Silesia ( Polish (polski, język polski) is the official language of Poland. ...Polish Śląsk, German (called Deutsch in German; in German the term germanisch is equivalent to English Germanic), is a member of the western group of Germanic languages and is one of the worlds major languages. ...German Schlesien, The Czech language is one of the West Slavic languages, along with Slovak, Polish, Pomeranian, and Sorbian. ...Czech Slezsko) is a This is a list of major historical regions of Central Europe. ...historical region in central Europe. Most of it is now within the borders of The Republic of Poland, a democratic country with a population of 38,626,349 and area of 312,685 km², is located in Central Europe, between Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and...Poland, but with a small part in the National motto: Truth prevails ( Czech: Pravda vítězí) Official language Czech Capital Praha ( Prague) President Václav Klaus Prime Minister Stanislav Gross Area  _ Total  _ % water Ranked 114th 78,866 km² 2% Population  _ Total ( 2003)  _ Density Ranked 76th 10. ...Czech Republic, and another small region, which only became part of Silesia in 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...1815, in The Federal Republic of Germany ( German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is one of the worlds leading industrialised countries, located in the heart of Europe. ...Germany. Silesia is located along the upper and middle The Oder (or Odra) River (German: Oder, Polish/Czech: Odra, Ancient Latin: Viadua, Viadrus, Medieval Latin: Odera, Oddera) is a river in Central Europe (mostly in Poland). ...Oder (Odra) River and along the Karkonosze The Sudetes, also called Sudeten (German; SAMPA: [sudeIt@n]) or Sudety ([sudetI] in Czech, [sudetI] in Polish), is a mountain range in Central Europe. ...Sudetes mountains. In a local Silesian language can refer to the Silesian _ a dialect of Polish, sometimes considered a separate Western Slavonic language related to Czech and Polish), or the Lower Silesian (a dialect of German). ...Silesian language or dialect it is called Ślonsk or Ślunsk.

The Polish portion of Silesia, which forms the bulk of the region, is now divided into the A Voivodship ( Romanian: Voievodat, Polish: Województwo, Serbian: Vojvodstvo or Vojvodina) was a feudal state in medieval Romania, Hungary, Poland, Russia and Serbia (see Vojvodina), ruled by a Voivod. ...voivodships (provinces) of Lubusz voivodship since 1999 The Lubusz Voivodship (in Polish województwo lubuskie) is an administrative and local government region or voivodship in the western part of Poland. ...Lubusz Voivodship, Lower Silesian voivodship since 1999 Lower Silesia (Polish Dolny Śląsk, German Niederschlesien, Latin Silesia Inferior) is the north_western part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia in Poland, located along the middle Oder River and organized into Lower Silesian Voivodship, (Polish: województwo dolnośląskie) with capital Wrocław It was...Lower Silesian Voivodship, Greater Poland Voivodship (in Polish województwo wielkopolskie) is an administrative region or voivodship of western_central Poland It was created on 1 January 1999 out of the former Poznan, Kalisz, Konin, Pila and Leszno voivodships as a result of Local Government Reorganization Act of 1998. ...Greater Poland Voivodship, The Lesser Poland Voivodship or Little Poland Voivodship (in Polish województwo małopolskie) is an administrative region or voivodship in the south of Poland that contains core areas of the historical and geographical region of Lesser Poland (Malopolska). ...Lesser Poland Voivodship, Opole voivodship since 1999 1) Opole Voivodship (since 1999) or Opole Silesia ( Polish: województwo opolskie, Śląsk Opolski) is an administrative and local government region created on 1 January 1999 out of the former Opole (2) and parts of Czestochowa voivodships as a result of the Local Government Reorganization Act of...Opole Voivodship, and Silesian voivodship since 1999 Silesia or Silesian Voivodship(1) is an administrative region and local government unit in Poland, established in 1999 out of Katowice, Czętochowa and Bielsko_Biała voivodships as a result of Local Government Reorganisation Act of 1998 (effective 1 January 1999). ...Silesian Voivodship (see: [1] (http://www.tr62.de/maps/Silesia_2000.html)). The latter two are sometimes called Upper Silesia (Polish Górny Śląsk, German Oberschlesien, Czech Horní Slezsko) is the south_eastern part of Silesia, a historical and geographical region of Poland (Opole Voivodship and Silesian Voivodship) and of the Czech Republic (Silesian_Moravian Region). ...Upper Silesia. The small portion in the Czech Republic is mostly joined with northern part of Moravia (Czech: Morava) is the eastern part of the Czech Republic. ...Moravia to form the Moravian_Silesian Region (in Czech Moravskoslezský kraj) is an administrative unit (kraj) of the Czech Republic, located it the north_eastern part of its hitorical region of Moravia and in most of the Czech part of the historical region of Silesia. ...Moravian_Silesian Region of that country, the remainder forming a small part of the Olomouc Region (Czech: Olomoucký kraj) is an administrative unit (Czech: kraj) of the Czech Republic, located in the north_western and central part of its historical region of Moravia and in a small part of the historical region of Silesia. ...Olomouc Region, while the Görlitz area now is a part of the German state of With an area of 18,400 sq. ...Saxony. Silesia lies directly adjacent to Saxony, Lesser Poland voivodship since 1999 Little Poland or Lesser Poland (Polish Małopolska, Latin: Polonia Minor) is one of the historical regions of Poland. ...Little Poland, Greater Poland (also Great Poland; Polish: Wielkopolska, German: Grosspolen, Latin: Polonia Maior) is one of the historical regions of Poland. ...Greater Poland, and For other uses, see Brandenburg (disambiguation). ...Brandenburg. The largest city of Silesia is Wrocław (formerly Breslau) (in Polish pronounced: [:vrɔʦwaf], Czech Vratislav, German Breslau, Latin: Wratislavia; many Polish documents in English use the name Wroclaw) is a city in Silesia in southwestern Poland, situated on the Oder River. ...Wrocław.

