Geopolityczny wymiar dyskusji o „porcie Rzeczypospolitej” w latach 20. i 30. XX wieku
The geopolitical aspect of the debate on the „port of Poland” in the 1920s and the 1930s
Author(s): Kamil ŚmiechowskiSubject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, History, Geography, Regional studies, Governance, International relations/trade, Interwar Period (1920 - 1939), Geopolitics
Published by: Polskie Towarzystwo Geopolityczne
Keywords: hinterland;Free City of Gdansk;Gdynia;Tczew;Polish Corridor;maritime policy;Baltic Sea;Second Republic; Weimar Republic;Third Reich
Summary/Abstract: This article aims to discuss the geopolitical aspect of the debate surroundingthe 'Port for Poland', which took place after Poland regained its independence. Tczewand Gdynia competed with each other in this debate, which was prompted by theunfavorable provisions of the Treaty of Versailles for Poland and the creation of theFree City of Danzig (Gdańsk). Using methods typical of classical historiography anddiscourse analysis, the author attempts to present the geopolitical themes in thearguments of the supporters of Gdynia and Tczew, based on sources includingbrochures and press articles published at the time, as well as specialist publications.The discussion about the location of the port was not purely technical or economic innature. The main proponent of Tczew, Józef Klejnot-Turski, created an interestingnarrative that referred to the concept of the hinterland and constituted an attempt toarrange Polish–Danzig relations in a way that would include the Free City in the Polisheconomic sphere. The construction of the port in Gdynia, undertaken out of necessity,created competition for Danzig and manifested Polish sovereignty over the Baltic Sea.Analyzing the above positions leads to the conclusion that, although Gdynia was theonly logical choice in the 1920s and the city itself was a great success, constructing asecond port in Tczew could increase the Republic of Poland's security and exertpressure on the Free City under certain conditions
Journal: Przegląd Geopolityczny
- Issue Year: 2026
- Issue No: 55
- Page Range: 54-76
- Page Count: 23
- Language: Polish
