The Polish Army enters Upper Silesia

 

After three Silesian uprisings and a plebiscite, the Council of the League of Nations decided to partition Upper Silesia on 12 October 1921. Poland was allocated 29% of the disputed area and 46% of the population, together with the vast majority of industrial facilities. In June 1922, a treaty was signed to define how the territories allocated to both countries would be taken.

In the towns which were expected to welcome the incoming troops, civic committees were formed to prepare the celebrations. The reception of the incoming troops looked quite similarly in the Upper Silesian territories granted to Poland. Triumphal gates were erected along the route, and houses were decorated with banners, Polish flags, green plants and flowers. The Polish Army, led by General Stanisław Szeptycki, was preceded by peasant units, professional and cultural societies, and guards of honour of former Upper Silesian insurgents. In Katowice, as well as in neighbouring towns, the entering troops were welcomed by representatives of local authorities, who delivered speeches. Holy masses were celebrated, military parades were held, sumptuous dinners, receptions and folk parties were organised. In Rybnik, a protocol was solemnly signed on the takeover of the Upper Silesian territories by Poland on 3 July 1922. The celebrations of the reunification of Upper Silesia with Poland were officially ended on 16 July 1922 in Katowice.

 

+ Triumphal gate in Królewska Huta (now: Chorzów), prepared to welcome the entering Polish Army soldiers, 23 June 1922   (OWNED BY MUZEUM ŚLĄSKIE W KATOWICACH)

 

+ Welcome gate in Wodzisław Śląski, prepared to welcome the entering Polish Army soldiers (most probably 2nd Rokitno Cavalry Regiment), 4 July 1922 (OWNED BY MUZEUM ŚLĄSKIE W KATOWICACH)

 

+ General Stanisław Szeptycki being welcomed on the Katowice market square, 20 June 1922  (NATIONAL DIGITAL ARCHIVES OF POLAND)

 

+ Welcome gate in Zawodzie (now: a district of Katowice) on the day of the Polish Army’s entry, 20 June 1922   (OWNED BY MUZEUM ŚLĄSKIE W KATOWICACH)

 

+  Polish Army soldiers on the Katowice market square during the ceremony of incorporation of a part of Upper Silesia to Poland, 20 June 1922  (OWNED BY MUZEUM ŚLĄSKIE W KATOWICACH)

 

+ Polish Army soldiers crossing the welcome gate in Załęże (now: a district of Katowice), 20 June 1922    (OWNED BY MUZEUM ŚLĄSKIE W KATOWICACH)

 

+ Renault FT-17 tanks of the Polish Army driving through the welcome gate on present-day Warszawska Street in Katowice towards the market square, 20 June 1922  (OWNED BY MUZEUM ŚLĄSKIE W KATOWICACH)

+ General Stanisław Szeptycki, who headed the Polish army entering the area in late June and early July 1922, became a symbol of the incorporation of a part of Upper Silesia to Poland. Szeptycki was a synonym of independent Poland for the local community and members of the authorities who welcomed him. Photograph by Stefan Pierzchalski  (OWNED BY MUZEUM ŚLĄSKIE W KATOWICACH)

 

 

 

Wystawa plenerowa z okazji 100. rocznicy powrotu Śląska do Macierzy. Dofinansowano ze środków Ministra Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego

Projekt realizowany w ramach obchodów stulecia odzyskania niepodległości oraz odbudowy polskiej państwowości

Muzeum Śląskie w Katowicach jest instytucją kultury Samorządu Województwa Śląskiego współprowadzoną przez Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego

OPRACOWANIE MERYTORYCZNE WYSTAWY: DZIAŁ HISTORII MUZEUM ŚLĄSKIEGO W KATOWICACH;

PRZYGOTOWANIE: MUZEUM ŚLĄSKIE W KATOWICACH

PROJEKT REALIZOWANY W RAMACH OBCHODÓW STULECIA ODZYSKANIA NIEPODLEGŁOŚCI ORAZ ODBUDOWY POLSKIEJ PAŃSTWOWOŚCI

PROJEKT I PRODUKCJA WYSTAWY: AT WORK / ATWORK.PL