Economy of the Free City of Gdańsk between the Two World Wars

Abstract

This article analyzes the economic situation of the Free City of Gdańsk (1920–1939), a political entity established by the Treaty of Versailles. Although separated from the German Reich, Gdańsk was not incorporated into Poland, resulting in a legally and economically ambiguous status. The complex geopolitical context—marked by tensions between the pro-German local authorities and the Polish government—strongly influenced the city's economic development.
The main objective of the study is to present the fundamental structures of the Free City’s economy, focusing on industry, the port, customs relations with Poland, trade, and agriculture. The author examines the extent to which local institutions facilitated or hindered economic integration with Poland. The analysis is based on a wide range of sources, including Polish archives (WAPG, AAN), official publications, League of Nations reports, and statistical records.
The findings show that, despite being included in the Polish customs area, Gdańsk pursued an autonomous economic policy aligned with Germany. The port of Gdańsk—although modernized with Polish cooperation—suffered from underinvestment due to political opposition from the local Senate. Trade was marked by efforts to marginalize Polish economic participation, while industry, dominated by German capital, benefited from the city’s strategic geographic location. Local agriculture, in contrast, faced growing competition from Polish producers.
The study demonstrates that the separatist economic policies pursued by Gdańsk’s authorities not only undermined integration with Poland but also weakened the internal economic stability of the Free City itself.