veranlassung der Zweihundertjährigen Jubelfeier am 29. Oktober 1885|year=1885|location=Berlin|language=de|pages=208–209, 211, 256, 259, 266, 269}}</ref>

===Modern Age===
{{main article|History of Pomerania (1806–1933)|History of Pomerania (1933–1945)|History of Pomerania (1945–present)}}
[[File:German Empire - Prussia - Pomerania (1871).svg|thumb|The Prussian Province of Pomerania within Prussia and the German Empire circa 1871]]
[[File:Provinz Pommern 1905.png|thumb|The [[Province of Pomerania (1815–1945)|Province of Pomerania]]]]
[[File:Vorpommern flag.svg|thumb|The flag used in the German part of Pomerania]]

[[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]] [[Treaty of Stockholm (Great Northern War)|gained the southern parts]] of [[Swedish Pomerania]] in 1720,<ref name="Buchholz">Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, {{ISBN|3-88680-272-8}}</ref>{{rp|341–343}} [[Partitions of Poland|invaded and annexed Pomerelia from Poland]] in 1772 and 1793, and [[Congress of Vienna|gained the remainder of Swedish Pomerania in 1815]], after the [[Napoleonic Wars]].<ref name="Buchholz"/>{{rp|363, 364}} The former [[Province of Pomerania (1653-1815)|Brandenburg-Prussian Pomerania]] and the former Swedish parts were reorganized into the Prussian [[Province of Pomerania (1815–1945)|Province of Pomerania]],<ref name="Buchholz"/>{{rp|366}} while [[Pomerelia]] was made part of the [[Province of West Prussia]]. With Prussia, both provinces joined the newly constituted [[German Empire]] in 1871. Under German rule, the Polish minority suffered discrimination and oppressive measures aimed at eradicating its culture.

Following the German Empire's defeat in World War I, however, eastern Pomerania/[[Pomerelia]] was returned to the rebuilt Polish state, while German-majority Gdańsk/Danzig was transformed into the independent [[Free City of Danzig]]. In the interbellum, the border with Poland and the creation of what German propaganda called the "[[Polish Corridor]]" were often contested in Germany. Irredentist claims towards Poland were one of the factors contributing to the rise of the [[Nazi Party]] in Germany. In 1938 Germany's Province of Pomerania was expanded to include northern parts of the former Province of [[Posen–West Prussia]] (part of historic [[Greater Poland]]).

Under the [[Nazi government]], the persecution of Poles in the German-controlled part of Pomerania intensified. In January 1939, Germany resumed [[Expulsion of Poles by Germany|expulsions of Poles]] and many were also forced to flee.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Cygański|first=Mirosław|year=1984|title=Hitlerowskie prześladowania przywódców i aktywu Związków Polaków w Niemczech w latach 1939-1945|journal=Przegląd Zachodni|language=pl|issue=4|page=45}}</ref> The ''[[Sturmabteilung]]'', ''[[Schutzstaffel]]'', [[Hitler Youth]] and [[Bund Deutscher Osten]] launched attacks on Polish institutions, schools and activists.<ref>Cygański, p. 46</ref> From May to August 1939, the [[Gestapo]] carried out arrests of Polish leaders, activists, entrepreneurs, and even some staff of the Consulate of Poland in Szczecin.<ref>Cygański, pp. 46-47, 51-52</ref>

===World War II===
[[File:The Nazi-soviet Invasion of Poland, 1939 HU106374.jpg|thumb|German battleship [[SMS Schleswig-Holstein|SMS ''Schleswig-Holstein'']] firing at the Polish Military Transit Depot during the [[battle of Westerplatte]], 1939]]
In September 1939, Germany [[Invasion of Poland|invaded Poland]] starting [[World War II]]. The first battle of the war, [[Battle of Westerplatte|at Westerplatte]], was fought in the region. Afterwards the Polish part of Pomerania was [[Polish territories annexed by Nazi Germany|annexed]] by Germany, and made part of the [[Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia]]. The [[Nazis]] deported the Pomeranian Jews [[Nisko plan|to a reservation near Lublin]].<ref>Leni Yahil, Ina Friedman, Haya Galai, ''The Holocaust: The Fate of European Jewry, 1932–1945'', Oxford University Press US, 1991, {{ISBN|0-19-504523-8}}, p.138: 12/13 February 1940, 1,300 Jews of all sexes and ages, extreme cruelty, no food allowed to be taken along, cold, some died during deportation, cold and snow during resettlement, 230 dead by 12 March, Lublin reservation chosen in winter, 30,000 Germans resettled before to make room [https://books.google.com/books?id=e_aRvKpLUf0C&dq=stettin+jews+february&pg=PA139]</ref> The Polish population suffered heavily during the [[Nazi crimes against the Polish nation|Nazi oppression]]; more than 40,000 died in executions, death camps, prisons and [[Forced labour under German rule during World War II|forced labour]], primarily those who were teachers, businessmen, priests, politicians, former army officers, and civil servants.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/466681/Poland/28215/World-War-II|title=Poland|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|date=8 July 2023 }}</ref> Thousands of Poles and Kashubians suffered [[Expulsion of Poles by Nazi Germany|expulsion]], their homes taken over by the German military and civil servants, as well as some Baltic Germans resettled there between 1940 and 1943 in accordance with the ''[[Lebensraum]]'' policy. The [[Stutthof concentration camp]] with numerous subcamps was located in the region. There were also numerous Nazi prisons, forced labour camps, and multiple [[German prisoner-of-war camps in World War II|prisoner-of-war camps]], including the large [[Stalag II-B]] and [[Stalag II-D]], for Polish, [[French prisoners of war in World War II|French]], Belgian, Dutch, Serbian, [[Italian Military Internees|Italian]], American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealander and other [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] POWs. [[Połczyn-Zdrój]] was the location of a [[Germanisation in Poland (1939–1945)|Germanisation]] camp for [[Kidnapping of children by Nazi Germany|kidnapped Polish children]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.polczyn-zdroj.pl/node/318|title=Lebensborn|website=Połczyn-Zdrój|access-date=3 November 2023|language=pl}}</ref> The [[Polish resistance movement in World War II|Polish resistance movement]] was active both in the pre-war Polish part and the pre-war German part of Pomerania.