In the The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ...Middle Ages, Silesia was a The Piast dynasty is a line of Kings and dukes that ruled Poland from its beginnings as an independent state up to 1370. ...Piast province that became a possession of the Bohemia is also a place in the State of United States of America: see Bohemia, New York. ...Bohemian crown under the The Holy Roman Empire ( German: Heiliges Römisches Reich) ( Italian: Sacro Romano Impero) ( Latin: Sacrum Romanum Imperium) ( Czech: Svatá říše římská) ( French: Saint Empire Romain Germanique) ( Polish: Święte Cesarstwo Rzymskie Narodu Niemieckiego) ( Dutch: Heilige Roomse Rijk) was a political conglomeration of lands in Central Europe in the Middle Ages and the...Holy Roman Empire and passed with that crown to the Austrian Habsburg (sometimes spelled Hapsburg, but never so in official use) was one of the major ruling houses of Europe. ...Habsburgs in Events January 14 _ Treaty of Madrid. ...1526. In Events January 24 _ Charles VII Albert becomes Holy Roman Emperor. ...1742 most of Silesia was seized by Frederick the Great Frederick II of Prussia (Friedrich der Große, Frederick the Great, January 24, 1712 – August 17, 1786) was the Hohenzollern king of Prussia 1740–86. ...Frederick the Great of The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1701_1918 The word Prussia ( German: Preußen or Preussen, Polish: Prusy, Lithuanian: Prūsai, Latin: Borussia) has had various (often contradictory) meanings: The land of the Baltic Prussians (in what is now parts of southern Lithuania, the Kaliningrad exclave of Russia and...Prussia in the The War of the Austrian Succession (1740_1748). ...War of the Austrian Succession. This part of Silesia composed the Prussian provinces P.G Wodehouse was interned in Upper Silesia at Tost during WWII ...Upper and Lower Silesia (German Niederschlesien) was a province of Prussia which together with Upper Silesia (Oberschlesien) formed most of the historical region Silesia until the end of World War II. However, some parts went to the new state of Czechoslovakia after World War I. Silesia was ceded by Austria to Prussia...Lower Silesia until 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...1945, when most of Silesia became part of Poland.

Natural resources

Silesia is a resource_rich and populous region. Coal Coal is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground either by underground mining, open_pit mining or strip mining. ...Coal and General Name, Symbol, Number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metal Group, Period, Block 8 (VIIIB), 4 , d Density, Hardness 7874 kg/m3, 4. ...iron are both abundant, and a substantial Manufacturing is the transformation of raw materials into finished goods for sale, or intermediate processes involving the production or finishing of semi_manufactures. ...manufacturing industry has sprung up, but in post_communist times the outdated nature of many of the facilites have led to environmental problems. The region also has a thriving Farming, ploughing rice paddy, in Indonesia Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and other desired products by cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals ( livestock). ...agricultural sector, producing Cereal crops are mostly grasses cultivated for their edible seeds (actually a fruit called a grain, technically a caryopsis). ...grains, Binomial name Solanum tuberosum L. The potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a perennial plant of the Solanaceae, or nightshade, family, grown for its starchy tuber. ...potatoes, and Two sugar beets _ the one on the left has been cultivated to be smoother than the traditional beet, so that it traps less soil. ...sugar beets.

