Administrations of Danzig before April 1945

The High Commissioners appointed by the League of Nations din't intervene in the internal affairs of the Free City. Their main task was to settle problems which could arise between Poland and the Free City.

1920 Col. Edward Lisle Strutt* (U.K.) 1874 - 1948
1920-1921 - Bernardo Attolico (Italy) 1880 - 1942
1921-1923 - Gen. Sir Richard Cyril Byrne Haking (U.K.) 1862 - 1945
1923-1925 - Mervyn Sorley McDonnell (U.K.) 1880 - 1949
1925-1929 - Joost Adriaan van Hamel (Neth.) 1880 - 1964
1929-1932 - Manfredi, Conte di Gravina dei Principi di Ramacca (Italy) 1883 - 1932
1932-1934 - Helmer Rostgaard GommesenRosting (Denmark) 1893 - 1945
1934-1936 - Se�n Lester (Ireland) 1888 - 1959
1936-1937 - none
1937-1939 - Carl Jakob Burckhardt (Switz.) 1891 - 1974

Presidents of the Harbor Council

The Harbor Council was in charge of the harbor and all waterways of Danzig. It comprized 10 members (5 Danziger and 5 Poles) and was presided by a Swiss citizen (Nederbragt was an exception. He was appointed as he had succesfully resolve an important traffic problem in Danzig the year before he was chosen

1921-1925 - James de Reynier (Switz.)
1925-1931 - Hugens de Loes (Switz.)
1931-1934 - Carl Josef Benziger (Switz.)
1934-1939 - Johan A. Nederbragt (Neth.)

General Commissioners of the Polish Republic

Based on the Peace Treaty of Versailles and on the Conventions of Paris and Warwaw (1919 - 1921), Poland retained however some economic privileges saveguarding its free access to the Baltic Sea:

Polish civilian ships had free entry to the harbor,
Poland took over the administration of the Danziger railways, which were now administred by the Direction of the Polish State Railways at Torun
Poland had the right to maintain a separate Post Office (since 1925)
Danzig and Poland were united in a customs union
The same treaties also transferred to Poland all diplomatic and consular representations of Danzig, which did however retain the right to conclude treaties, join international organizations, etc.

General Commissioners of the Polish Republic (4) Komisarze Generalni Rzeczpospoltej Polskiej

Polish delegates

1919-1920 - Mieczyslaw Jalowiecki

Polish representatives

The Polish representatives were reponsible for the liaison between the Senate and the Polish government.

1920-1921 - Maciej Biesiadecki
1921-1924 - Leon Pluci�ski
1924-1932 - Henryk Leon Strasburger
1932-1936 - Kazimierz Pap�e
1936-1939 - Marian Chodacki

(2)

Later (in 1924, with effect from 1926) the League of Nations also allowed Poland to establish a munition depot on the Westerplatte peninsula and to maintain a small garrison (ca 90 men)

Polish Commanders of Westerplatte

1926-1926 - Com. Ignacy Szaniawski
1926-1927 - Com. Borys Mohuczy
1927-1931 - Com. J�zef Czechowicz
1931-1934 - Capt. Jan Litynski
1934-1938 - Maj. Stefan Fabiszewski (1896-1974)
1938-1939 - Maj. Henryk Sucharski (1898-1946), captured by German Army

OTHER OFFICIALS

GERMAN DANZIG 1939-1945

In 1939 the Free City of Danzig was annexed to the German Empire. After a brief transitional period, its territory became part of the restored Regierungsbezirk Danzig in the Reichsgau Danzig-Westpreussen (= the restored Prussian Province West Prussia)

CHIEF EXECUTIVES

Head of the Civil Administration of Danzig:

1939 Albert Forster

Danzig(-Stadt) City County

Lord Mayor/Oberb�rgermeister:

1939-1945 - Georg Lippke

Danzig-Land (Rural) County

formed by the merger of Danziger-H�he and part of Danziger Niederung

Supervisors/Landr�te:

1939-1943 - Erwin Johst
1943-1945 - ...

Dirschau County

Supervisors/Landr�te:

1940-1943 - Reinhold Isendick
1943-1945 - ...

Elbing-Land (Rural) County

Supervisors/Landr�te:

1926-1945 - Karl Cichorius

Grosses Werder County

formed by the merger of Marienburg and part of Danziger Niederung

Supervisors/Landr�te:

19..-1941 ...
1941-1942 ... Jansson*
1942-1944 Ernst Wallh�fer
1944-1945 ...

Karthaus County

Supervisors/Landr�te:

1940-1945 - Herbert Busch

Neustadt County

Supervisors/Landr�te:

1939-1945 - Heinz Lorenz

Zoppot City County

Lord Mayors/Oberb�rgermeister:

1939-1941 - Erich Temp

1942-1942 - ... Koss*

1942-1943 - ... Schr�der

1943-1945 - ...

see also Administration of Danzig-West Prussia 1939-1945

Administration after 1945

In 1945 Danzig was conquered by the Soviet 2nd Belorussian Front Army Group commanded by Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky, Marshall of the Soviet Union (1896 - 1968). Soon afterwards the whole territory was transferred to the Polish administration, later becoming part of the wojew�dztwo (province) of Gdansk. (5)

(5) City President of Gdansk / Prezydent Miasta Gdanska:

1945-1946 - Franciszek Kotus-Jankowski

   Polish names :
   Berent     = Koscierzyna
   Dirschau   = Tczew
   Elbing     = Elblag
   Gotenhafen = Gdynia
   Karthaus   = Kartuzy
   Neustadt   = Morski
   Zoppot     = Sopot