After [[Nazi Germany]]'s defeat in World War II, the German–Polish border was shifted west to the [[Oder–Neisse line]],<ref>"It is difficult to credit with good faith any person who asserts that Poland's western boundary was fixed by the Potsdam conference, or that there was a promise that it would be established at some particular place." See: ''Speaking Frankly'' by James F. Byrnes, New York & London, 1947, p.79-81. Byrnes, a Judge and former State Governor, served as a close adviser to President Truman and became US Secretary of State in July 1945. In that capacity, Byrnes attended the Potsdam Conference and the Paris Conference.</ref> and all of Pomerania was in the [[Soviet Military Administration in Germany|Soviet Occupation Zone]].<ref name="Buchholz"/>{{rp|512–515}}<ref name="Piskorski">Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeiten, {{ISBN|83-906184-8-6}} {{OCLC|43087092}}</ref>{{rp|373ff}} The German inhabitants of the [[former eastern territories of Germany]] and Poles of German ethnicity from Pomerelia were [[Expulsion of Germans from Poland after World War II|expelled]].  Between 1945 and 1948, millions of ethnic Germans (Volksdeutsche) and German citizens (Reichsdeutsche), were removed from former German territory now governed by Poland and other Eastern European countries. Many German civilians were sent to internment and labor camps where they were used as forced labor as part of German reparations to countries in Eastern Europe.  The death toll attributable to the flight and expulsions is disputed, with low-range estimates in the hundreds of thousands (see: [[Flight and expulsion of Germans (1944–1950)]]). The area was resettled primarily with Poles of Polish ethnicity, (some themselves [[Polish population transfers (1944–1946)|expellees]] from [[Kresy|former eastern Poland]]) and some [[Ukrainian minority in Poland|Poles of Ukrainian ethnicity]] (resettled under [[Operation Vistula]]) and few [[Jews in Poland|Polish Jews]].<ref name="Piskorski"/>{{rp|381ff}}<ref>Tomasz Kamusella in Prauser and Reeds (eds), ''The Expulsion of the German communities from Eastern Europe'', p.28, EUI HEC 2004/1 [http://cadmus.iue.it/dspace/bitstream/1814/2599/1/HEC04-01.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001022039/http://cadmus.iue.it/dspace/bitstream/1814/2599/1/HEC04-01.pdf|date=1 October 2009}}</ref><ref>Philipp Ther, Ana Siljak, ''Redrawing Nations: Ethnic Cleansing in East-Central Europe, 1944–1948'', 2001, p.114, {{ISBN|0-7425-1094-8}}, {{ISBN|978-0-7425-1094-4}}</ref> Most of Hither or [[Western Pomerania]] (''Vorpommern'') remained in Germany, and most of the expelled Pomeranians found refuge there, later many moved on to other German regions and abroad. Today German Hither Pomerania forms the eastern part of the state of [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]], while the Polish part is divided mainly between the [[West Pomeranian Voivodeship|West Pomeranian]], [[Pomeranian Voivodeship|Pomeranian]] voivodeships, with their capitals in Szczecin and [[Gdańsk]]. During the 1980s, the [[Solidarity (Polish trade union)|Solidarity]] and ''[[Die Wende]]'' ("the change") movements overthrew the [[Communism|Communist regimes]] implemented during the post-war era; since then, Pomerania is [[democracy|democratically governed]].

Pomeranian dialect and traditions still live in the country of Brazil in a colony where the language is still spoken. The arrival of Pomerania immigrants with Germans and Italians helped form the state of [[Espírito Santo]] since the early 1930s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://midiacidada.org/os-pomeranos-um-povo-sem-estado-finca-suas-raizes-no-brasil/|title=Os pomeranos: um povo sem Estado finca suas raízes no Brasil|date=29 December 2014|language=pt}}</ref> Their importance and respect are one of the cultural signatures of the area. The Brazilian city of [[Pomerode]] (in the state of [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]]) was founded by Pomeranian Germans in 1861 and is considered the most typically German of all the German towns of southern Brazil.

