The Czechoslovak-Polish War, widely known in Czech sources as the Seven-Day War () was a military confrontation between
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia ( ; Czech language, Czech and , ''Česko-Slovensko'') was a landlocked country in Central Europe, created in 1918, when it declared its independence from Austria-Hungary. In 1938, after the Munich Agreement, the Sudetenland beca ...
and
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...
over
the territory of
Cieszyn Silesia
Cieszyn Silesia, Těšín Silesia or Teschen Silesia ( ; or ; or ) is a historical region in south-eastern Silesia, centered on the towns of Cieszyn and Český Těšín and bisected by the Olza River. Since 1920 it has been divided betwe ...
in early 1919.
Czechoslovak forces invaded the Polish part (with an interim local civilian government, and with a strong majority support for allegiance to Poland, in reflection of earlier views, with the exception of the
Frýdek, which had a Czech majority since 19th century settlement, and which had not at the time been claimed or controlled by the locals or the Polish side or a Polish political movement) of Cieszyn Silesia to prevent elections to the Polish
Legislative Sejm in the disputed territory and to prevent the local population's contributions to the Polish army. The Czechoslovak army made rapid advancements, capturing most of Cieszyn Silesia by the end of January. The bulk of the Polish army was engaged in the
Polish–Ukrainian War at the time, and the Polish forces faced a numerically superior and better equipped Czech Army in Cieszyn Silesia.
The
Entente had pushed for an armistice. The result of the war was the new demarcation line, which expanded the territory controlled by Czechoslovakia. It led to a new division of the region of Cieszyn Silesia in July 1920, and left a substantial
Polish minority in Czechoslovakia in the region later called
Trans-Olza because the demarcation line ran through the
Olza river. The events, including later Czechoslovak policies in the territory led to further
disputes
Controversy (, ) is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of conflicting opinion or point of view. The word was coined from the Latin ''controversia'', as a composite of ''controversus'' – "turned in an oppo ...
including the 1938, Polish annexation.
Background
During the final months of
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, Polish and Czechoslovak diplomats met to discuss the common border between the two new countries. By the time the
armistice
An armistice is a formal agreement of warring parties to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, as it may constitute only a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace. It is derived from t ...
was declared, most of the border was worked out except for three small politically sensitive areas in
Upper Silesia and
Upper Hungary, which were claimed by both countries.
Cieszyn Silesia
Cieszyn Silesia, Těšín Silesia or Teschen Silesia ( ; or ; or ) is a historical region in south-eastern Silesia, centered on the towns of Cieszyn and Český Těšín and bisected by the Olza River. Since 1920 it has been divided betwe ...
or the
Duchy of Teschen ( and ) was a small area in south-eastern Silesia, one of the
Duchies of Silesia after the feudal fragmentation of the earlier
Duchy of Silesia
The Duchy of Silesia (, ) with its capital at Wrocław was a medieval provincial duchy of Poland located in the region of Silesia. Soon after it was formed under the Piast dynasty in 1138, it fragmented into various Silesian duchies. In 1327, t ...
. The Duchy had been suzerain to the
Kingdom of Bohemia
The Kingdom of Bohemia (), sometimes referenced in English literature as the Czech Kingdom, was a History of the Czech lands in the High Middle Ages, medieval and History of the Czech lands, early modern monarchy in Central Europe. It was the pr ...
, part of the
Lands of the Bohemian Crown
The Lands of the Bohemian Crown were the states in Central Europe during the Middle Ages, medieval and early modern periods with feudalism, feudal obligations to the List of Bohemian monarchs, Bohemian kings. The crown lands primarily consisted o ...
beginning in 1335. Latin, German, Czech, Moravian and finally Polish served as an official language of the region, however throughout the ages many historical sources indicate the local population remained mostly or overwhelmingly Polish-speaking, with everyday speech being
Cieszyn Silesian dialect, regardless of the official language governing, even after the settlement of Czechs, in large part professionals, white-collars workers during the 19th century industrialization of the region. The region had hosted no local Czech independence organizations, but had been the site of a Polish association since the early 19th century, and had been the site of a branch of the
Polish Social Democratic Party of Galicia and Cieszyn Silesia, mentioned in its full name, which had been the most popular party in the region. The region's many coal mines were operated by mostly Polish-identified and Polish-speaking workers, who expected the areas, with the exception of the Frýdek region, to be part of an independent Polish state in the future.
