The Border Between Germany and Poland: Understanding the River Divisions

When questioning the border between Germany and Poland, a common query often arises: what river forms the border between these two nations? This article delves into the specifics of the border, focusing on the major rivers that create this division.

The Western Border: Complicated Names and Divisions

The western Polish border, located primarily in the regions of Silesia, consists of three distinct parts. The southernmost section follows the Lusatian Neisse (Nysa uycka in Polish), which is also known as Nieńscy Neisse in German. It's important to note that this name can be confusing due to another river with a similar name, the Eastern Neisse (Nysa Kodzka in Polish).

Proceeding north, the middle and longest segment of the border is formed by the Oder (Odra in Polish). As with the aforementioned river, this poses a linguistic challenge, as there is another river with exactly the same name: Oder (Odra in German).

The northernmost and shortest part of the border does not follow the Oder river, but rather follows a straight land border.

Historical Context and Recognition

The 1990 treaty that further confirms this border was established by Poland and Germany as sovereign states, free from the constraints of the communist regime and Soviet influence. The original Treaty of Zgorzelec, signed in 1951, established the current border, and it was reconfirmed in the 1990 treaty which can be accessed here.

The Oder (Odr? in Polish) river forms the border from the northernmost point, Gryfino-Mescherin, to the southernmost point, Szydów-Ratzdorf. Here, the Oder meets the Lower Lusatian River (Nysa uycka in Polish, Nieńscy Nysa in German), and the border follows this river to the Polish-Czech border.

Understanding the Northern Border

The northern part of the border, located near the German-Danish border, does not follow any specific river. The Oder forms the border for approximately 187 kilometers. It is worth noting that while the name Neisse (Nysa in Polish, Nieńscy Neisse in German) is frequently mentioned, this section of the border is not accompanied by a river.

The German-Polish border primarily follows the Neisse (Nysa uycka in Polish, Nieńscy Neisse in German) in the southern portion and the Oder (Odra in Polish, Oder in German) in the northern.

The Final Confirmation

There is only one common border between Poland and Germany, and it lies on the western part of Poland and the eastern part of Germany. In the northern part of this border, there is a short stretch of land without a river. The Oder defines the significant portion of the border and is crucial for demarcating this region.

For more detailed and historical information, you can refer to the original Treaty of Zgorzelec.

Note: For the most up-to-date information, please consult official sources and recent historical documents.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia.