This article lists territories, administrative divisions, and populated places that were part of the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, and Nazi Germany, but were transferred to other countries as a result of the First and Second World Wars.
After World War I
Europe
The tables below list the territorial changes of Germany following the First World War, namely the administrative units (German: Kreise) that Germany lost in accordance with the Treaty of Versailles. In some cases, larger administrative units (German: Bezirke) are also included.
Alsace and Lorraine Alsace and Lorraine (in the German Empire — the Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine, German: Reichsland Elsaß-Lothringen) were lost to France, namely:
Lorraine The district of Lorraine (German: Bezirk Lothringen) with its capital in the city of Metz, consisting of the following administrative districts (German: Kreise):
District (Kreis) Capital Urban district of Metz (German: Stadtkreis Metz) and surrounding area (German: Landkreis Metz) Metz District of Bolchen (German: Kreis Bolchen) Boulay-Moselle District of Château-Salins (German: Kreis Château-Salins) Château-Salins District of Diedenhofen (German: Kreis Diedenhofen), divided in 1901 into Western and Eastern parts Thionville District of Forbach (German: Kreis Forbach) Forbach District of Saarburg (German: Kreis Saarburg) Sarrebourg District of Saargemünd (German: Kreis Saargemünd) Sarreguemines
Lower Alsace Lower Alsace (German: Bezirk Unterelsaß) with its capital in the city of Strasbourg, consisting of the following districts (German: Kreise): District (Kreis) Capital District of Erstein (German: Kreis Erstein) Erstein District of Hagenau (German: Kreis Hagenau) Haguenau District of Molsheim (German: Kreis Molsheim) Molsheim District of Schlettstadt (German: Kreis Schlettstadt) Sélestat District of Strasbourg (German: Kreis Straßburg) and surrounding area (German: Landkreis Straßburg) Strasbourg District of Weißenburg (German: Kreis Weißenburg) Wissembourg District of Zabern (German: Kreis Zabern) Saverne
Upper Alsace Upper Alsace (German: Bezirk Oberelsaß) with its capital in the city of Colmar, consisting of the following districts (German: Kreise):
District (Kreis) Capital District of Altkirch (German: Kreis Altkirch) Altkirch District of Colmar (German: Kreis Colmar) Colmar District of Gebweiler (German: Kreis Gebweiler) Guebwiller District of Mülhausen (German: Kreis Mülhausen) Mulhouse District of Rappoltsweiler (German: Kreis Rappoltsweiler) Ribeauvillé District of Thann (German: Kreis Thann) Thann
Saar Saar was placed under the administration of the League of Nations as a result of the First World War (in 1935, following a referendum, the Saar was returned to Nazi Germany).
Schleswig Schleswig was divided between Germany and Denmark following two referendums — Northern Schleswig was returned to Denmark, namely:
District (Kreis) Capital District of Hadersleben (German: Kreis Hadersleben) Haderslev District of Apenrade (German: Kreis Apenrade) Aabenraa District of Sonderburg (German: Kreis Sonderburg) Sønderborg District of Tondern (German: Kreis Tondern) (partially transferred to Denmark; the southern part remained in Germany) Tønder
Eupen and Malmedy Eupen and Malmedy (near Aachen) were transferred to BelgiumArticle 34.
District (Kreis) Capital District of Eupen (German: Kreis Eupen) Eupen District of Malmedy (German: Kreis Malmedy) Malmedy
Province of Posen (partially) Most of the Province of Posen was transferred to the re-established Poland. A part of the former province of Posen remained within Germany during the interwar period, becoming part of the Prussian province of Province of Posen–West Prussia.
Administratively, the province of Posen in the German Empire was divided into two administrative regions (German: Regierungsbezirk) — the Regierungsbezirk of Posen and the Regierungsbezirk of Bromberg.
Regierungsbezirk Posen From the Regierungsbezirk of Posen, the following territories were transferred to Poland:
District (Kreis) Capital Urban district of Posen (German: Stadtkreis Posen) with surrounding districts: Posen-East (German: Kreis Posen-Ost), Posen-West (German: Kreis Posen-West) Poznań District of Adelnau (German: Kreis Adelnau) Odolanów District of Birnbaum (German: Kreis Birnbaum) Międzychód District of Bomst (German: Kreis Bomst) (partially: two-thirds of the district of Bomst (740 km2) were transferred to newly created Poland, where they became the Wolsztyn County. The western part of the district of Bomst (297 km2) remaining in Germany, together with the town of Bomst, was incorporated in 1922 into the Prussian province of Posen–West Prussia) Bomst (at that time remained in Germany, now Polish Babimost) District of Fraustadt (German: Kreis Fraustadt) (partially: the northeastern third of the district of Fraustadt (215 km2) was transferred to newly created Poland, where it became part of the Wschowa County. In 1922, the German part became part of the Prussian province of Posen–West Prussia) Fraustadt (at that time remained in Germany, now Polish Wschowa) District of Gostyn (German: Kreis Gostyn) Gostyń District of Grätz (German: Kreis Grätz) Grodzisk Wielkopolski District of Jarotschin (German: Kreis Jarotschin) Jarocin District of Kempen (German: Kreis Kempen) Kępno District of Koschmin (German: Kreis Koschmin) Koźmin Wielkopolski District of Kosten (German: Kreis Kosten) Kościan District of Krotoschin (German: Kreis Krotoschin) Krotoszyn District of Lissa (German: Kreis Lissa) Leszno District of Meseritz (German: Kreis Meseritz) (partially: the eastern part of the district of Meseritz was transferred to Poland (320 km2), including the town of Bentschen (now Zbąszyń), and was incorporated into the Nowy Tomyśl County. The remaining part of the district of Meseritz, including the town of Meseritz, became part of the new Prussian province of Posen–West Prussia) Meseritz (at that time remained in Germany, now Polish Międzyrzecz) District of Neutomischel (German: Kreis Neutomischel) Nowy Tomyśl District of Obornik (German: Kreis Obornik) Oborniki District of Ostrowo (German: Kreis Ostrowo) Ostrów Wielkopolski District of Pleschen (German: Kreis Pleschen) Pleszew District of Rawitsch (German: Kreis Rawitsch) Rawicz District of Samter (German: Kreis Samter) Szamotuły District of Schildberg (German: Kreis Schildberg) Ostrzeszów District of Schmiegel (German: Kreis Schmiegel) Śmigiel District of Schrimm (German: Kreis Schrimm) Śrem District of Schroda (German: Kreis Schroda) Środa Wielkopolska District of Wreschen (German: Kreis Wreschen) Września
Part of the Posen region, the district of Schwerin an der Warthe (German: Kreis Schwerin an der Warthe) (capital of the district — Schwerin an der Warthe, now Skwierzyna) remained entirely within Germany after the First World War as part of the Prussian province of Posen–West Prussia, although it was later transferred to Poland.
