Polish Corridor

Definition

The Polish Corridor was a strip of land that provided Poland access to the Baltic Sea, separating East Prussia from the rest of Germany. This territory was established as a result of the Treaty of Versailles, significantly impacting German-Polish relations and contributing to the tensions that led to World War II. The corridor was essential for Poland's economic interests and national identity but was viewed by Germany as a humiliating loss of territory.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Polish Corridor was about 140 miles long and granted Poland vital access to the Baltic Sea, crucial for trade and maritime activities.
2. Germany's loss of this territory created resentment among its population, contributing to a rise in nationalist sentiments that fueled revanchism in the years leading up to World War II.
3. The corridor also included Danzig, which had a significant German population and became a contentious issue between Poland and Germany after the war.
4. The establishment of the Polish Corridor disrupted East Prussia from the rest of Germany, complicating transportation and logistics for Germans living in that area.
5. The tensions surrounding the Polish Corridor were one of the factors that led to the outbreak of World War II, as Hitler sought to reclaim lost territories and restore German pride.

Review Questions

• How did the establishment of the Polish Corridor affect German-Polish relations in the interwar period?
  • The establishment of the Polish Corridor had a profound impact on German-Polish relations by creating territorial divisions and igniting nationalist sentiments on both sides. For Poland, it represented a reclaiming of national identity and access to vital resources. Conversely, for Germany, it was seen as a humiliating loss resulting from the Treaty of Versailles, leading to resentment and calls for revanchism among Germans who viewed their country's territorial integrity as compromised.
• Discuss the implications of Danzig's status as a Free City for both Poland and Germany during the interwar years.
  • Danzig's status as a Free City under the League of Nations meant it was administratively independent but largely populated by Germans. This situation created ongoing friction between Poland, which sought to assert its sovereignty and control over trade routes through Danzig, and Germany, which wanted to reclaim the city. The Free City’s unique position exacerbated tensions leading up to World War II, as both nations had vested interests in its governance and economic significance.
• Evaluate how territorial changes from the Treaty of Versailles, including the Polish Corridor, set the stage for future conflicts in Europe.
  • The territorial changes from the Treaty of Versailles, particularly with regards to the Polish Corridor, played a significant role in shaping European geopolitics and conflicts. By redrawing boundaries and creating new states like Poland at Germany's expense, deep-seated grievances emerged that were exploited by extremist factions. These tensions laid the groundwork for World War II as Hitler capitalized on nationalistic fervor, promising to restore Germany's lost territories while undermining stability in Eastern Europe.

Related terms

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

Danzig (Gdańsk): A city that became a Free City under the League of Nations after World War I, located within the Polish Corridor and significant for both Polish and German interests.

Revanchism: A political policy aimed at reclaiming lost territory, which became prominent in Germany following the imposition of the Treaty of Versailles and the loss of the Polish Corridor.