At the end of the First World War, Upper Silesia was one of the richest mineral and industrial areas of Europe. For example, Upper Silesian coalfields accounted for 21% of German coal production. It was a 4,000 square miles of territory which had formerly been ruled by the German Empire throughout modern history. At the end of the First World War both Germany and Poland laid claim to the area. It contained a mix of German and Polish population.
(Picture, source 6)
(Picture, source 6)
The fate of Upper Silesia was hotly debated during the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. The original draft of the Treaty of Versailles stated that the whole area should be part of the new Polish state. However, Germany protested against this draft, and instead a plebiscite (referendum) was commissioned by the Treaty of Versailles. The plebiscite was going to decide if Upper Silesia should belong to Germany or Poland. Until the Treaty of Versailles took effect in January 1920, Upper Silesia remained under German administrative control. In February 1920, the Allied Commission assumed control of the territory and the area was occupied by the British, French and Italian forces. It would take 21 months between the signing of the Treaty of Versailles and the actual plebiscite to occur.
There was tension between Germans and Poles throughout this period. Several uprisings occurred.The first uprising happened in August 1919. A more grave dispute happened in August 1920 when Polish gangs attacked administration buildings and German security police. The Allied Commission had earlier promised to replace the German security police with forces composed equally of Poles and Germans. However by August 1920 that had not yet happened. Finally, the Commission managed to restore its authority in Upper Silesia. However the Poles were now pressing for a quick plebiscite.
During the winter of 1920/21, diplomatic discussions around the plebiscite was held. One big question during these discussions was if non residents were going to be allowed to vote in the plebiscite. Over the years, many people born in Upper Silesia had moved. The Treaty of Versailles gave non residents the right to vote. However, the Poles objected to this since they thought the Germans would benefit from this. Eventually, the British convinced the other Allied parties that non resident voters should be allowed to vote.
Both the Poles and Germans were allowed to organize campaigns as preparation for the plebiscite. The Polish and the German governments provided a lot of material support to the respective side. For example, banks were set up to lend money to Polish farmers on good terms. The German government sent food and other needed supplies to people. Both sides also tried to get the Pope and the Vatican behind their cause. Each side also financed paramilitary forces. The two posters below are examples of propaganda material used by each side.
There was tension between Germans and Poles throughout this period. Several uprisings occurred.The first uprising happened in August 1919. A more grave dispute happened in August 1920 when Polish gangs attacked administration buildings and German security police. The Allied Commission had earlier promised to replace the German security police with forces composed equally of Poles and Germans. However by August 1920 that had not yet happened. Finally, the Commission managed to restore its authority in Upper Silesia. However the Poles were now pressing for a quick plebiscite.
During the winter of 1920/21, diplomatic discussions around the plebiscite was held. One big question during these discussions was if non residents were going to be allowed to vote in the plebiscite. Over the years, many people born in Upper Silesia had moved. The Treaty of Versailles gave non residents the right to vote. However, the Poles objected to this since they thought the Germans would benefit from this. Eventually, the British convinced the other Allied parties that non resident voters should be allowed to vote.
Both the Poles and Germans were allowed to organize campaigns as preparation for the plebiscite. The Polish and the German governments provided a lot of material support to the respective side. For example, banks were set up to lend money to Polish farmers on good terms. The German government sent food and other needed supplies to people. Both sides also tried to get the Pope and the Vatican behind their cause. Each side also financed paramilitary forces. The two posters below are examples of propaganda material used by each side.
A bilingual Polish Propaganda poster:
Vote for Poland and you will be free.
(Picture, source 2)
Vote for Poland and you will be free.
(Picture, source 2)
A competing bilingual German Propaganda poster:
We want good work and good money. We miners vote for Germany.
(Picture, source 2)
We want good work and good money. We miners vote for Germany.