Regierungsbezirk Bromberg From the Regierungsbezirk of Bromberg, the following territories were transferred to Poland:
District (Kreis) Capital Urban district of Bromberg (German: Stadtkreis Bromberg) and surrounding area (German: Landkreis Bromberg) Bydgoszcz District of Czarnikau (German: Kreis Czarnikau) (partially: the territory south of the Noteć River was incorporated into Poland as Czarnków County, while the territory north of the Noteć River remained within the German Empire and became part of the Netze administrative region in the province of Posen–West Prussia) Czarnków District of Filehne (German: Kreis Filehne) (partially: the territory south of the Noteć River was incorporated into Poland as Wieleń County, while the territory north of the Noteć River remained within the German Empire and became part of the Netze administrative region in the province of Posen–West Prussia) Wieleń District of Gnesen (German: Kreis Gnesen) Gniezno District of Hohensalza (German: Kreis Hohensalza), formerly known as the district of Inowrazlaw (German: Kreis Inowrazlaw) Inowrocław District of Kolmar in Posen (German: Kreis Kolmar i. Posen) (partially: three-quarters of the district (898 km2), including Kolmar, the district capital, were transferred to newly created Poland, where the territory became Chodzież County, while several communes of the district and the urban district of Schneidemühl (now Polish Piła) remained within the German Empire and became part of the province of Posen–West Prussia) Chodzież District of Mogilno (German: Kreis Mogilno) Mogilno District of Schubin (German: Kreis Schubin) Szubin District of Strelno (German: Kreis Strelno) Strzelno District of Wirsitz (German: Kreis Wirsitz) Wyrzysk District of Witkowo (German: Kreis Witkowo) Witkowo District of Wongrowitz (German: Kreis Wongrowitz) Wągrowiec District of Znin (German: Kreis Znin) Żnin
West Prussia
West Prussia was partially lost by Germany after the First World War. Most of its districts were transferred to the newly established Poland, while from the northern districts of the province the Free City of Danzig was formed. The fate of part of the districts was decided by the East Prussian plebiscite — these districts, populated predominantly by Polish-speaking inhabitants, were placed under the control of the Entente. As a result of the plebiscite held there on 11 July 1920, this territory remained within Germany and was subsequently incorporated into the province of East Prussia (part of the territory was also transferred to Poland as a result of the plebiscite). After the Second World War, Germany lost all territories that had belonged to this province.
Transferred to Poland District (Kreis) Capital Former administrative region (Regierungsbezirk) District of Putzig (German: Kreis Putzig), became part of the newly established Pomeranian County Puck Danzig District of Neustadt in West Prussia (German: Kreis Neustadt i. Westpr.), became part of the newly established Pomeranian County Wejherowo Danzig District of Karthaus (German: Kreis Karthaus) Kartuzy Danzig District of Berent (German: Kreis Berent) Kościerzyna Danzig District of Dirschau (German: Kreis Dirschau) Tczew Danzig District of Preußisch Stargard (German: Kreis Preußisch Stargard) Starogard Gdański Danzig District of Konitz (German: Kreis Konitz) Chojnice Marienwerder District of Tuchel (German: Kreis Tuchel) Tuchola Marienwerder District of Schwetz (German: Kreis Schwetz) Świecie Marienwerder Urban district of Graudenz (German: Stadtkreis Graudenz) and surrounding area (German: Kreis Graudenz-Land) Grudziądz Marienwerder District of Löbau (German: Kreis Löbau) Nowe Miasto Lubawskie Marienwerder District of Strasburg in West Prussia (German: Kreis Strasburg i. Westpr.) Brodnica Marienwerder District of Culm (German: Kreis Culm) Chełmno Marienwerder District of Briesen (German: Kreis Briesen) Wąbrzeźno Marienwerder Urban district of Thorn (German: Stadtkreis Thorn) and surrounding area (German: Kreis Thorn-Land) Toruń Marienwerder District of Flatow (German: Kreis Flatow, Ostteil) (partially: only the eastern part, including the towns of Vandsburg (Więcbork), Zempelburg (Sępólno Krajeńskie), and Kamin in West Prussia (Kamień Krajeński), formed the Sępólno County in Poland, while the remaining part of the district in Germany was subordinated to the province of Posen–West Prussia with its capital in Schneidemühl) Flatow (at that time remained in Germany, now Złotów) Marienwerder
Transferred to the Free City of Danzig