The Szczecin Voivodeship[a] was a voivodeship (province) with its capital in Szczecin, that was centered on the Farther Pomerania. It existed from 1946 to 1975.[1][2] Until 19 February 1947 it was under the administration of Provisional Government of National Unity, which then was replaced by the Polish People's Republic.[3] It was established on 28 June 1946, when it was carved out of the territory of the District of the Western Pomerania, and parts of the Gdańsk, and Pomeranian Voivodeships.[1] On 6 July 1950, its eastern half was incorporated into then-established Koszalin Voivodeship,[4] and the voivodeship ceased to exist on 31 May 1975, when it was replaced by then-established Szczecin and Gorzów Voivodeships.[2]
The Szczecin Voivodeship was established on 28 June 1946, as one of the voivodeships (provinces) of Poland, under the administration of the Provisional Government of National Unity. It was formed within the borders of then-disestablished District of the Western Pomerania, additionally including a few counties from Gdańsk, and Pomeranian Voivodeships. Its capital was located in Szczecin. From the District of the Western Pomerania it incorporated the city county of Szczecin, and 25 land counties, that were: Białogard, Chojna, Choszczno, Drawsko, Gryfice, Gryfino, Kamień, Kołobrzeg, Koszalin, Łobez, Myślibórz, Nowogard, Pyrzyce, Stargard, Szczecin, Szczecinek, Wałcz, Wolin. From the Gdańsk Voivodeship, it incorporated the counties of Bytów, Miastko, Sławno, and Słupsk, and from the Pomeranian Voivodeship, it incorporated the counties of Człuchów, and Złotów.[1] In 1946 it had an area of 30 251 km², being the second biggest voivodeship of Poland, only behind the Poznań Voivodeship,[5] and was inhabited by 892 600 people.[6] The German population of the region had been subjected to the expulsion, with the area being resettled with Polish population.[7]
On 18 June 1946, the government branch office had been opened in Szczecinek, to help administer the counties of Białogard, Bytów, Człuchów, Drawsko, Koszalin, Miastko, Sławno, Słupsk, Szczecinek, Wałcz, and Złotów.[8]
Until 25 September 1946, within the voivodeship functioned the Enclave of Police, a zone around the city of Police, that was under the military occupation of the Soviet Union, excluded from Polish administration.[9]
On, 19 February 1947, the Provisional Government of National Unity was replaced by the Polish People's Republic.[3]
On 2 February 1948, the mayor of Słupsk was granted rights for the city, to act as a city county.[10] On 6 July 1950, the eastern half of the province had been partitioned into then-established Koszalin Voivodeship. It included the counties of Białogard, Bytów, Człuchów, Drawsko, Kołobrzeg, Koszalin, Miastko, Sławno, Słupsk, Szczecinek, Wałcz, and Złotów. As such the area of the Szczecin Voivodeship decreased over 58%, to 12 744 km².[4] In 1950, it was inhabited by 529 295 people.[11] Around 30% of the Polish population of the voivodeship, were people who were transferred from the Eastern Borderlands, an area then within the Soviet Union, that prior to the World War 2, was located within Polish borders.[12]
On 1 October 1954 was established the Goleniów County, from the parts of the counties of Nowogard and Kamień.[13] On 1 January 1973, the Wolin County had been partitioned between Kamień County, and the city of Świnoujście, which become the separate city county, additionally including Lubin, Wapnica, Wicko, Grodno, and the Wolin National Park.[14] On 9 December 1973, the city of Stargard Szczeciński become the city county.[15] In 1974, the voivodeship was inhabited by 955 000 people.[16]
The Szczecin Voivodeship existed until 31 May 1975, when it was partitioned between then-established voivodeships of Szczecin and Gorzów[2]
From 1946 to 1950, the leader of the voivodeship was the voivode. In 1950, the office of the voivode, together with several others, had been disestablished. As such, from 1950, to 1973, the leader was the chairperson of the Voivodeship National Council.[25] The office of the voivode was reestablished in 1973, and functioned until the disestablishment of the voivodeship in 1975.[26]
The people in the office of the voivode, from 1946 to 1950 were:[27]
The people in the office of the chairperson of the Voivodeship National Council, from 1950 to 1973, were:[27]
The people in the office of the voivode, from 1973 to 1975 were:[27]
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