During post-1945 era, the city was rebuilt from war damage, and vast shipyards were constructed. After World War II the city became part of Poland and the city's German inhabitants, that had constituted the vast majority of the city's mixed population before the war, either fled or were expelled to Germany. Local Jews were systematically murdered in the Holocaust while Poles and Kashubians also faced persecution. The German attack on the Polish military depot at Westerplatte marks the start of World War II and the city was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1939. Briefly becoming a free city during Napoleonic wars, it was again Prussian after Napoleon's defeat, and later became part of the newly created German Empire.Īfter World War I the Free City of Danzig was created, a city-state under the supervision of the League of Nations. The city was taken over by Prussia during the Second Partition of Poland in 1793 and subsequently lost its importance as a trading port. A vital naval city for Polish grain trade it attracted people from all over the European continent. Thereafter it became part of Poland again, although with increasing autonomy. In 1308 the city became part of the Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights until 1454. Founded by the Polish ruler Mieszko I in the 10th century, the city was for a long time part of Piast state either directly or as a fief. Gdańsk ( German: Danzig Kashubian: Gduńsk) is one of the oldest cities in Poland.
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