==Demographics==
{{see also|Historical demography of Pomerania}}
{{multiple image |align=right |caption_align=center |perrow=2 |total_width=300 |header=
| image1=Dzewus w kaszebsczich ruchnach.jpg
| image2=1945 Richard Nitsch 1866-1945 Mönchguterin Insel Rügen Öl auf Holz 18-3x14 cm dorotheum.jpg
| caption1=[[Kashubians]] in regional dress
| caption2=Woman in the regional costume of the [[Mönchgut]] area on [[Rügen]]
}}

The German part of [[Western Pomerania]] is inhabited by [[German Pomeranians]]. In other parts, Poles are the dominant ethnic group since the [[territorial changes of Poland after World War II]], and the resulting [[Polonization]]. [[Kashubians]], descendants of the [[Pomeranians (Slavic tribe)|medieval West Slavic Pomeranians]], are numerous in rural [[Pomerelia]].

German [[Hither Pomerania]] had a population of about 470,000 in 2012 (districts of [[Vorpommern-Rügen]] and [[Vorpommern-Greifswald]] combined) – while the Polish districts of Hither Pomerania had a population of about 580,000 in 2012 ([[Szczecin]] and [[Świnoujście]] [[city with powiat rights|cities with powiat rights]], [[Police County]], as well as [[Gmina Goleniów|Goleniów]] [[Gmina Wolin|Wolin]] and [[Gmina Międzyzdroje|Międzyzdroje]] gminas combined). So overall, about 1.15&nbsp;million people live in the historical region of Hither Pomerania today, while the [[Szczecin metropolitan area]] reaches even further.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

Pomerelia is dominated by the [[Tricity, Poland|Tricity]] [[metropolitan area]] (Pomeranian Voivodeship) with its population in 2012 estimated at least at 1,035,000 and the area at 1,332,51&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, encompassing the [[Tricity, Poland|Tricity]] itself with a population of 748,986 combining the eponymous three cities of [[Gdańsk]] (population 460,427), [[Gdynia]] (population 248,726) and [[Sopot]] (population 38,217), as well as the [[Little Kashubian Tricity]] with a population of 120,158 people (2012), formed by the City of [[Wejherowo]] (population 50,310 in 2012) and the towns (urban gminas) of [[Rumia]] (population 49,230 in 2020) and [[Reda, Poland|Reda]] (population 26,011 in 2019). The area also includes two smaller towns of [[Żukowo]] and [[Pruszcz Gdański]] belonging to the eponymous urban-rural gminas, and a number of rural gminas.

{|class=wikitable
|- bgcolor="#C2E6FF" align="center"
|'''Region'''
||'''Seat'''
||'''Registration'''<br />'''plates'''
||'''Area'''<br />(km<sup>2</sup>)
||'''Population'''<br /><small>(Poland 2019/2021,</small><br/><small>Germany 2022)</small>
|-
|[[West Pomeranian Voivodeship]]
||[[Szczecin]]
||Z
||22,892
||1,682,003
|-
||[[Pomeranian Voivodeship]]
||[[Gdańsk]]
||G
||18,293
||2,337,769
|-
|[[Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship]]<br /><small>Pomeranian part only</small>
||[[Toruń]] <small>Voivod council</small><br/>[[Bydgoszcz]] <small>Voivod office; not in Pomerania</small>
||C
||11,980
||1,124,517
|- style="background:#c2e6ff;"
|colspan="3"|'''''Polish Pomerania'''''
||'''''53,165'''''
||'''''5,144,289'''''
|-
||[[Landkreis Vorpommern-Greifswald]]
||[[Greifswald]]
||VG, ANK, GW, HGW, PW, SBG, UEM, WLG
||3,927
||237,355
|-
|[[Landkreis Vorpommern-Rügen]]
||[[Stralsund]]
||VR, GMN, HST, NVP, RDG, RÜG 
||3,188
||227,683
|-
|[[Demmin-Land|Amt Demmin-Land]] and [[Demmin|City of Demmin]]<br /><small>in [[Landkreis Mecklenburgische Seenplatte]]</small>
||[[Demmin]]
||MSE, AT, DM, MC, MST, MÜR, NZ, RM, WRN
||443
||17,301
|-
|[[Treptower Tollensewinkel|Amt Treptower Tollensewinkel]]<br /><small>in [[Landkreis Mecklenburgische Seenplatte]]</small>
||[[Altentreptow]]
||MSE, AT, DM, MC, MST, MÜR, NZ, RM, WRN
||414
||13,581
|-
|[[Amt Gartz (Oder)]]<br /><small>in [[Landkreis Uckermark]], [[Brandenburg]]</small>
||[[Gartz (Oder)]]
||UM, ANG, PZ, SDT, TP
||264
||6,682
|-
|[[Schwedt/Oder|City of Schwedt/Oder]]<br /><small>in [[Landkreis Uckermark]], [[Brandenburg]]; Pomeranian parts only: Hohenfelde, Jamikow, Kummerow, Kunow, Schönow</small>
||[[Schwedt/Oder]]
||UM, ANG, PZ, SDT, TP
||71
||1,028
|-
|[[Zettemin|Municipality of Zettemin]]<br /><small>in [[Landkreis Mecklenburgische Seenplatte]]; historically a Pomeranian enclave of seven villages (the ''Säben Dörper''), southeast of [[Malchin]], surrounded by [[Mecklenburg]]</small>
||[[Zettemin]]
||MSE, AT, DM, MC, MST, MÜR, NZ, RM, WRN
||19
||267
|- style="background:#c2e6ff;"
|colspan="3"|'''''German Pomerania'''''
||'''''8,326'''''
||'''''503,897'''''
|- style="background:#c2e6ff;"
|colspan="3"|'''Pomerania'''
||'''61,491'''
||'''5,648,186'''
|}