History

Early peoples

Silesia was inhabited by various peoples belonging to changing archeological cultures in the Stone Age fishing hook. ...Stone Age, The Bronze Age is a period in a civilizations development when the most advanced metalworking has developed the techniques of smelting copper from natural outcroppings and alloys it to cast bronze. ...Bronze Age and Iron Age Axe found on Gotland This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age, for the mythological Iron Age see Iron Age (mythology). ...Iron Age.

According to This article is about the historian Tacitus. ...Tacitus, in the 1st century Silesia was inhabited by a multi_ethnic league dominated by the The Lugii, Lygii or Ligii (also Lygians, Lugians) were a tribe of likely Celtic or Germanic origin living in modern Poland north of the Sudetes mountains between Oder and Vistula rivers. ...Lugii/Lygii. Also part of this federation were the Silingi, most likely a The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe that entered the late Roman Empire, and created a state in North Africa, centered on the city of Carthage. ...Vandalic people, that lived south of the The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe, bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of east and central Europe, and the Danish islands. ...Baltic Sea in the The Elbe River (Czech Labe, Sorbian/Lusatian Łobjo, Polish Łaba, German Elbe) is one of the major waterways of central Europe. ...Elbe, The Oder (or Odra) River (German: Oder, Polish/Czech: Odra, Ancient Latin: Viadua, Viadrus, Medieval Latin: Odera, Oddera) is a river in Central Europe (mostly in Poland). ...Oder, and Vistula river basin Vistula ( Polish Wisła, German Weichsel) is the longest river in Poland. ...Vistula river area.

Middle Ages

Early documents mention a couple of tribes most probably living in Silesia. The The Bavarian Geographer is anonymous medieval document prepared in ca. ...Bavarian Geographer (ca. 845) specifies the following peoples: Slenzanie, Dzhadoshanie, Opolanie, Lupiglaa and Golenshitse. And a document of Prague bishopric (1086) mentions Zlasane, Trebovyane, Poborane and Dedositze.

In the 9th and 10th centuries the territory later called Silesia was subject to the Moravia (Czech: Morava) is the eastern part of the Czech Republic. ...Moravian and then Bohemia is also a place in the State of United States of America: see Bohemia, New York. ...Bohemian rulers of the neighbouring area covered by today's National motto: Truth prevails ( Czech: Pravda vítězí) Official language Czech Capital Praha ( Prague) President Václav Klaus Prime Minister Stanislav Gross Area  _ Total  _ % water Ranked 114th 78,866 km² 2% Population  _ Total ( 2003)  _ Density Ranked 76th 10. ...Czech Republic to the south.

About Events Construction of the Al_Hakim Mosque begins in Cairo. ...990 Silesia was incorporated into The Republic of Poland, a democratic country with a population of 38,626,349 and area of 312,685 km², is located in Central Europe, between Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and...Poland by Reign From c. ...Mieszko I (although some historians are moving the date to For other uses, see number 999. ...999 and the rule of Reign From 992 until 1025 Coronation On April 18, 1025 in Gniezno Cathedral, Poland Royal House Piast Coat of Arms Orzeł Piastowski Parents Mieszko I Dubrawka Consorts Rikdaga Judith Enmilda Oda Children with Judith Bezprym with Enmilda Regelina Mieszko II Lambert Otton with Oda Matylda Date of Birth 966/ 967...Boleslaus I, duke of the Polanie and later king of The Republic of Poland, a democratic country with a population of 38,626,349 and area of 312,685 km², is located in Central Europe, between Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and...Poland). During In the first centuries of its existence, the Polish nation was led by a series of strong rulers who converted the Poles to Christendom, created a strong Central European state, and integrated Poland into European culture. ...Poland's fragmentation (1138–1320) into A duchy is a territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess. ...duchies ruled by different branches of the The Piast dynasty is a line of Kings and dukes that ruled Poland from its beginnings as an independent state up to 1370. ...Piast dynasty, Silesia was ruled by descendants of the former royal family.

