Polish Corridor

Definition

The Polish Corridor was a strip of land that granted Poland access to the Baltic Sea, created by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. This territory separated East Prussia from the rest of Germany and became a significant point of contention between Poland and Germany in the interwar period, influencing geopolitical tensions leading up to World War II.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Polish Corridor was approximately 200 miles long and provided Poland with crucial access to the Baltic Sea, essential for trade and economic growth.
2. The creation of the Polish Corridor effectively cut East Prussia off from the rest of Germany, which led to significant resentment among Germans and fueled nationalist sentiments.
3. Tensions over the Polish Corridor contributed to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, who used revanchist rhetoric to garner support for their expansionist policies.
4. In 1939, Germany invaded Poland, leading to the outbreak of World War II; control over the Polish Corridor was one of several pretexts for this invasion.
5. The conflict surrounding the Polish Corridor highlighted the failures of the Treaty of Versailles in creating lasting peace in Europe after World War I.

Review Questions

• How did the establishment of the Polish Corridor affect Polish-German relations in the interwar period?
  • The establishment of the Polish Corridor had a profound impact on Polish-German relations by creating significant territorial disputes. It resulted in a sense of humiliation among Germans, as they felt unjustly deprived of land they historically occupied. This resentment contributed to rising nationalist sentiments in Germany, which fostered hostility towards Poland and set the stage for future conflicts leading up to World War II.
• Evaluate how the Polish Corridor exemplifies the broader consequences of the Treaty of Versailles on European geopolitics.
  • The Polish Corridor exemplifies the broader consequences of the Treaty of Versailles by illustrating how territorial changes can lead to long-term geopolitical tensions. While intended to ensure Polish independence and stability in Europe, it instead intensified nationalistic fervor in Germany. The division created by the corridor not only disrupted lives but also sowed discord, ultimately contributing to a climate ripe for war in Europe.
• Assess the significance of revanchism in shaping German policy towards Poland post-Treaty of Versailles, particularly concerning the Polish Corridor.
  • Revanchism played a critical role in shaping German policy towards Poland after the Treaty of Versailles by instilling a desire among many Germans to reclaim lost territories, including those affected by the creation of the Polish Corridor. This sentiment fueled political movements and ultimately justified aggressive actions taken by Germany against Poland in 1939. The obsession with regaining lost lands highlighted not only unresolved grievances from World War I but also reflected a broader pattern where nationalism intertwined with military ambitions, setting off a chain reaction that culminated in World War II.

Related terms

Treaty of Versailles: The peace treaty that officially ended World War I, imposing heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany, which included the creation of the Polish Corridor.

Danzig: A free city established under the League of Nations, Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland) was located within the Polish Corridor and was another source of conflict between Germany and Poland.

Revanchism: A political policy aimed at recovering lost territory; this sentiment fueled German nationalist reactions to the loss of the Polish Corridor and other territories after World War I.