===Cities in Pomerania===
Altogether, there are 16 cities in the broad-sense Pomerania, understood as comprising also [[Pomerelia]]. Their list is presented below and includes the 14 municipalities in Poland electing a city mayor ({{langx|pl|prezydent miasta}}) instead of a town mayor ({{langx|pl|burmistrz}}), with 9 of them holding the status of a [[city with powiat rights]] ({{langx|pl|miasto na prawach powiatu}}, an [[independent city]]), as well as the 2 municipalities in Germany holding the status of a district-belonging city ({{langx|de|link=no|Große kreisangehörige Stadt}}), as no city of the German part of Pomerania holds currently any higher status, such as a partially of fully [[independent city]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Große selbständige Stadt}}, ''Kreisfreie Stadt'', or ''Stadtkreis''), or a [[City-state#Non-sovereign city-states|city-state]] ({{langx|de|link=no|Stadtstaat}}).

====Cities in the historical region of Hither Pomerania====
* [[Szczecin]] ([[city with powiat rights]], [[West Pomeranian Voivodeship]]): 394,482; up to 763,321 in the metropolitan area<ref>[http://rbgp.pl/files/235__88.pdf ''Entwicklungsprioritäten der Metropolregion Stettin''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305165935/http://rbgp.pl/files/235__88.pdf |date=5 March 2016 }} (German PDF; 1,7&nbsp;MB)</ref>
* [[Greifswald]], in [[Low German]] ''Griepswohld'' ([[Vorpommern-Greifswald]], [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]]): 59,332
* [[Stralsund]] ([[Vorpommern-Rügen]], Mecklenburg-Vorpommern): 59,171
* [[Świnoujście]] ([[city with powiat rights]], West Pomeranian Voivodeship); 39,834
* [[Schwedt/Oder]] ([[Uckermark (district)|Uckermark]], [[Brandenburg]]) expanded in contemporary times, so that it now also encompasses some neighbourhoods north of the [[Welse]], the historical border river between Brandenburg and Pomerania (Blumenhagen, Gatow, Hohenfelde, Jamikow, Kummerow, Kunow, Schönow and [[Vierraden]]): 33,524
<gallery widths="190px" heights="150px">
File:Szczecin Zamek Ksiazat Pomorskich (od pln-zach).jpg|[[Szczecin]]
File:View from tower of Greifswald Dom (34519154011).jpg|[[Greifswald]]
File:Stralsund, Blick von der Marienkirche (2013-07-07-), by Klugschnacker in Wikipedia (7).JPG|[[Stralsund]]
File:Świnoujście widok z promu.JPG|[[Świnoujście]]
</gallery>

====Cities in the historical region of Farther Pomerania====
* [[Koszalin]] ([[city with powiat rights]], West Pomeranian Voivodeship): 109,343
* [[Słupsk]] ([[city with powiat rights]], [[Pomeranian Voivodeship]]): 94,849
* [[Stargard]] ([[Stargard County]], West Pomeranian Voivodeship): 69,724
* [[Kołobrzeg]] ([[Kołobrzeg County]], West Pomeranian Voivodeship); 46,259
<gallery widths="190px" heights="150px">
File:Memorial of papal visit to the Cathedral of Koszalin.jpg|[[Koszalin]]
File:Town Hall in Slupsk MG 6427 1600x1067.jpg|[[Słupsk]]
File:Stargard Kolegiata (1).jpg|[[Stargard]]
File:Ratuszowy Square in Kołobrzeg, Town Hall, September 2022.jpg|[[Kołobrzeg]]
</gallery>

====Cities in the historical region of Pomerelia====
* [[Tricity, Poland|Tricity]] (Pomeranian Voivodeship): 748,986; the [[Tricity, Poland|Tricity]] [[metropolitan area]] (Pomeranian Voivodeship): population in 2012; at least 1,035,000 area 1,332,51&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>
** [[Gdańsk]] ([[city with powiat rights]], Pomeranian Voivodeship): 460,427
** [[Gdynia]] ([[city with powiat rights]], Pomeranian Voivodeship): 248,726
** [[Sopot]] ([[city with powiat rights]], Pomeranian Voivodeship): 38,217
* [[Toruń]] ([[city with powiat rights]], [[Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship]]): 205,934
* [[Grudziądz]] ([[city with powiat rights]], Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship): 96,042
* [[Tczew]] ([[Tczew County]], Pomeranian Voivodeship): 60,279
* [[Wejherowo]] ([[Wejherowo County]], Pomeranian Voivodeship): 50,375
* [[Starogard Gdański]] ([[Starogard County]], Pomeranian Voivodeship): 44,470
<gallery widths="190px" heights="150px">
File:Calle Dlugie Pobrzeze, Gdansk, Polonia, 2013-05-20, DD 06.jpg|[[Gdańsk]]
File:Lobuś - panoramio (11).jpg|[[Gdynia]]
File:Torun rynek staromiejski (2).jpg|[[Toruń]]
File:Grudziądz view 02.jpg|[[Grudziądz]]
</gallery>

==Culture==
===Languages and dialects===

{{for|historical language|Pomeranian language}}
[[Polish language|Polish]] is the dominating language in the Polish part of Pomerania. [[Kashubian language|Kashubian dialects]] are also spoken by the [[Kashubians]] in [[Pomerelia]].