In 1146, senior duke Categories: Poland_related stubs | Polish monarchs | Dukes of Silesia ...Wladislaus II acknowledged the overlordship of the The Holy Roman Empire ( German: Heiliges Römisches Reich) ( Italian: Sacro Romano Impero) ( Latin: Sacrum Romanum Imperium) ( Czech: Svatá říše římská) ( French: Saint Empire Romain Germanique) ( Polish: Święte Cesarstwo Rzymskie Narodu Niemieckiego) ( Dutch: Heilige Roomse Rijk) was a political conglomeration of lands in Central Europe in the Middle Ages and the...Holy Roman Empire over Poland, but was driven into See Exile (disambiguation) for other meanings. ...exile. Seventeen years later, in 1163, his two sons took possession of Silesia with imperial backing, dividing the land between them as dukes of Lower and Upper Silesia. The policy of subdivision continued under their successors, with Silesia being divided into 16 principalities by the 1390s.

In 1241 the region experienced the Honorary guard of Mongolia. ...Mongol invasion. Mongols, after looting the Lesser Poland voivodship since 1999 Little Poland or Lesser Poland (Polish Małopolska, Latin: Polonia Minor) is one of the historical regions of Poland. ...Lesser Poland entered Silesia causing widespread panic and mass migrations. They looted much of region and after brief, unsuccessful siege of Wrocław (formerly Breslau) (in Polish pronounced: [:vrɔʦwaf], Czech Vratislav, German Breslau, Latin: Wratislavia; many Polish documents in English use the name Wroclaw) is a city in Silesia in southwestern Poland, situated on the Oder River. ...Wroclaw castle (they were reportedly fended off by blessed Cheslav's miraculous fireball) they defeated combined forces of Polish and guest knights at Legnica (pronounce: [lεgniʦa], formerly Lignica, German Liegnitz) is a town in south_western Poland, with 108,000 inhabitants (1995). ...Legnica. Achieving that, they returned to their homeland with captives. Ruling Silesian lords decided to rebuild their cities according to latest administrative developments, founding or relocating some 160 cities and 1500 towns with codified German law in place of settlements governed by older, customary Polish laws. They also compensated recent population loss by inviting foreigners _ mostly from the Holy Roman Empire. This, and ruling classes adopting German culture, caused considerable ethnic tensions in Silesia. Also, in second half of 13th century various knightly orders settled in Silesia _ Knights of the Red Star was first but soon followed by The Knights Hospitaller (the or Knights of Malta or Knights of Rhodes) is a tradition which began as a Benedictine nursing Order founded in the 11th century based in the Holy Land, but soon became a militant Christian Chivalric Order under its own charter, and was charged with the care...Hospitaller and Teutonic Knights Castle in Malbork (Marienburg) The Teutonic Order (German: Deutscher Orden, Latin: Ordo domus Sanctæ Mariæ Theutonicorum) was a crusading order of knights under Roman Catholic religious vows which was formed at the end of the 12th century in Palestine to give medical aid to pilgrims to the holy...Teutonic Knights.

In Events Abu Said dies and the Ilkhan khanate ends Slavery abolished in Sweden Charles I of Hungary allies with Poland against the Hapsburgs and Bohemians Carinthia and Carniola come under Habsburg rule. ...1335, Duke Henry VI of Wrocław (formerly Breslau) (in Polish pronounced: [:vrɔʦwaf], Czech Vratislav, German Breslau, Latin: Wratislavia; many Polish documents in English use the name Wroclaw) is a city in Silesia in southwestern Poland, situated on the Oder River. ...Wroclaw and the Upper Silesian dukes recognized the overlordship of the king of Bohemia is also a place in the State of United States of America: see Bohemia, New York. ...Bohemia ( John the Blind of Luxemburg (August 10, 1296 _ August 26, 1346) was King of Bohemia and Count of Luxemburg. ...John of Luxemburg). The last independent Piast duchies in Silesia ceased to exist in Events Timur ascends throne of Samarkand. ...1368, although the Silesian branch of the Piast dynasty went extinct only in Events January 5 _ The Battle of Turckeim August 10 _ Building of the Royal Greenwich Observatory began November 11 _ Guru Gobind Singh becomes the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs. ...1675. From that time Silesia indirectly became a part of the The Holy Roman Empire ( German: Heiliges Römisches Reich) ( Italian: Sacro Romano Impero) ( Latin: Sacrum Romanum Imperium) ( Czech: Svatá říše římská) ( French: Saint Empire Romain Germanique) ( Polish: Święte Cesarstwo Rzymskie Narodu Niemieckiego) ( Dutch: Heilige Roomse Rijk) was a political conglomeration of lands in Central Europe in the Middle Ages and the...Holy Roman Empire, as Bohemia was itself an autonomous part of the empire. Silesia remained part of the lands of the Bohemian crown until Events May 31 _ Friedrich II comes to power in Prussia upon the death of his father, Friedrich Wilhelm I. October 20 _ Maria Theresia of Austria inherits the Habsburg hereditary dominions (Austria, Bohemia, Hungary and present_day Belgium). ...1740, under kings of Czech, Polish and German dynasties.

