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Oder-Neisse line facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Oder-Neisse line is a very important border between Germany and Poland. It was created after World War II ended. This border is named after two rivers: the Oder and the Neisse. It marked a big change in the map of Europe.

Oder-neisse
The Oder–Neisse line

The Oder-Neisse Line: Germany's Post-War Border

The Oder-Neisse line became the official boundary between Germany and Poland after Germany was defeated in World War II. This new border meant Germany lost a large part of its land to Poland. This was not the first time Germany's borders changed. After World War I in 1919, Germany also gave up parts of its territory, like the provinces of Posen and Westpreußen, to the new country of Poland.

How the Border Changed

The new border along the Oder and Neisse rivers was a major outcome of World War II. It moved Poland's western border much further to the west. This change was decided by the winning countries of the war. It aimed to reshape the map of Europe and create new political realities after the conflict.

People Moving Homes

When the Oder-Neisse line became the new border, many people had to move. About 12 million Germans lived in the eastern provinces of Germany and in parts of Poland before the war. Many of these people either fled their homes as the Russian army advanced, or they were later forced to leave by Polish groups.

As Poland took over these former German areas, Polish people moved into them. Many of these new inhabitants had also been forced from their homes. They came from eastern Poland, which was taken over by the U.S.S.R. in 1939. This meant that millions of people on both sides had to leave their homes and start new lives elsewhere.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Línea Óder-Neisse para niños

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