In the German part of Pomerania, [[Standard German]] dominates. The historical German dialects of Pomerania are, however, [[Low German]]. The Pomeranian dialects were all part of the [[East Low German]] subgroup: [[Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch]] in the west, Central Pomeranian (Mittelpommersch) in Central Pomerania around Szczecin (then Stettin), and [[East Pomeranian]] in the east. The regions east of the [[Piaśnica]] river are not considered Pomeranian according to German terminology, but either [[West Prussian]] or Pomerelian. [[Danzig German]] was hence classified as [[Low Prussian]], like the dialects of [[East Prussia]] ([[Königsberg]]).

Those parts of Pomerania that remained German after 1945 are almost entirely located in the [[Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch]] area. Only the regions between the [[Zarow]] river in the west and the [[Oder]] river in the east are historically part of the Central Pomeranian dialect region: the southern shores of the [[Szczecin Lagoon]] ([[Ueckermünde]]), the towns along the [[Uecker (river)|Uecker]] and [[Randow]] rivers, and those parts of Pomerania that are now in [[Brandenburg]] ([[Gartz]] and the northern districts of [[Schwedt/Oder]]). Central Pomeranian is also spoken along the historically Brandenburgian headwaters of the [[Uecker (river)|Uecker]] river ([[Prenzlau]]). In [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]], however, the dominating Low German standard version is the Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch dialect, and Central Pomeranian texts are often rewritten.

East Pomeranian, [[Low Prussian]], and Standard German were dominating east of the [[Oder-Neisse line]] before [[Flight and expulsion of Germans from Poland during and after World War II|most of its speakers were expelled after World War II]]. [[Kashubian language|Kashubian]] and East Low German are also spoken by the descendants of émigrées, most notably in the Americas (e.g. Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Canada). [[Slovincian language|Slovincian]] was spoken at the [[Farther Pomerania]]n–Pomerelian frontier, but is now extinct.
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Polska-dialekty wg Urbańczyka.PNG|A map of Polish dialects. The Pomorze region contains the [[Kashubian language]] and a mix of Polish dialects from other parts of the country.
File:German dialect continuum in 1900 (according to Wiesinger & König).png|Pomerania historically lay in the [[Low German]] dialect region: [[Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch]], Central Pomeranian (on the map:Mittelpommerisch) and [[East Pomeranian]] (on the map: Hinterpommerisch) dialects. The regions east of the [[Piaśnica]] river are not regarded as speaking East Pomeranian according to German terminology, and the Low German dialects that were spoken there are called [[Low Prussian]].
File:Wenker atlas lautkarte ohren.png|The Central Pomeranian dialect region of [[Low German]], east of the [[Zarow]] and north of the [[Welse]], where "Ohren" (ears) is pronounced like "oan" and "orn" (now bounded by the Oder-Neisse line in the east)
</gallery>

===Cuisine===
: ''For typical food and beverages of the region, see [[Pomeranian cuisine]].''

===Museums===
====Museums in the Polish part====
{{multiple image |align=right |caption_align=center |perrow=2 |total_width=340 |header=
| image1=Szczecin muzeum narodowe.jpg
| image2=Muzeum Narodowe Gdańsk 027.jpg
| image3=Old town hall in Torun (8).jpg
| image4=Museum WWII 2.jpg
| caption1=[[National Museum, Szczecin|National Museum]] in [[Szczecin]]
| caption2=[[National Museum, Gdańsk|National Museum]] in [[Gdańsk]]
| caption3=[[District Museum in Toruń|District Museum]] in [[Toruń]]
| caption4=[[Museum of the Second World War]] in [[Gdańsk]]
}}
At least 50 museums in Poland cover the history of Pomerania, the most important of them being the [[District Museum in Toruń]], the Museum in Grudziądz, the National Museum in [[Gdańsk]], the [[National Maritime Museum, Gdańsk]], the Museum of Sopot, the [[Emigration Museum]] in Gdynia, the Museum of Polish Navy in Gdynia, the Museum of Kociewie in Starogard Gdański, the Museum of Kashubian and Pomeranian Literature and Music in Wejherowo, the Kashubian Museum in Kartuzy, the Central Pomerania Museum in [[Słupsk]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.muzeum.slupsk.pl/ |title=Muzeum Pomorza Środkowego – Strona główna |publisher=Muzeum.slupsk.pl |access-date=30 July 2010}}</ref> the [[Darłowo]] Museum,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.muzeumdarlowo.pl/ |title=Muzeum w Darłowie – Zamek Książąt Pomorskich zaprasza |publisher=Muzeumdarlowo.pl |access-date=30 July 2010}}</ref> the [[Koszalin]] Museum,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.muzeum.koszalin.pl/ |title=Muzeum w Koszalinie |publisher=Muzeum.koszalin.pl |access-date=30 July 2010}}</ref> the Museum of Archeology and History in Stargard,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.muzeum-stargard.pl|title=Muzeum Archeologiczno-Historyczne w Stargardzie|language=pl|access-date=15 April 2025}}</ref> the [[National Museum, Szczecin|National Museum]] in [[Szczecin]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.muzeum.szczecin.pl/ |title=Muzeum Narodowe w Szczecinie – Aktualności |publisher=Muzeum.szczecin.pl |access-date=30 July 2010}}</ref> the [[Museum of the Puck Region]], and the Museum of Maritime Fisheries in Świnoujście.

