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Gdynia (Kashubian Gdiniô; German Gdingen )1 is a city in the Pomeranian Voivodship of Poland and an important seaport at Gdansk Bay on the south coast of the Baltic Sea.
Gdynia is located in Kashubia in Eastern Pomerania.
Gdynia is part of a conurbation with the spa town of Sopot, the city of Gdańsk and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the Tricity (Trójmiasto) with a population of over a million people.
1The name refers both to the village and the city built by Polish authorities in the 1920's. During World War II, the city was renamed Gotenhafen by the Nazis, who annexed the area in 1939 following their invasion of Poland.
History of Gdynia
Gdynia has a long history. Initially it was a Pomeranian (Kashubian) fishers village first mentioned in 1253. Oksywie, now part of Gdynia, was mentioned even earlier in 1209. In the years 1382–1772 Gdynia belonged to the Cistersian abbey in Oliwa.
Gdynia, as part of Eastern Pomerania, was part of the loose confederation of Slavic tribes that would later be called Poland from circa. 990–1308. After the Northern Crusades it became a state of the Teutonic Order (1308–1454/66), but afterwards fell to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1466–1772). At the Partitions of Poland of 1772 it was annexed into the Kingdom of Prussia (1772–1919), and as part of Prussia became part of the German Empire (1870–1919).
After World War One it was assigned as part of the Polish Corridor to Poland (1919–1945), and was annexed by Nazi Germany at the start of World War Two in 1939. Gdynia returned to Poland in 1945. Its name during the centuries it was under German rule was Gdingen.
In 1870 Gdynia had some 1200 inhabitants, and it was not a poor fishers village as sometimes described in the literature. It was a popular tourist spot with several guest houses, restaurants, cafes, a couple of brick houses and small harbour with pier for small trading ships. The first Kashubian mayor of Gdynia was Jan Radtke. After the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, the town, with other parts of former Polish Pomerania (or Royal Prussia), was returned to Poland, partially to compensate for the loss of Poland's seaport Danzig/Gdansk and surrounding area, which were declared the Free City of Danzig under the League of Nations, and were only partially under Poland's control.
Construction of the Seaport
The decision to build a major seaport at the Gdynia village was made by the Polish government in winter 1920, because of the hostile attitude of the Danzig (Gdansk) authorities and the seaport workers towards Allied military supplies to Poland during the Polish-Soviet War (1919–1920). Construction of the seaport was started in 1921, but because of financial difficulties was conducted slowly and with interruptions. It was accelerated after The Sejm (Polish parliament) had passed Gdynia Seaport Construction Act on 23 September 1922. Up to 1923 550 metres pier, 175 metres of a wooden tide breaker, and a small harbour were constructed. Ceremonial inauguration of Gdynia as a temporary military port and fishers shelter took place on 23 April 1923, and the first major sea-going ship arrived on 13 August 1923.
To speed up the construction works Polish government signed in November 1924 a contract with the French-Polish Consortium for Gdynia Seaport Construction, which till end of 1925 has built a small 7 metres-deep harbour, the south pier, partly the north pier, a rail road, and has also ordered the trans-shipment equipment. The works were going on slower than expected though. They were accelerated only after May 1926, because of the increase of the sea trade exports of Poland, economic prosperity, outbreak of the German–Polish trade war which has reverted most of Polish international trade to the sea routes, and also thanks to the personal engagement of Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski, Polish Minister of Industry and Trade. Till the end of 1930 docks, piers, breakwaters and many auxiliary and industrial installations were constructed, (e.g depots, trans-shipment equipment, rice processing factory) or started (e.g. big clod room).
Trans-shipments rose to 10,000 tons (1924) and 2,923,000 tons (1929). At this time Gdynia was only the transit and special seaport designed to the coal exports. In the years 1931-1939 Gdynia harbour was further extended to become a universal seaport. In 1938 Gdynia was the most modern and the biggest seaport on the Baltic sea, and the 10th biggest in Europe. The transshipments rose to 8.7 million tons, which was 46% of Polish foreign trade. In 1938 the Gdynia shipyard started to build its first full-sea ship called Olza.
