NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Third Silesian Uprising

The Third Silesian Uprising (Polish: Trzecie powstanie śląskie, German: Dritter Polnischer Aufstand) was the last out of three military insurections of polish national extremists in the mixed Upper Silesia region (Part of the german/prussian province of Silesia) in order to occupy the region and join it to Poland, that regained its independence after the World War I (1914-1918). Upper Silesia (Polish: GÃ³rny ÅšlÄ…sk, German: Oberschlesien, Czech: HornÃ 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). ... The national name Prussia (in Prussian: Prusa, German: Preußen, Polish: Prusy, Lithuanian Prusai, Latin: Prussia or Borussia) was used by a wide variety of political factions during the 2nd millennium. ... Prussian Silesia, 1871, outlined in yellow; Silesia at the close of the Seven Years War in 1763, outlined in cyan (areas now in Czech Republic were Austrian-ruled at that time) Silesia (-Latin, Polish: ÅšlÄ…sk, German: Schlesien, Czech: Slezsko) is a historical region in central Europe. ... Clockwise from top: Trenches in frontline, a British Mark I Tank, a Warship, a Machine gunner with Gas mask and a Biplane. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...

The 3rd Silesian Uprising occurred in 2 May-5 July 1921. It was aimed at join Upper Silesia to Poland. Upper Silesia had at that point a significant Polish minority. May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 179 days remaining. ... 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

Fighting sides:

Polska Organizacja Wojskowa (POW, Polish for Polish Military Organisation) was a secret military union created by Józef Piłsudski in November of 1914, during the Great War. ... May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... A ceasefire is a temporary stoppage of a war, or any armed conflict, where each side of the conflict agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. ... July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 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... Dictator was the title of a magistrate in ancient Rome appointed by the Senate to rule the state in times of emergency. ... The League of Nations was an international organization founded after the Paris Peace Conference of 1919. ...

Events

The insurrection began on the date planned early in May, because the population had already been terrified by many acts of violence from the side of the Greater Polish Army as well as German paramilitarian groups. Those groups called Grenzschutz were formed by demobilised soldiers and volunteers outside Upper Silesia.

The Inter-Allied Commission, in which General Henri Le Rond was the most influential personage, waited a long time before taking any step to oppose the violence. The French troops of occupation generally favoured the insurrection as means of "so-called" self-defense. In some cases British and Italian troops of occupation actively cooperated with Germans. On the other hand Lloyd George's speech in Parliament, strongly disapproving of the insurrection, aroused hopes of Germans. But the Entente appeared to have no troops available for despatch. The only action, the Inter-Allied Military Control Commission and the French government made, was demanding immediate prohibition of recruiting for German volunteers outside Upper Silesia, and this was promptly made public. After an initial success of insurgents and taking over 2/3 of the area of Upper Silesia, the German Grenzschutz, several times resisted attacks of Korfanty's Silesian troops, in some cases in cooperation with British and Italian troops of occupation. An attempt on the part of the English troops to take steps against Silesians on their own account was prevented by General Jules Gratier, the French commander-in-chief of the Allied troops. Eventually, insurgents kept most of the taken-over area, including the industrial district. They proved that they could mobilize large local support, while German forces based outside Silesia were barred from taking an active part.

Twelve days after the outbreak of the insurrection Korfanty offered to take his troops behind a line of demarcation, on condition that the released territory would not be occupied by German forces, but by Allied troops. It was not, however, until July 1st that the British troops arrived in Upper Silesia and began to advance in company with those of the other Allies towards the former frontier. Simultaneously with this advance the Inter-Allied Commission pronounced a general amnesty for the illegal actions committed during the insurrection, with the exception of acts of revenge and cruelty. The German Grenzschutz was finally withdrawn and disbanded and quiet was restored.

The achievements

As the Supreme Council was unable to come to an agreement on the partition of the Upper Silesian territory on the lines of the plebiscite. It should be noted that result was 60% for Germany. A solution was found by turning the question over to the Council of the League of Nations. Agreements between the Germans and Poles in Upper Silesia and appeals issued by both sides, as well as the despatch of six battalions of Allied troops and the disbandment of the local guards, contributed markedly to the pacification of the district. The greatest excitement was caused all over Germany and in the German part of Upper Silesia by the intimation that the Council of the League of Nations had handed over the matter for closer investigation to a commission, consisting of four representatives - one each from Belgium, Brazil, Spain, and China. On the basis of the reports of this commission and those of its experts, the Council awarded the greater part of the Upper Silesian industrial district to Poland. Poland obtained almost exactly half of the 1,950,000 inhabitants, viz., 965,000, but not quite a third of the territory, i.e., only 3,214 of 10951 square kilometres (1,255 of 4,265 mile²). This, however, comprised by far the more valuable portion of the district. Of 61 coal mines 49½ fell to Poland, the Prussian state losing 3 mines out of 4. Of a coal output of 31,750,000 tons, 24,600,000 tons fall to Poland. All iron mines with an output of 61,000 tons fell to Poland. Of 37 furnaces 22 went to Poland, 15 to Germany. Of a pig-iron output of 570,000 tons, 170,000 tons remained German, and 400,000 tons became Polish. Of 16 zinc and lead mines, which produced 233,000 tons in 1920, only 4 with an output of 44,000 tons remained German. The main towns of Königshütte/Chorzow, Kattowitz/Katowice, and Tarnowitz, were given to Poland. The League of Nations was an international organization founded after the Paris Peace Conference of 1919. ... Motto: none Voivodship Silesian Municipal government Urząd Miasta Chorz w Mayor Marek Kopel Area 33,5 km Population - city - urban - density 117 430 - 2856/km Founded City rights - - Latitude Longitude 50 18 N 57 E Area code +48 32 Car plates SH Twin towns - Municipal Website Chorz w (pronounce: [xoʒuf... Katowice (pronounce: [katÉ”vÊ²itsÉ›], original former Polish name KÄ…towicze, Czech Katovice, German Kattowitz) is an important city of the historical region of Upper Silesia in southern Poland on the Klodnica and Rawa rivers. ...

In order to mitigate the hardships likely to arise from the partition of a district which was essentially an economic unit, it was decided, on the recommendation of the Council of the League of Nations, that German and Polish delegates, under a chairman appointed by the Council of the League, should draw up economic regulations as well as a statute for the protection of minorities, which were to have a duration of fifteen years. Special measures were threatened in case either of the two states should refuse to participate in the drawing up of such regulations, or to accept them subsequently.

The Silesian Uprisings (1919-1921)

The Silesian Uprisings (Polish: Powstania Å›lÄ…skie) 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... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The First Silesian Uprising (Polish: Pierwsze powstanie Å›lÄ…skie, German: Erster Polnischer Aufstand) was the first out of three insurrections of Polish national extremists in the mixed Upper Silesia region (Part of the german/prussian province of Silesia) in order to occupy the region and join it to Poland, that... August 16 is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... August 26 is the 238th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (239th in leap years). ... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Second Silesian Uprising (Polish: Drugie powstanie Å›lÄ…skie, German: Zweiter Polnischer Aufstand) was the second out of three military insurections of polish national extremists in the mixed Upper Silesia region (Part of the german/prussian province of Silesia) in order to occupy the region and join it to Poland... August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... 1920 (MCMXX) 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. ... May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 179 days remaining. ... 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

References:

Encyclopedia > Third Silesian Uprising

Contents

Fighting sides:

Events

The achievements

The Silesian Uprisings (1919-1921)

References:

See also