Other notable museums include the Museum of the National Anthem (''Muzeum Hymnu Narodowego'') in [[Będomin]] at the birthplace of [[Józef Wybicki]], author of the lyrics of the [[national anthem of Poland]], and the [[Copernicus House in Toruń]], birthplace of famed astronomer [[Nicolaus Copernicus]]. The [[Diocesan Museum in Pelplin]] contains one of the finest collections of [[medieval art]] in Poland, and the country's sole copy of the [[Gutenberg Bible]]. Medieval [[open-air museum]]s are the ''Grodzisko'' in [[Sopot]] and ''Skansen'' in [[Wolin (town)|Wolin]]. The [[Museum of Polish Arms]] in [[Kołobrzeg]] contains a collection of militaria related to the military of Poland from the Early Middle Ages to the present. There are also the ''[[Dar Pomorza]]'', [[ORP Błyskawica|ORP ''Błyskawica'']] and [[SS Sołdek|SS ''Sołdek'']] [[museum ship]]s.

Several museums devoted to World War II history are located in Polish Pomerania, including the [[Museum of the Second World War]] in Gdańsk, the Guardhouse no. 1 at Westerplatte (a branch of the Museum of Gdańsk), the Museum of Coastal Defence in [[Hel, Poland|Hel]], the [[Stutthof concentration camp|Stutthof]] Museum in [[Sztutowo]] with the branch [[Massacres in Piaśnica|Piaśnica]] Museum in [[Wejherowo]], the Museum of the [[Pomeranian Wall]] and World War II in [[Szczecinek]], and the Armory Museum in [[Kłanino, Pomeranian Voivodeship|Kłanino]].

There are also aquaria: the [[Gdynia Aquarium]] and the [[Seal Sanctuary in Hel]].

Perhaps more unusual museums include the Amber Museums in Gdańsk and [[Jarosławiec, West Pomeranian Voivodeship|Jarosławiec]], and the [[Muzeum Piernika|Museum of Gingerbread]] in Toruń.

====Museums in the German part====
{{multiple image |align=right |caption_align=center |perrow=2 |total_width=340 |header=
| image1=Blick zur St.-Marien-Kirche.JPG
| image2=Stralsund, Ozeaneum, Kreideküste (2010-10-18) a.JPG
| image3=2018Ukranenland1.jpg
| image4=Pommersches Landesmuseum 01.jpg
| caption1=[[Ozeaneum]] in [[Stralsund]]
| caption2=Inside the [[Ozeaneum]]
| caption3=[[Ukranenland]] in [[Torgelow]]
| caption4=[[Pomeranian State Museum]] in [[Greifswald]]
}}
There are around 40 museums in the district of [[Vorpommern-Rügen]], the most notable of which are: 
* the "Foundation German Oceanographic Museum" in Stralsund, which runs four locations: the [[German Oceanographic Museum]], which is housed in the former St. Catherine's Monastery in Stralsund, the [[Ozeaneum]] Stralsund (a natural history museum with a focus on the sea), the Nautineum on the [[Dänholm]], and the [[Natureum]] in [[Born auf dem Darß]].
* the [[Stralsund Museum]], which houses a [[Svantevit]] Stone, the [[Hiddensee treasure]] and the Peenemünde gold rings.
* the Navy Museum Dänholm (Marinemuseum Dänholm), the [[Dänholm]] being the cradle of the German Navy.
* the German Amber Museum in [[Ribnitz-Damgarten]], located in the former monastery of the [[Order of Saint Clare]] in Ribnitz.
* the Bibelzentrum [[Barth, Germany|Barth]], which shows one of the Barth Bibles, that were printed in 1588 in [[Middle Low German]] by the Ducal Printing House Barth (Herzogliche Druckerei Barth), founded by [[Bogislaw XIII, Duke of Pomerania]].
* the [[Granitz Hunting Lodge]] with among others, the exhibition "Deers of the world" is Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's most visited castle.
* the West Pomeranian Potato Museum in [[Tribsees]], one of three German potato museums.
* the crane museum ([[Kranich Museum]]) in [[Saal, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|Saal]], dedicated to all kinds of cranes.

In the district of [[Vorpommern-Greifswald]] are located around 30 museums, among which:
* the [[Pomeranian State Museum]], the collections of which include the famous [[Croÿ-Teppich|Croÿ-Carpet]] and various paintings by [[Caspar David Friedrich]] and [[Vincent van Gogh]].
* the [[Historical Technical Museum, Peenemünde|Peenemünde Historical Technical Museum]], where the only rockets in the territory of Pomerania are exhibited.
* the Museumshafen Greifswald is Germany's largest museum harbour.
* [[Ukranenland]], an archaeological open-air museum on the banks of the Uecker in [[Torgelow]], which is modeled on an early medieval Slavic village. It depicts the life of the [[Ukrani]], the Elbe Slavic tribe once native to the [[Uckermark]].