Construction of the City
The city was constructed later that the seaport. In 1925 a special committee was inaugurated to build the city, in 1926 city expansion plans were designed, and city rights were granted, in 1927 tax privileges for investors granted. The city started to grow significantly after 1928 and the population grew rapidly to over 120.000 in 1939.
Gdynia during World War II (1939–1945)
Gdynia city and seaport were occupied in [[Polish Defence War of 1939|September 1939 and renamed Gotenhafen to commemorate the Goths (despite that the previous German name was Gdingen, with no relation to the Goths). Some 50,000 of the Poles were expelled to the General Gouvernment and their homes were seized by German settlers. The harbour was turned into a German navy base. The shipyard was extended in 1940 and turned into a branch of a Kiel shipyard (Deutsche Werke Kiel AG.). It became a primary German naval base, and witnessed several air raids by the Allies from 1943 onwards, but suffered little damage. The seaport was largely destroyed by the withdrawing German troops in 1945 (90% of the buildings and equipment were destroyed) and the harbour entrance was blocked by the Gneisenau battleship.
The city was also the location for the Nazi concentration camp Gotenhafen, a subcamp of the Stutthof concentration camp.
Gdynia after World War II
In March 1945 Gdynia was captured by the Soviets and assigned to Poland (Gdansk Voivodship).
In 1970 riots occurred, see Coastal cities events.
Economy
The companies, that have their headquarters in Gdynia:
- Official name:PORT OF GDYNIA AUTHORITY
- Trans-shipments:
- 1924 10,000 tons
- 1929 2,923,000 tons
- 1938 8,700,000 tons
- 2002 9,365,200 tons
- Containers 252,247 TEU (#2 on the Baltic Sea)
- Passengers 364,202
- See also: Ports_of_the_Baltic_Sea
Education
There are currently 7 universities and institutions of higher education based in Gdynia. Many students from Gdynia attend also universities located in the Tricity.
- State-owned
- Private-owned schools:
- University of Business and Administration - 1,418 students
- University of International Relations - 86 students
- Humanistic University of Pomerania - 38 students
- Cardinal Wyszynski University a department - 219 students
- Pomorska Wyższa Szkoła Humanistyczna
- Wyższa Szkoła Administracji i Biznesu im. Eugeniusza Kwiatkowskiego
- Wyższa Szkoła Komunikacji Społecznej
- Wyższa Szkoła Międzynarodowych Stosunków Gospodarczych i Politycznych
- See also: Education in Gdynia (http://www.gdynia.pl/index.php?co=inwestor/notes_edukacja)
Sports
There are many popular professional sports team in Gdynia and Tricity area. Amateur sports are played by thousands of Gdynia citizens and also in schools of all levels (elementary, secondary, university).
Sports in Gdynia
Sports in Tricity
Politics
Gdynia/Słupsk constituency
Members of Parliament (Sejm) elected from Gdynia/Slupsk constituency
- Dorota Arciszewska-Mielewczyk, PO
- Jerzy Budnik, PO
- Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka, SLD-UP
- Stanisław Kalinowski, PSL
- Jacek Kowalik, SLD-UP
- Kazimierz Plocke, PO
- Andrzej Różański, SLD-UP
- Joanna Senyszyn, SLD-UP
- Jan Sieńko, SLD-UP
- Robert Strąk, LPR
- Jolanta Szczypińska, PiS
- Władysław Szkop, SLD-UP
- Donald Tusk, PO
- Wiesław Walendziak, PiS
- Lech Zielonka, Samoobrona
Sights and tourist attractions
Gdynia is a relatively modern city and one will not find many historical buildings or places. The oldest building in Gdynia is 13th century St. Michael Archangel's Church in Oksywie. There is also a 17th century neo-Gothic manor located in the Folwarczna Street in Orłowo.
