Early history in
Darłowo, Poland The first contact between Norway and Poland took place in the
Middle Ages with
Vikings (
Norsemen) from
Scandinavia sailing up the
Vistula river in Poland. The Vikings also founded and settled in
Jomsborg in
Pomerania and became known as
Jomsvikings. Archaeological findings confirm the presence of people from Norway in the port city of
Wolin in Poland in the second half of the 10th century, whereas slightly later traces of
Slavic settlement extend to northern Norway. Official contact between both nations began in the 10th century when Polish Princess
Świętosława (daughter of
Mieszko I of Poland) married King
Sweyn Forkbeard of
Denmark and Norway. From their union, their son
Cnut the Great would continue to rule Norway and the
North Sea Empire. According to some
sagas,
Bolesław I the Brave of Poland supported
Olaf Tryggvason of Norway against Denmark in the 990s. In the medieval period, Poland and Norway entered into alliances several times, incl. in 1315 From 1389 to 1442,
Eric of Pomerania of the
House of Griffin was King of Norway as Eric III, and his tomb is located in his birth town of
Darłowo in Poland. During the
Hanseatic League, trade and cultural contacts developed between Polish cities on the
Baltic Sea, mainly
Gdańsk; and
Bergen in Norway, where Polish ships reached with grain.
20th century In 1918, after
World War I, Poland regained its independence, and both nations established diplomatic relations in 1919. In 1931 Poland signed the
Svalbard Treaty, which recognizes the sovereignty of Norway over the archipelago of
Svalbard in the
Arctic Ocean, and grants signatories equal rights to engage in commercial activities and scientific research on the archipelago. During
World War II, both countries were invaded by Germany. The
Polish Independent Highland Brigade fought for Norway in the
Battles of Narvik against German soldiers. During the war, both countries maintained close contacts as both had governments-in-exile based in
London. Approximately 20,000 Poles were taken by the Germans from
occupied Poland for
forced labor in Norway, while some Norwegian prisoners of war were sent to
German POW camps operated in occupied Poland, including
Stalag XXI-C in
Wolsztyn, Stalag 357 in
Toruń, and most notably
Oflag XXI-C in
Ostrzeszów. Several Poles and Norwegians were among the victims of the
Stalag Luft III murders, perpetrated by Germany in 1944. After liberation, Norway became a second home for some of the former Polish forced laborers. Shortly after the end of World War II, Poland and Norway resumed diplomatic relations in 1945. In 1974, Norway's Prime Minister
Trygve Bratteli paid an official visit to Poland. ==Modern relations==