===Education===
====Universities====
[[File:Rubenowplatz Greifswald.jpg|thumb|The University of Greifswald, founded in 1456 (teaching since 1436), is the oldest university in Pomerania.]]
There are four traditional (non-profiled and multi-faculty, [[public university|public]] [[research university|research]]) universities in the region, namely the [[University of Greifswald]], the [[University of Szczecin]], the [[University of Gdańsk]] and the [[Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń]], the oldest of which, the [[University of Greifswald]], was founded when [[Greifswald]] belonged to [[Duchy of Pomerania]], thus being one of the [[List of oldest universities in continuous operation|oldest universities in the world]].

The technical universities are the [[Gdańsk University of Technology]], [[West Pomeranian University of Technology]] in Szczecin, and [[Koszalin University of Technology]].

====University of Applied Sciences====
The Stralsund University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule Stralsund) in [[Stralsund]] has around 2,400 students.

==Economy==
Agriculture primarily consists of raising livestock, forestry, fishery, and the cultivation of [[cereals]], [[sugar beets]], and potatoes. Industrial food processing is increasingly relevant in the region. Key producing industries are [[shipyard]]s, mechanical engineering facilities (i.e. [[renewable energy]] components), and [[sugar refineries]], along with paper and wood fabricators.<ref name=Columbia/> Service industries today are an important economical factor in Pomerania, most notably with logistics, information technology, [[life sciences|life science]], [[biotechnology]], health care, and other [[high tech|high-tech]] branches often [[Business cluster|cluster]]ing around research facilities of the Pomeranian universities.

Since the late 19th century, tourism has been an important sector of the economy, primarily in the numerous [[seaside resort]]s along the coast.

The Polish [[Świnoujście LNG terminal]] is located in Pomerania.

==Sports==
[[File:39 Derby Trojmiasta-20180407 184643.jpg|thumb|The [[Tricity Derby]], contested by [[Arka Gdynia]] and [[Lechia Gdańsk]], is the largest [[List of derbies in Poland|football derby]] in Pomerania]]
Sports enjoying either great popularity or success in Pomerania are [[Association football|football]], [[basketball]], [[Motorcycle speedway|speedway]], [[handball]], [[volleyball]] and [[rugby union]].

Most popular and accomplished football teams are [[Arka Gdynia]], [[Lechia Gdańsk]] and [[Pogoń Szczecin]], based in the three largest cities.

Among the most successful Polish basketball teams are the Arka Gdynia [[Arka Gdynia (basketball)|men's]] and [[Arka Gdynia (women's basketball)|women's]] teams. Other popular men's clubs are [[Czarni Słupsk]], [[Spójnia Stargard]], [[Trefl Sopot]], [[Wilki Morskie Szczecin]], [[SKS Starogard Gdański]].

The most successful speedway club is [[KS Toruń]], while other popular teams are [[Wybrzeże Gdańsk]] and [[GKM Grudziądz]].

The most successful men's handball team is [[Wybrzeże Gdańsk (handball)|Wybrzeże Gdańsk]], and other popular club is [[Pogoń Szczecin (men's handball)|Pogoń Szczecin]], whereas successful women's teams are [[Pogoń Szczecin (women's handball)|Pogoń Szczecin]] and [[GTPR Gdynia|Arka Gdynia]].

With ten Polish Championship titles [[KPS Chemik Police]] is among the most successful women's volleyball clubs in Poland (as of October 2023).

[[RC Lechia Gdańsk]], [[Ogniwo Sopot]] and [[RC Arka Gdynia]] are all multiple times Polish champions in rugby union, winning a combined total of 28 titles (as of November 2023).

Largest stadiums are [[Stadion Gdańsk]], [[Stadion Miejski im. Floriana Krygiera]] in Szczecin, [[MotoArena Toruń]] and [[Stadion Miejski (Gdynia)|Stadion Miejski]] in Gdynia. Main indoor arenas include [[Ergo Arena]] in Gdańsk/Sopot, [[Gdynia Arena]] in Gdynia and [[Netto Arena]] in Szczecin.