However, what most of the tourists seek in Gdynia is related to its recent past. In the harbour there are anchored two museum ships: the ORP Blyskawica destroyer and Dar Pomorza Tall Ship frigate. Gdynia is also famous for its numerous monuments of early 20th century architecture, especially the examples of monumentalism and early functionalism. Recently reconstructed Świętojańska street and Kościuszki square are also worth mentioning.
The surrounding hills and the coastline attract many nature lovers. Leisure pier and cliff-like coastline in Kępa Redłowska as well as the surrounding Reservation Park are also popular. 1.5 kilometres long promenade leads from the marina in the city centre to the beach in Redłowo. Most of Gdynia can be seen from Kammienna Góra (54 metres asl).
Modern division into neighbourhoods
- Babie Doły
- Chwarzno Wiczlino
- Chylonia
- Cisowa
- Działki Leśne
- Dąbrowa
- Grabówek
- Kamienna Góra
- Karwiny
- Leszczynki
- Mały Kack
- Obłuże
- Oksywie
- Orłowo
- Pogórze
- Port
- Pustki Cisowskie-Demptowo
- Redłowo
- Śródmieście
- Wielki Kack
- Witomino Leśniczówka
- Witomino Radiostacja
- Wzgórze Św. Maksymiliana
Population and area
1870: 1200 inhabitants
1920: 1300 inhabitants
1926: 12,000 inhabitants, 6 km2
1939: 127,000 inhabitants, 66 km2
1950: ? inhabitants
1960: 150,200 inhabitants, 73 km2
1970: 191,500 inhabitants, 75 km2
1975: 221,100 inhabitants, 134 km2
1980: 236,400 inhabitants, 134 km2
1990: 251,500 inhabitants, 136 km2
1994: 252,000 inhabitants, 136 km2
1995: 251,400 inhabitants, 136 km2
2000: 255,420 inhabitants, 135.49 km2 (after GUS - Central Statistical Office in Warsaw)
2003: 251,000 inhabitants, 136 km2
See also:
Further reading
- (ed.) R. Wapiński, Dzieje Gdyni, Gdańsk 1980
- (ed.). S. Gierszewski, Gdynia, Gdańsk 1968
- Gdynia, in: Pomorze Gdańskie, nr 5, Gdańsk 1968
- J. Borowik, Gdynia, port Rzeczypospolitej, Toruń 1934
- B. Kasprowicz, Problemy ekonomiczne budowy i eksploatacji portu w Gdyni w latach 1920-1939, Zapiski Historyczne, nr 1-3/1956
- M. Widernik, Główne problemy gospodarczo-społeczne miasta Gdyni w latach 1926-1939., Gdańsk 1970
- (ed.) A. Bukowski, Gdynia. Sylwetki ludzi, oświata i nauka, literatura i kultura, Gdańsk 1979
- Gminy województwa gdańskiego, Gdańsk 1995
- H. Górnowicz, Z. Brocki, Nazwy miast Pomorza Gdańskiego, Wrocław 1978
- Gerard Labuda (ed.), Historia Pomorza, vol. I-IV, Poznań 1969-2003
- (ed.) W. Odyniec, Dzieje Pomorza Nadwiślańskiego od VII wieku do 1945 roku, Gdańsk 1978
- L. Bądkowski, Pomorska myśl polityczna, Gdańsk 1990
- L. Bądkowski, W. Samp, Poczet książąt Pomorza Gdańskiego, Gdańsk 1974
- B. Śliwiński, Poczet książąt gdańskich, Gdańsk 1997
- Józef Spors, Podziały administracyjne Pomorza Gdańskiego i Sławieńsko-Słupskiego od XII do początków XIV w, Słupsk 1983
- M. Latoszek, Pomorze. Zagadnienia etniczno-regionalne, Gdańsk 1996
- B. Bojarska, Eksterminacja inteligencji polskiej na Pomorzu Gdańskim (wrzesień-grudzień 1939), Poznań 1972
- K. Ciechanowski, Ruch oporu na Pomorzu Gdańskim 1939-1945., Warszawa 1972
External links:
bg:Гдиня
de:Gdynia
et:Gdynia
pl:Gdynia
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