(Picture, source 2)
On March 20, 1921, the plebiscite finally took place in a surprisingly peaceful atmosphere. 98 percent of registered voters participated. There were 1,186,758 votes cast in an area inhabited by 2,073,663 persons. Overall the Germans won the vote by a measure of 60% to 40%. However, certain districts voted in favor of Poland, others in favor of Germany. This meant that the results could be interpreted in different ways. The Poles in particular protested against all the non resident votes for Germany. Based on the outcome of the voting, the Allied Commission debated how much of the territory should be given to Germany and how much to Poland. Britain proposed that only a small part of the important industrial area should be given to Poland while the rest should go to Germany. This triggered, in late April 1921, a popular uprising on the Polish side. Fighting on a large scale took place during May and June 1921. On July 1st, 1921, British troops helped French forces to restore peace in the area.
The Allied Supreme Council concluded in August 1921 that they were unable to resolve how to partition Upper Silesia. They instead turned the question over to the League of Nations to settle the matter.
The Allied Supreme Council concluded in August 1921 that they were unable to resolve how to partition Upper Silesia. They instead turned the question over to the League of Nations to settle the matter.
The League of Nations was created after World War I. It was an intergovernmental organization that was founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference. The main objective of the League of Nations was to ensure that war didn’t break out again. Many people during the time thought that the League would bring stability to the world. Its primary goals included preventing wars through collective security and disarmament, settling international disputes through negotiation and arbitration.
(Picture, source 4)
(Picture, source 4)
The Executive Council of the League of Nations created a commission with representatives from Belgium, Brazil, China and Spain to study the situation in Upper Silesia. Based on the recommendation of the commission and its experts, the Executive Council awarded Poland roughly half of the people and approximately one-third of the total territory. However, Poland got most of the industrial region of Upper Silesia. Neither Germany nor Poland were fully satisfied with this. Germany complained most but could not do much since they did not get the support of Britain. Finally, in October 1921, both Germany and Poland accepted the decision by the League of Nations. Germany and Poland then negotiated for six months about provisions for economic cooperation within the area and protection of minority rights. This agreement was finally signed in May 1922. It caused resentment in Germany, but the treaty was still ratified by both countries. In June 1922 the allied troops withdraw from the area. The settlement produced peace in the area until the beginning of the Second World War.
(Picture, source 2)
(Video, source 7)
Bibliography
1. "League of Nations." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 3 June 2014. Web. 6 Mar. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Nations>.
2. "Upper Silesia plebiscite." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Mar. 2014. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Silesia
3. "League of Nations." League of Nations. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2014. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/leagu
4. "Bernard Partridge Cartoons from Punch magazine | PUNCH magazine cartoons." Bernard Partridge Cartoons from Punch magazine | PUNCH magazine cartoons. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. <http://punch.photoshelter.com/image/I00
5. "The Struggle for Upper Silesia, 1919-1922." Chicago Journals. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <http://piotrwroblewski.us.edu.pl/rudy/F_G
6. "Territorial evolution of Poland." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Aug. 2014. Web. 9 Mar. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_ev
7. Clift, Alex. "League of Nations in the 1920s Song - GCSE History." YouTube. YouTube, 30 Nov. 2013. Web. 9 Mar. 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihw1y7ylkLU>.
2. "Upper Silesia plebiscite." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Mar. 2014. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Silesia
3. "League of Nations." League of Nations. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2014. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/leagu
4. "Bernard Partridge Cartoons from Punch magazine | PUNCH magazine cartoons." Bernard Partridge Cartoons from Punch magazine | PUNCH magazine cartoons. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. <http://punch.photoshelter.com/image/I00
5. "The Struggle for Upper Silesia, 1919-1922." Chicago Journals. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <http://piotrwroblewski.us.edu.pl/rudy/F_G
6. "Territorial evolution of Poland." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Aug. 2014. Web. 9 Mar. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_ev
7. Clift, Alex. "League of Nations in the 1920s Song - GCSE History." YouTube. YouTube, 30 Nov. 2013. Web. 9 Mar. 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihw1y7ylkLU>.
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