Under the emperor and king of Bohemia Charles IV, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV ( May 14, 1316 – 29 November 1378), of the House of Luxembourg, King of the Romans (as Charles (Karl) IV, 1368 – 1378), Holy Roman Emperor (Charles IV, 1355 – 1378), King of Bohemia (Charles (Karel) I 1346 – 1378), Count of Luxemburg (1346 – 1353), Margrave...Charles IV, Silesia and especially Wroclaw gained greatly in importance, and many great buildings and large Gothic architecture characterizes any of the styles of European architecture, particularly associated with cathedrals and other churches, in use throughout Europe during the high and late medieval period, from the 12th century onwards. ...Gothic churches were built.

Between Events Foundation of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium Births Deaths March 17 _ Ashikaga Yoshikazu, Ashikaga shogun July 21 _ Manuel II Palaeologus, Byzantine Emperor Categories: 1425 ...1425 and For other uses, see number 1435. ...1435, devastation was caused by the The Hussites comprised an early Protestant Christian movement, followers of Jan Hus. ...Hussite rebellion in Bohemia proper — Silesia remained largely Catholic, however. The The Hussites comprised an early Protestant Christian movement, followers of Jan Hus. ...Hussites turned against German population and especially Upper Silesia returned to the Slavic language.

Early Modern Period

The The Protestant Reformation was a movement which began in the 16th century as a series of attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but ended in division and the establishment of new institutions, most importantly Lutheranism, Reformed churches, and Anabaptists. ...Protestant reformation took an early hold, and most of Silesia became The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ...Lutheran. In Events January 14 _ Treaty of Madrid. ...1526 Ferdinand made the elected crown of Bohemia an inherited possession of the Habsburg (sometimes spelled Hapsburg, but never so in official use) was one of the major ruling houses of Europe. ...Habsburg family. In Events January 6 _ Alessandro de Medici assassinated August 25 _ The Honourable Artillery Company, the oldest surviving regiment in the British Army, and the second most senior, was formed. ...1537 the rulers of For other uses, see Brandenburg (disambiguation). ...Brandenburg and Silesia concluded an inheritance treaty, but it was vetoed by the emperor Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor (March 10, 1503 _ July 27, 1564) was one of the Habsburg emperors that at various periods during his life ruled over Austria, Germany, Bohemia, and Hungary. ...Ferdinand I.

The second " A contemporary woodcut of the defenestration in 1618. ...Defenestrations of Prague", in Events March 8 _ Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion (he soon rejects the idea after some initial calculations were made but on May 15 confirms the discovery). ...1618, sparked the The victory of Gustavus Adolphus at the Battle of Breitenfeld (1631) The Thirty Years War was a conflict fought between the years 1618 and 1648, principally in the Central European territory of the Holy Roman Empire, but also involving most of the major continental powers. ...Thirty Years' War, caused by attempts of the Catholic Habsburg ruler to restore Catholicism and stamp out Protestantism. After the end of the Thirty Years' War, the Habsburgs greatly encouraged Catholicism, and succeeded in reconverting around sixty percent of the population of Silesia. By Events January 5 _ The Battle of Turckeim August 10 _ Building of the Royal Greenwich Observatory began November 11 _ Guru Gobind Singh becomes the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs. ...1675 the last Silesian Piast rulers had died out.

