FEATURES AND CONDITIONS OF CROSSING THE CUSTOMS BORDER BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND AND THE FREE CITY OF GDAŃSK IN THE INTERWAR PERIOD

Ivan  ZULYAK; Tatyana  LAVRIN

doi:10.24919/2519-058X.37.346049

Authors

Ivan ZULYAK PhD hab. (History), Professor, Head of the Department of History of Ukraine, Archaeology and Special Branches of Historical Sciences, Volodymyr Hnatyuk Ternopil National Pedagogical University, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3758-2019
Tatyana LAVRIN PhD (History), Associate Professor of the Department of History of Ukraine, Archeology and Special Branches of Historical Sciences, Volodymyr Hnatiuk Ternopil National Pedagogical University, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6171-2261

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24919/2519-058X.37.346049

Abstract

In the interwar period, the customs border between the Republic of Poland and the Free City of Gdańsk was an important element of trade, economic and political relations between the two sides. The features of its crossing were determined by international treaties, economic interests and tensions in relations between Poland and Gdańsk, which had the status of a free city under the auspices of the League of Nations. The purpose is to study the features and conditions of crossing the customs border between the Republic of Poland and the Free City of Gdańsk in the interwar period. The study is aimed at identifying legal, economic and political factors that influenced the customs regime, as well as evaluating its role in relations between the two sides. The research methodology is based on a comprehensive approach, which includes the analysis of regulatory legal acts, international agreements and archival documents that regulated the customs regime between the Republic of Poland and the Free City of Gdańsk in the interwar period. The main research methods are historical and legal, comparative and systemic ones. The scientific novelty of the study сonsists in the comprehensive analysis of the features and conditions of crossing the customs border between the Republic of Poland and the Free City of Gdańsk in the interwar period, which still remains an understudied topic in historical science. The authors analyzed the specific customs procedures that operated between Poland and Gdańsk in the context of the international legal status of the free city. The influence of political and economic relations between the parties on the change in the customs regime has been studied. The role of the customs border as a factor of international tension and conflicts between Poland and the Free City of Gdańsk has been analzyed. Conclusions. It has been determined that the customs border between the Republic of Poland and Gdańsk in the interwar period played a key role in the trade, economic and political relations of the two sides, and was regulated by international treaties that determined the special status of the free city. Poland received certain customs privileges, in particular the right to control the port infrastructure, which caused difficult relations with local authorities. Despite the contradictions, the customs border contributed to the development of trade between Poland, Gdańsk and other countries. The regulation of border crossings had a significant impact on the residents of both sides. The Polish citizens and residents of Gdańsk had to comply with special customs regulations. The study of the customs border between Poland and Gdańsk allows us to better understand not only the peculiarities of trade and economic policy between the two sides, but also the general trends in the field of customs in the interwar period.

Key words: Republic of Poland, Free City of Gdańsk, interwar period, customs border, customs control, duties, excise duty.

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