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DOSSIER Uprisings and foreign military in upper Silesia, 1919-1921 64 Images

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Series: Uprisings and foreign military in upper Silesia, 1919-1921

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Uprisings and foreign military in upper Silesia, 1919-1921

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia, history, politics until 1945, Poland

The Upper Silesia-house in Gliwice

The hotel 'Upper Silesia' in Gliwice, Silesia.

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia, history, politics until 1945, Poland

Group photo of Freikorps members, 1919

Soldiers of a Freikorps unit pose during the first Polish uprising in Upper Silesia with their Gewehr 98 guns and a machine gun. On the ammunition boxes in the foreground swastikas were painted as an expression of their political conviction. In the second row from below in the middle with white hat is the later SA leader Edmund Heines.

Upper Silesian border guards, 1919

Soldiers of the Upper Silesian Border Guard, a volunteer unit formed of Freikorps members during the Polish uprisings in Upper Silesia, equip their headquarters in Opole with telephone lines.

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia, history, politics until 1945, Poland

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia, history, politics until 1945, Poland

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia, history, politics until 1945, Poland

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia, history, politics until 1945, Poland

Soldiers of the Upper Silesian Border Guard, 1919

Soldiers of the Border Guards, made up of Freikorps members, pose in front of an armored train at the railway station in Kreuzburg (Polish: Kluczbork) during the first Polish uprising in Upper Silesia.

Riots in Upper Silesia, 1919

German soldiers, presumably members of a Freikorps look at the trenches dug out by Poles during the riots in Upper Silesia.

A devastated shop after the Polish uprising in Upper Silesia

A German business in Langendorf that was devastated and plundered during the Polish uprising.

Border guard in the German-Czech border area, 1919

After the debated cession of the Eastern Regions from the German Reich, German volunteers created border control groups and voluntary corps on the new eastern border in the first years after the war. The photo shows a Silesian border guard in county Glatz on the Silesian-Czech border in the disputed village of Schlansy.

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia, history, politics until 1945, Poland

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia, history, politics until 1945, Poland

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia, history, politics until 1945, Poland

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia, history, politics until 1945, Poland

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia

1919-01.09.1939 German-polish relation: Upper Silesia, history, politics until 1945, Poland

Soldiers of the Assault Division Rossbach, 1919

Members of the so-called Assault Division Rossbach, a volunteer group, which was involved in the fighting against Polish volunteers in Upper Silesia, after the occupation of Kulmbach.

German Free Corps soldiers with captured Polish guerrillas in 1919

German Free Corp. soldiers with captured Polish guerrillas after the battle in Myslowitz. The Polish volunteers tried to enforce with violence the Polish territorial claims in Upper Silesia, before the referendum on 20.03.1920. There were fights with the German Self protection and Free Corps soldiers.

Wroclaw high school students as volunteers for border protection, 1919

For the fighting between Germans and Poles, many students registered at the Freikorps and the border guards, as these boys in Breslau, who are on their way to their training place.

Armed Germans in Upper Silesia, 1919

Members of the German self defense force guard a train on the Oder bridge near Oppeln.

First uprising in Upper Silesia, 1919

In August 1919 the so-called Black Reichswehr, an association of several Freikorps units, defeated the first Polish uprising in Upper Silesia. Here Freikorp units fight around the station in Myslowitz.

German border soldiers during the laying of a telephone line in Opole, Upper Silesia, 1919

Soldiers of the border guards equip the building of the German border guard commando with a telephone line.

Reichswehr soldiers protect die Myslowitzer pit, 1919

Soldiers of the German Reichswehr protect the Myslowitzer pit in Upper Silesia. They have been summoned there to protect the border against Polish attacks and to curb riots. In August 1919, it came to a Polish invasion in Upper Silesia with occupation of the circles Myslowitz, Katowice and Bytom.

Battle between German troops and Polish insurgents in Upper Silesia, 1919

At the station of Myslowitz in Upper Silesia, the southern part of Silesia which formed a Prussian province after the cession of territory to Poland and the CSR after the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, it comes to a battle between Polish volunteers, who try to acquire additional parts of Upper Silesia, and German government troops of the border guard. The Polish uprising is downed.