In Events May 31 _ Friedrich II comes to power in Prussia upon the death of his father, Friedrich Wilhelm I. October 20 _ Maria Theresia of Austria inherits the Habsburg hereditary dominions (Austria, Bohemia, Hungary and present_day Belgium). ...1740 the seizure of Silesia by Frederick the Great Frederick II of Prussia (Friedrich der Große, Frederick the Great, January 24, 1712 – August 17, 1786) was the Hohenzollern king of Prussia 1740–86. ...Friedrich II of Prussia began the The War of the Austrian Succession (1740_1748). ...War of the Austrian Succession, which ended in Events April 24 _ A congress assembles at Aix_la_Chapelle with the intent to conclude the struggle known as the War of Austrian Succession _ at October 18 _ The Treaty of Aix_la_Chapelle is signed to end the war Adam Smith begins to deliver public lectures in Edinburgh Building of...1748. At the end of this war, The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1701_1918 The word Prussia ( German: Preußen or Preussen, Polish: Prusy, Lithuanian: Prūsai, Latin: Borussia) has had various (often contradictory) meanings: The land of the Baltic Prussians (in what is now parts of southern Lithuania, the Kaliningrad exclave of Russia and...Prussia had conquered almost all of Silesia. (Some parts of Silesia in the extreme southeast remained possessions of The Republic of Austria ( German: Republik Österreich) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. ...Austria.) The This article is about the 1756–1763 war. ...Seven Years' War ( Events March 17 _ St. ...1756– Events February 10 _ French and Indian War: The 1763 Treaty of Paris ends the war and France cedes Great Britain. ...1763) confirmed this result. Silesia became a province of Prussia. In 1815 the area around Görlitz was made a part of that province in an administrative reform.

Silesia in Germany

Silesia became part of the German Empire when Germany was unified ( 1871 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...1871). There was considerable industrialization in Upper Silesia, and many people moved there. A majority of the population of Lower Silesia, including its capital, Breslau (today: Wroclaw), was German_speaking. However, there were areas, such as Motto: none Voivodship Opole Municipal government Rada Miasta Opola Mayor Ryszard Zembaczyński Area 96,2 km² Population  _ city  _ urban  _ density 128 800 250 000 1338/km² Founded City rights _ _ Latitude Longitude 50°40 N 17°56 E Area code +48 77 Car plates OP Twin towns _ Municipal Website Opole (pronounce...Opole county or Upper Silesia where a larger proportion or even a majority was Polish_speaking and Roman Catholic. In Silesia as a whole Poles were about 30% of the population. The The German term Kulturkampf (literally, cultural fight) commonly refers to the early years of the 1871 German Empire, when Chancellor Otto von Bismarck attempted to reduce the influence of the Catholics in Germany, but can be used to refer to similar cultural conflicts at other periods and in other places. ...Kulturkampf set Catholics in opposition to the government and sparked Polish revival in the province.

After Germany's and Austria's defeat in Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ...World War I the Austrian parts of Silesia were divided between Poland and Czechoslovakia ( Czech: Československo, Slovak: Česko_Slovensko/before 1990 Československo) was a country in Central Europe that existed from 1918 until 1992 (except for the World War II period). ...Czechoslovakia. In the Woodrow Wilson with the American Peace Commissioners The Treaty of Versailles of 1919 is the peace treaty created as a result of the six_month_long Paris Peace Conference of 1919 which put an official end to World War I. The ceremonial signing of the treaty with Germany occurred June...Treaty of Versailles it was decided that the population of German Upper Silesia should hold a plebiscite in order to determine the future of the province, with the exception of a 333km² area around Hultschin (now Hlučín), which was in 1920 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) Events January January 7 _ Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ...1920 granted to Czechoslovakia, despite having a German majority. The plebiscite between Germany and Poland, organised by the The League of Nations was an international organisation founded after the First World War with its constitution being approved by the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. ...League of Nations, was held in 1921 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...1921. The outcome was 706,000 votes for Germany, and 479,000 for Poland. However, in the southeastern areas which were the backbone of economy and industry, there was a strong majority for Poland.