==Curiosities==
{{Trivia section|date=May 2025}}
* The [[Pomeranian dog]] and [[Pomeranian Coarsewool]] are named after the region.
* The historic centre of [[Stralsund]] is part of the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] "Historic Centres of Stralsund and [[Wismar]]".
* The old town of [[Toruń]] is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
* The beech forest in [[Jasmund National Park]] is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site [[Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe]].
* The [[Peene Valley]] is, with a total area of about 45,000 hectares, the largest contiguous [[fen]] region of Europe.<ref>[http://www.bfn.de/0203_peenetal.html ''Peenetal / Peene-Haff-Moor''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114061635/http://www.bfn.de/0203_peenetal.html |date=2012-01-14 }} at www.bfn.de</ref>
* The [[Randow]], historic border river between Pomerania and the [[Uckermark]], is a river which is fed by lateral tributaries and swampland and has a mouth at both ends.
* Pomerania boasts 13 [[List of Historic Monuments (Poland)|Historic Monuments of Poland]], including the old towns of [[Gdańsk]], Toruń and [[Chełmno]].
* There are 3 national parks each in the Polish and German parts of Pomerania: [[Slovincian National Park]], [[Tuchola Forest National Park]], [[Wolin National Park]], [[Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park]], [[Jasmund National Park]] and [[Lower Oder Valley National Park]].
* The [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] Our Lady of Częstochowa Church in [[Darłowo]] contains the sarcophagus of [[Eric of Pomerania]], King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, whereas the [[Toruń Cathedral]] contains the heart of King [[John I Albert]] of Poland.
* Pomerania is home to the [[Sopot Pier]], the longest wooden pier in Europe, and the [[Świnoujście Lighthouse]], the tallest brick lighthouse in the world.
* The pier of [[Prerow]] on [[Fischland-Darß-Zingst]] will become the longest pier in the Baltic Sea, measuring 720 metres.
* The [[Slovincian National Park]] contains the largest [[dune]]s in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wellbeingtourism.com/places/slowinski-national-park/|title=Słowiński National Park|website=Wellbeing|access-date=3 November 2023}}</ref>
* The two most populous islands of the Baltic Sea, [[Usedom]] and [[Rügen]], are part of Pomerania.
* [[St. Mary's Church, Stralsund]] has been the tallest structure in the world from 1549-1569 and from 1573-1647.
* Pomerania is home to the [[St. Mary's Church, Gdańsk]] and [[Szczecin Cathedral]], the largest and tallest Gothic churches in Poland, respectively.
* The [[Astronomical clock, St. Nicholas Church, Stralsund|astronomical clock]] of [[St. Nicholas Church, Stralsund]] is the oldest mechanical clock in the world to have been preserved in its original state.
* The [[Crooked Forest]] is located in [[Nowe Czarnowo]] in Pomerania.
* The main sanctuary of the [[Rani (tribe)|Rani]] was located on [[Cape Arkona]], where they whorshiped [[Svetovit]], chief god of the Rani and later of all [[Polabian Slavs]].
* Pomerania's fourth-largest island of [[Hiddensee]] looks like a [[seahorse]] from above, which is reflected in the island's flag.
* A ballistic missile lifting off from the [[Peenemünde Army Research Center|army research center]] in [[Peenemünde]] on October 3, 1942, was the first human-built object to enter [[outer space]].
* The Colossus of [[Prora]] is a 3&nbsp;km long string of houses built with the intention of becoming a huge holiday accommodation.
* The [[Hiddensee treasure]] is the largest discovery of [[Viking]] gold artifacts in Germany.
* There exists a village called [[Pommern, Rhineland-Palatinate|Pommern]] on the Moselle.
* There is a memorial to British pilots of the [[No. 617 Squadron RAF]], who were shot down by Germany during WWII, at the [[Karsibór]] island.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="190px" heights="190px">
File:Stralsunder Rathaus mit Schaufassade, dahinter die Nikolaikirche-2630.jpg|[[Stralsund]], one of several [[Hanseatic League|Hanseatic cities]] built in typical [[Brick Gothic]] style
File:Darlowo rynek (1).jpg|Town Hall and Our Lady of Częstochowa Church in [[Darłowo]]
File:2010.10.02 PELPLIN (16).jpg|[[Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Pelplin|Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption]] in [[Pelplin]], one of the largest churches in Poland
File:Gniew zamek fasada bok.JPG|[[Gniew Castle]]
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[German exonyms (Pomorze)]]
* [[List of Polish exonyms for places in Germany#Western Pomerania|Polish exonyms (Western Pomerania)]]
* [[History of Pomerania]]
* [[Kashubian-Pomeranian Association]]
* [[Pomerode]]
* [[Eastern Pomerania (disambiguation)]]
* [[Western Pomerania (disambiguation)]]
* [[Middle Pomerania]]
* [[Pomeranian (disambiguation)]]

==Footnotes==
===Notes===
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

===Citations===
{{reflist|30em}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{commons|Pomerania|Pomerania}}

===Internet directories===

===Culture and history===
* [http://www.zamek.szczecin.pl/ Pomeranian dukes castle in Szczecin (Polish, German, English)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060131095122/http://www.archiv-vegelahn.de/pommern.html Pomeranian (German)]
* {{CathEncy|wstitle=Pomerania}}
* [http://www.lexikus.de/index.php?PHPSESSID=fdmldjf2hu80lbmk50u3cjcga4&page=thema&thema=9 Collection of historical eBooks about Pomerania (German)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112005707/http://www.lexikus.de/index.php?PHPSESSID=fdmldjf2hu80lbmk50u3cjcga4&page=thema&thema=9 |date=12 January 2009 }}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Pomerania}}

===Maps of Pomerania===
* [[:de:Bild:Provinz Pommern 1905.png|Map of Pomerania as in 1905, in German Wikipedia]]
* [http://www.frombork.art.pl/Frombork-foto/Sd687_i.jpg Woiewództwa Pomorskie i Małborskie oraz Pomerania Elektorska, G.B.A.Rizzi-Zannoni 1772]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080505052433/http://feefhs.org/maps/gere/ge-pomer.html FEEFHS Map Room: German Empire – East (1882) – Pommern (Pomerania), Prussia]
* [http://www.hoeckmann.de/germany/pomerania.htm Pomerania in 1789]

{{Pomerania}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Pomerania| ]]
[[Category:Historical regions]]
[[Category:Historical regions in Germany]]
[[Category:Historical regions in Poland]]