Until 1919 Garnsee had belonged to Kreis Marienwerder in the administrative district of Regierungsbezirk Marienwerder in the province of West Prussia, from 1919 to 1939 in Regierungsbezirk Westpreußen of the province of East Prussia and from October 26, 1939, to 1945 in Regierungsbezirk Marienwerder of the province of Reichsgau Danzig-West Prussia.