Reichswehr soldiers before the attack on Nikischacht, 1919

After the outbreak of riots in Upper Silesia on 20 August 1919, the Reich government sent troops to Upper Silesia, in order to suppress the rebellion of the Polish population. On the day of the outbreak of riots, the Polish government broke off the negotiations with the Reich Government on issues of territorial concessions. The negotiations were led by the governments of both states under the provisions of the Versailles Treaty, after the allies recognized Poland as an independent state, granted it with large parts of the Prussian provinces of Posen and West Prussia, and earmarked a referendum on the national belonging of other parts of West Prussia, Upper Silesia and Mazury.

Polish volunteers want to annex Upper Silesia to Poland 1920

A photo was found at Polish prisoners in the fighting for the Annaberg. In the plate is inscribed: 'Poles, French: good Boches: kaput'. The Polish armed volunteers under Korfanty tried to occupy Upper Silesia even before the referendum.

Manifestations of the â??Associations of native faithful people of Upper Silesia' in Wroclaw, 1920

The district group of the â??United associations of native faithful people of Upper Silesia' organizes a meeting in Wroclaw for Upper Silesian people who are entitled to vote in Wroclaw. The provisions of the Versailles Treaty provided for a referendum on the national affiliation of Upper Silesia. With the Treaty of Versailles, the Allies had recognized Poland as an independent state and granted it large parts of the Prussian provinces of Posen and West Prussia. On the national affiliation of other parts of West Prussia and Mazury a referendum was also provided as in the case of Upper Silesia.

Awarding of a French officer in Upper Silesia

A French officer receives an award in Upper Silesia. The Inter-allied government- and plebiscite commission for Upper Silesia (IK), led by General Henry Le Rond takes over on 11 February 1920 the governmental power in the voting area (until 14 July 1922). Soldiers from France (13,000) and Italy (2,000) invade the country. The Americans and British renounced to send troops.

Polish volunteers during the fights for Upper Silesia 1920

Polish volunteers under Korfanty say goodbye to their wives. They want to conquer Upper Silesia for Poland before the referendum. They get into a fight with German Free Corps and Self-protection organizations.

Fights between Poles and Germans at Upper Silesia in 1920

Armed Polish and German volunteers in battle. The Polish commander Korfanty tried to occupy Upper Silesia for Poland still before the referendum.

Riots against Germans in Upper Silesia, 1920s

Poles have painted skulls on the facade of the head office of the German newspaper 'Oberschlesischer Kurier' in Chorzow in the district Rybrik. At the last elections for the Sejm, the population had voted en masse for the German party.

entry of the first Italian troops in Katowice, 1920

The entry of the Italian troops in Katowice that were sent in Upper Silesia by the Inter-Allied Commission. The Inter-allied government- and plebiscite commission for Upper Silesia (IK), led by General Henry Le Rond took over on 11 February 1920 the governmental power in the voting area (until 14 July 1922). Soldiers from France (13,000) and Italy (2,000) invade the country. The Americans and British waived to send troops.

French soldiers at the railway station of Gliwice, around the 1920s

Allied soldiers at the elections in Upper Silesia. Here, they clean and guard the station in Gliwice (undated photo) together with the police.

The population of Upper Silesia welcome the arrival of German soldiers, around the 1920s

Inhabitants of an Upper Silesian city rejoice with German troops that march with swinging hats (Undated photo).

Withdrawal of English soldiers from Opole, around the 1920s

The Allied soldiers, who observed the Upper Silesian elections, finally withdrew from the occupation area. Here Englishmen march out of Oppeln (Undated photo).

French soldiers patrol during riots in Katowice, 1920/21

During the Polish uprising French infantrymen patrol in Katowice. They took over the military protection of the Katowice-based Inter-Allied Commission during the voting on the remain in Germany.

Polish troops march into Thorn, 1918

Entry of the Polish troops in Thorn (present day: Torun). According to the provisions in the Treaty of Versailles West Prussia becomes Polish.

Devastated apartment of the German sergeant in Kosel-Oderhafen, 1920

Shortly before the election in March there were violent battles between Germans and Poles in Upper Silesia. In the photo the apartment of the officer Tilgner devastated by Poles. Clothing, pillows and furniture were destroyed.

French soldiers and German Schutzpolizisten (protection police) in Opole, 1920

French soldiers (left) encounter German Schutzpolizisten (protection policemen) in a street in Opole. Allied troops occupied Silesia during the course of the scheduled voting after the Versailles Treaty.

Burnt houses in the German village of Anhalt in Upper Silesia, 1920

In August 1920, Polish rebels burnt down several houses of the German settlement, which was entirely surrounded by Polish villages. In the picture the ruins of the destroyed houses.

