Westphalia as a small state within Germany in the form of a principality until 1918 and as a free state until 1946. This continues to influence the identity of its people who often distinguish themselves from neighboring regions such as East Westphalia. In addition to these historic, lingual and religious aspects, there are some regional differences in culture and mentality. That is why many of the citizens of North Rhine-Westphalia rather see themselves either as "Rhinelanders", "Westphalians" or "Lippers" rather than as "North Rhine-Westphalians". Westphalia is known for the 1648 Peace of Westphalia which ended the Thirty Years' War, as the
Treaty of Grimnitz Sweden refused to hand over the duchy. An agreement was reached to partition the duchy into a Swedish and a Brandenburgian part in the Peace of Westphalia (1648), which was put into effect in the Treaty of Stettin (1653). Treaty of Grimnitz The Treaty of Grimnitz (26 August 1529) was the final settlement of a long-standing dispute between the House of Pomerania and the House of Hohenzollern regarding the legal status and succession in the Duchy of Pomerania. It renewed and amended the Treaty of Pyritz of 1493. With some formal caveats, the House of Pomerania received the Duchy of