After the referendum, there were three The Silesian Uprisings (Polish: Powstania śląskie) was a series of three military insurections (1919_1921) of the Polish people in the Upper Silesia region against the German/Prussian forces in order to force them out the region and join it with Poland, that regained her independence after the World War...Silesian Insurrections, and as a result of them the League of Nations decided that the province should be split and areas that voted for Poland should become an autonomous area within Poland, organised as the Silesian voivodship since 1999 Silesia or Silesian Voivodship(1) is an administrative region and local government unit in Poland, established in 1999 out of Katowice, Czętochowa and Bielsko_Biała voivodships as a result of Local Government Reorganisation Act of 1998 (effective 1 January 1999). ...Silesian Voivodship (Wojewodztwo Śląskie). Silesia was then reorganised within the two Prussian provinces of Upper and Lower Silesia.

In October 1938 Cieszyn Silesia (Polish Śląsk cieszyński, Czech Těšínské Slezsko) is a historical region in south_eastern Silesia, between the Vistula and Oder rivers. ...Cieszyn Silesia (the disputed area West of Olza river, so called Zaolzie (Czech Záolší (Zaolží), Slezsko zaolšanské, Polish Zaolzie, Śląsk zaolziański meaning Trans_Olza river) was the area disputed between Poland and Czechoslovakia West of Cieszyn with approximately 906 km² and 258,000 inhabitants. ...Zaolzie _ 906km² 258,000 inhabitants) was retaken by Poland from Czechoslovakia, in accord with the The Munich Agreement was an agreement regarding the Munich Crisis between the major powers of Europe after a conference held in Munich in Germany in 1938 and concluded on September 29. ...Munich Agreement.

The Federal Republic of Germany ( German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is one of the worlds leading industrialised countries, located in the heart of Europe. ...Germany took possession of these parts of Silesia again in 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...1939, when the attack on Poland marked the beginning of the Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km (60,000 ft) into the air. ...Second World War. The Silesian Poles were killed or deported, and German settlers were brought to their homes subsequent to these atrocities.

In 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...1945 all of Silesia was occupied by Soviet troops; by then a large proportion of the German population had fled Silesia, but many returned after the German capitulation. Under terms of the agreements at Yalta and Potsdam in 1945, most of Silesia east of the rivers The Oder (or Odra) River (German: Oder, Polish/Czech: Odra, Ancient Latin: Viadua, Viadrus, Medieval Latin: Odera, Oddera) is a river in Central Europe (mostly in Poland). ...Oder (Odra) and Nysa (Polish Nysa, German Neiße, Czech Nisa) is a name of a few rivers and a town in Silesia. ...Neisse (Nysa) were transferred to The Republic of Poland, a democratic country with a population of 38,626,349 and area of 312,685 km², is located in Central Europe, between Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and...Poland. Most of the surviving Silesian Germans, who before World War II numbered about 4 million, were forcibly expelled. A small part of Silesia surrounding the city of Map of Germany showing Görlitz Görlitz ( pronunciation, Lusatian: Zhorjelc, Czech Zhorelec) is a town in Germany on the river Neisse, in the Bundesland (Federal State) of Saxony, opposite to the Polish town of Zgorzelec, with which it was once united. ...Görlitz remained part of the East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR), German Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR), was a socialist country that existed from 1949 to 1990. ...German Democratic Republic and is now part of the A federal state is one that brings together a number of different political communities with a common government for common purposes, and separate state or provincial or cantonal governments for the particular purposes of each community. ...Federal State of With an area of 18,400 sq. ...Saxony in the National motto: Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit (German: Unity and Justice and Freedom) Official language German1 Capital Berlin Largest City Berlin Chancellor Gerhard Schröder President Horst Köhler Area _ Total _ % water Ranked 61st 349,223 km² 2. ...Federal Republic of Germany.

Silesia after WWII

The industry of Silesia was after rebuilt after the war, and the region was populated by Poles from other areas (mostly by Poles who were themselves expelled from lands annexed by the Soviet Union). Today more than 20 % of the entire population of Poland lives in Silesia.

Demographics

Modern Silesia is inhabited mostly by the Poles and Silesians, but also by minorities of Germans, Czechs and Moravians.

The last Polish census of 2002 showed that the Silesians are the largest ethnic minority in Poland, Germans being the second — both groups are located mostly in the Silesian region.

Czech Silesia is inhabited by the Czechs, Moravians and Poles.

