academy in Greifswald-Eldena. From 1867 to 1874, he bought and expanded the Varzin estates. In 1869, Friedrich Albrecht Graf zu Eulenburg drafted a county reform () that was promoted by Bismarck. The reform passed the House of Lords on December 7, 1872. Most importantly, the reform cut the linkage between noble status and the right to vote, the latter now depended on property (one had to be above a certain tax threshold) and not on status, aiming against the overrepresentation of the knights compared to burghers. On June 29, 1875, a new constitution for the province was passed (), which entered into force in 1876. It redefined the responsibilities of the provincial administration (headed by the ) and the self-administrative institutions (, comprising the provincial parliament (), a (head) and a (commission)). The Provinzialverband was financed directly from the Prussian state budget. The Landtag was responsible for streets, welfare, education, and culture. Landownership was no longer a criterion to become elected. The provincial Landtag (Provinziallandtag) was elected by the county representative assemblies ( for counties, for town districts) for a six years' term. A subordinate Kommunallandtag only existed for Regierungsbezirk Stralsund, until it was abolished in 1881. In 1891, a county reform was passed, allowing more communal self-government. Municipalities hence elected a (head) and a (communal parliament). Gutsbezirk districts, i.e. estates not included in counties, could be merged or dissolved. World War I During the First World War, no battles took place in the province. Nevertheless, the war affected society, economy, and administration. During the war, the provincial administrative institutions were subordinate to the military and headed by military officials. Mobilization resulted in work force shortage affecting all non-war-related industry, construction, and agriculture. Women, minors and POWs partially replaced the drafted men. Import and fishing declined when the ports were blocked. With the war going on, food shortages occurred, especially in the winter of 1916/17. Also coal, gas, and electricity were at times unavailable. When the Treaty of Versailles entered into force on January 10, 1920, the province's eastern frontier became the border to the newly created Second Polish Republic, comprising most of Pomerelia in the so-called Polish Corridor. Minor border adjustments followed, where 9,5 km2 of the province became Polish and 74 km2 of former West Prussia (parts of the former counties of Neustadt in Westpreußen and Karthaus) were merged into the province. Province of the Free State of