Militia during riots in Upper Silesia, 1920

A militia made up of Germans and Poles guard a factory in Huta Laury during the second Polish uprising in Upper Silesia, in order to prevent destructions.

A German Schutzpolizist and Polish border guards in Upper Silesia, 1920

A German Schutzpolizist (police officer) (left) and Polish border guards on a railway bridge at the former German-Polish border at Myslowice.

Hoisting of the flag in front of the house of the plebiscite commission in Katowice, 1920

The flags of the Inter-Allied Plebiscite Commission are hoisted in front of the premises of the Commission in Katowice. The German population had burned the flags before and now the magistrate (right) must attend the renewed hoisting of the flags. On the left are French soldiers.

German Schutzpolizisten at the Polish uprising in Upper Silesia, 1920

Security policemen on the road towards Bogucice during the second Polish uprising in Upper Silesia.

Grave for victims of the Polish uprising in Upper Silesia, 1920

A mass grave that contains the bodies of five shot members of the 'Verband heimattreuer Oberschlesier' (United Leagues of Patriotic Upper Silesians), who died during the second Polish uprising.

Destroyed bridge in Upper Silesia, 1921

A railway bridge near Opole destroyed during the third Polish uprising.

British troops march through Opole during the Polish uprising, 1921

Members of a Scottish regiment march through Opole during the third Polish uprising led by Wojciech Korfanty.

German Selbstschutz (self-protection) in Upper Silesia, 1921

A German armored train at the station of Opole, which should be used at the third Polish uprising led by Wojciech Korfanty. The soldiers belong to one of the many "Selbstschutz" units formed out of the population.

German volunteers in Upper Silesia, 1921

A division of the self defense forces march to guard the railway stretch of Oppeln Dambrau.

German police in Upper Silesia, 1921

Members of a police unit armed like soldiers in Upper Silesia. The unit was initially formed to protect against the uprising of Polish volunteer groups, but had to be disbanded due to protests by the Entente powers.

German self defense in Ratibor, 1921

Members of an irregular army made up of local units trained in self defense, parade in Ratibor. These units fought against the attacks of Polish volunteer groups.

Upper Silesian border protection, 1921

Teams, which have formed a self defense group, on the way to the border.

German funeral procession during the Polish uprising, 1921

A funeral procession for Germans who were killed during the unrest at the third Polish uprising in Opole.

entry of British troops in Upper Silesia, 1921

British tanks of the type Mark IV arrive with the train in Upper Silesia. After the Inter-allied government- and plebiscite commission for Upper Silesia (IK), led by General Henry Le Rond took over on 11 February 1920 the governmental power in the voting area, until 14 July 1922, French and Italian troops are already stationed in Upper Silesia and now British soldiers and military equipment arrive.

The marching of French troops in Gliwice, 1921

French soldiers march through the streets of Gliwice, to supervise the plebiscite on the national affiliation of Upper Silesia on 20 March 1921.

A British officer and a German Schutzpolizist in Upper Silesia, 1921

A British officer (left) looks at a blackjack, that was taken away from a captive Pole, during the third Polish uprising led by Wojciech Korfanty. Beside him stands a German Schutzpolizist.

German police officers and British soldiers in Opole, 1921

German election policemen and British soldiers with backpacks in Opole. Allied troops occupied Silesia during the voting period required after the Treaty of Versailles.

A destroyed house after the Polish uprising in Upper Silesia, 1921

A German peasant family before they house that was burnt down during the third Polish uprising in Anhalt (Holdunow) at Pless.

German refugees demonstrate during the Polish uprising in Upper Silesia, 1921

After the outbreak of the Third Polish Uprising German refugees demonstrate in Opole (Opole). The Third Polish Uprising led by Wojciech Korfanty broke out after the referendum from 20 March 1921.

Soldiers of the Selbstschutz (self-defense unit) in Upper Silesia, around 1921

During the third Polish uprising in Upper Silesia, these teams of German Selbstschutz (self-protection) units made up of Freikorps associations, are on their way to the front (undated photo).

German volunteer corps in Upper Silesia, 1921

A German volunteer company marches through Ratibor (Raciburz).

Germans with captured weapons of the rebels in Upper Silesia, 1921

Members of a German association with weapons of French origin, which were left behind during the third Polish uprising by Polish rebels, among others hand grenades.