Prior to the Second World War, Silesia was inhabited by Germans, Poles, and Czechs. The 1905 census showed that 75% of the population were Germans, and 25% were Poles. During and after Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km (60,000 ft) into the air. ...World War II, most German_Silesians fled Silesia, were World War II evacuation and expulsion refers to evacuation of the German citizens from the Eastern areas overrun by the Red Army. ...evacuated, were expelled, or emigrated (see The dawn of German East refers to the process of eradication of the German populations remaining outside of Germanys post_WWII borders. ...German exodus from Eastern Europe). A large group of Silesians today live in Germany. To smooth integration into German society, they were organized into officially recognized organisations, like the Landsmannschaft Schlesien _ Nieder_ und Oberschlesien e. ...Landsmannschaft Schlesien, financed from the federal budget. One of its most notable but controversial spokesmen is the CDU politician Dr. phil. ...Herbert Hupka. The prevailing public opinion in Germany is that those organisations will achieve reconciliation with Polish_Silesians. This is gradually happening.

Name of the region

There are many theories as to how Silesia derived its name. These theories tend to fall along the lines of national interest. One theory claims that the name is derived from the Silingi, most likely a The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe that entered the late Roman Empire, and created a state in North Africa, centered on the city of Carthage. ...Vandalic people, who supposedly lived south of the The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe, bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of east and central Europe, and the Danish islands. ...Baltic Sea along the Elbe, Oder, and Vistula rivers in the 2nd century. The other theory is based on etymology and the fact that the place names in the area have for long been Polish, or germanized Polish names. Also archeological finds from the 7th and 8th centuries uncovered largely populated areas protected by a dense system of fortifications from West and South. Lack of such systems from North or East adds to the assumption that Silesia was a part of a larger state populated by early The Slavic peoples are the most numerous ethnic and linguistic body of peoples in Europe. ...Slavic tribes.

A third theory claims that the area was indeed "originally" (as far as they are the first people purported to have lived in the area) inhabited by the Silingi. When the Silingi moved from the area during the Migration Period, or The German term Völkerwanderung (lit. ...Völkerwanderung, they left remnants of their society behind. The most evident remnants were in the place_names, which were adopted (in Slavic form) by the new inhabitants, who were in fact Slavic (Polish Śląsk, OldPol. Śląžsk [_o], OldSlav. *Sьlьąžьskъ [<*Sьlьągьskъ] from OldVandalic *Siling_isk [land]). These people became associated with the place, and were known as Silesians (using a Latinized form of the name, Pol. Ślężanie), even though they had nothing in common with the Silingi.

The The Silesian Uprisings (Polish: Powstania śląskie) was a series of three military insurections (1919_1921) of the Polish people in the Upper Silesia region against the German/Prussian forces in order to force them out the region and join it with Poland, that regained her independence after the World War...Silesian Uprisings 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...1919_ 1921 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...1921

• The First Silesian Uprising (Polish: Pierwsze powstanie śląskie) was the first out of three military insurections of the Polish people in the Upper Silesia region against the occupying German/Prussian forces in order to liberate the region and join to Poland, that regained her independence after the World War I...First Silesian Uprising: August 16 is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...16 August_ August 26 is the 238th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (239th in leap years). ...26 August 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...1919
• The Second Silesian Uprising (Polish: Drugie powstanie śląskie) was the second out of three military insurections of the Polish people in the Upper Silesia region against the occupying German/Prussian forces in order to liberate the region and join to Poland, that regained her independence after the World War I...Second Silesian Uprising: August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...19 August_ August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ...25 August 1920 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) Events January January 7 _ Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ...1920
• The Third Silesian Uprising (Polish: Trzecie powstanie śląskie) was the last out of three military insurections of the Polish people in the Upper Silesia region against the occupying German/Prussian forces in order to liberate the region and join to Poland, that regained her independence after the World War I...Third Silesian Uprising: May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ...2 May_ July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 179 days remaining. ...5 July 1921 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...1921

See also

• Wojciech Korfaty in 1905 Wojciech Korfanty (1873_1939) was a Polish nationalist and activist, known for his irredentist policies after World War I. He was opposed to the policy of Germanisation in Upper Silesia before the war, and was one of the chief advocates of returning Upper Silesia to Poland...Wojciech Korfanty
• List of Silesians lists people who served Silesia and Silesian case: Alphabetical order A Alois Alzheimer 1864_1915 Adolf Anderssen 1818_1879 Hans Assmann Freiherr von Abschatz; de B Hans Baluschek; de Max Berg 1870_1947 Friedrich Bergius 1884_1949 Max Born 1882_1970 Wiktor Bross Eduard Buchner 1860_1917...List of Silesians