Zaolzie w granicach województwa śląskiego

Abstract

"As a result of the division of the Cieszyn Silesia, carried out under the decision of the Council of the Ambassadors on July 28, 1920, a territory, later known as the Zaolzie, and inhabited mostly by the Poles, became a part of Czechoslovakia. In the Silesian Province, the problem of the Zaolzie, and the organisation of help for the Poles living there was an object of interest of the society's elite, and of the provincial authorities, while in the Cieszyn area these problems awoke the interest of wide circles of the citizens. The climax came in 1938, when, faced with the Munich crisis, Poland demanded a restitution of the Zaolzie. The preparations to take over that territory took place mainlyin the Silesian Province. A great role was played by the governor, Michal Grażyński. Camps for refugees from Czechoslovakia were set up, and they provided a basis for training sabotage groups. After the annexation of the Zaolzie, the provincial authorities confronted the problem of integrating that territory with the Polish state. This was achieved, in spite of numerous economic, social, and political difficulties. The outbreak of the Second World War interrupted the initiated processes, and made it difficult for us to appreciate fully the efficiency of the undertaken actions." (fragment tekstu)