"Pommern" (Pomerania) means "land by the sea" - so named by the west Slavic tribe, the Pomorans ("people by the sea"). The eventful history of the region from its settlement in the early Middle Ages by Slavic tribes, through German and Danish colonisation, the fateful medieval connection to the Hanseatic League, the Swedish era and the Prussian occupation, has shaped the towns and scenery in a unique way.

The German settling of Pomerania started in the 13th century. The region experienced an early boom during the Hanseatic times when the towns of Rostock, Wismar, Lübeck, Hamburg, Stralsund, Greifswald, Anklam, Demmin and Stettin formed a town league at the end of the 13th century. The Hanseatic League's trade throughout the Baltic region, to Scandinavia and the Baltic States made the Hanseatic towns powerful and wealthy. The University of Greifswald was founded in 1456. Its long coastline made Pomerania the most important German fishing region. Tourism developed early at numerous Baltic resorts. After Second World War Eastern Pomerania became part of Poland, Western Pomerania, today’s Vorpommern, became part of Mecklenburg.

Shipyards came into being along the Baltic coast, leading to a shipbuilding boom in the former GDR. After reunification, these shipyards were reconstructed to become the most modern in the world. Together with agriculture and fishing and associated food industries, shipbuilding, maritime and port industries and tourism are the traditional business sectors of the region. In addition to these traditional areas life science and biotechnology as well as hi-tech industries and telecommunication characterise the Vorpommern of the 21st century.

Tradition and innovation in an region full of history – Vorpommern in the 21st century!