The last Austrian census of 1910 (determining nationality according to the main communication language () of the respondents), showed that it was predominantly
Polish-speaking in three districts (
Cieszyn (Teschen),
Bielsko (Bielitz), and
Fryštát (Freistadt)) and mainly
Czech-speaking in the fourth district of
Frýdek (Friedek). Part of the Lechitic-speaking population (the ''Ślązakowcy'' – named after the newspaper
Ślązak, ''Schlonsaken'') claimed a distinct,
Silesian identity, however never fully denying the old Polish roots of the local population or the status the local dialect as a dialect of the Polish language (which they used in their newspapers), but rather gradually becoming superior to the Polish culture in the Kingdom of Poland, thanks to becoming part of the German cultural sphere.
The chief importance of Cieszyn Silesia was the rich
coal basin around
Karviná
Karviná (; , ) is a city in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 49,000 inhabitants. It lies on the Olza (river), Olza River in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia.
Karviná is known as an industrial city with t ...
and the valuable
Košice-Bohumín Railway line which linked the
Czech lands
The Czech lands or the Bohemian lands (, ) is a historical-geographical term which denotes the three historical regions of Bohemia, Moravia, and Czech Silesia out of which Czechoslovakia, and later the Czech Republic and Slovakia, were formed. ...
with
Slovakia
Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the west, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. Slovakia's m ...
. Furthermore, in the north-western part of Cieszyn Silesia, the railroad junction of
Bohumín served as a crossroad for international transport and communications.
[William Fiddian Reddaway. ''The Cambridge History of Poland, Vol 2.'' Cambridge University Press. 1971. pp. 513-514.] The leaders of Czechoslovakia had insisted forcibly on the indivisibility of the former Austrian Crownlands of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia and their unwillingness to compromise on Cieszyn Silesia has been suggested by Mary Heimann to have been due to their desire to keep the Sudetenland region in Czechoslovakia.
To allow Cieszyn Silesia to join Poland because it had a Polish majority would create a precedent for the German-speaking Sudetenland to join Germany, and it was largely for this reason the Czechoslovak government insisted that all of the former Duchy of Teschen was part of Czechoslovakia.
[ The Czech argument was that the Poles were "not local" but an "incoming" population, and that the indigenous or 'autochthonous' population had been Czech, claiming local Poles were merely immigrants attracted to employment in coal mines throughout the 18th century. Those claims were not corroborated by Austrian population censuses throughout the 19th century. The influx of Poles from Galicia was directed mainly to ]Ostrava
Ostrava (; ; ) is a city in the north-east of the Czech Republic and the capital of the Moravian-Silesian Region. It has about 283,000 inhabitants. It lies from the border with Poland, at the confluences of four rivers: Oder, Opava (river), Opa ...
and surroundings, which lie outside of Cieszyn Silesia. Moreover, the Polish national movement in the region was active since the Spring of Nations in 1848, whereas the influx of Galician Poles began in 1870s.
On 5 November, 1918, the Polish National Council and the Czechoslovak Committee concluded an agreement on the demarcation line for administrative and military purposes, and divided their respective spheres of influences at the municipal level, roughly along the ethnolinguistic identification lines. The Frýdek district and a small part of the Fryštát district was left on the Czech side, the remainder was accorded to the Poles.
Forces
The Czechoslovak side was led by Josef Šnejdárek. Czechoslovak military forces had been formed from the three legionnaire battalions of the 21st Rifle Regiment from France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
, the 54th Infantry Battalion of Olomouc
Olomouc (; ) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 103,000 inhabitants, making it the Statutory city (Czech Republic), sixth largest city in the country. It is the administrative centre of the Olomouc Region.
Located on the Morava (rive ...
, the 93rd Infantry Battalion of Fryštát, a volunteer battalion from Bohumín and a volunteer battalion from Orlová
Orlová (; , ) is a town in Karviná District in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 28,000 inhabitants. The town is struggling with structural problems and is infamously known as the worst town to live in in the Czech ...
. The operations of the Czechoslovak forces were joined by other local volunteers, formed in the National Guard approximately 5,000 men strong. From the north-west of Slovakia
Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the west, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. Slovakia's m ...
came the main force that was sent to support the 35th Regiment from Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
, led by the Italian Colonel Graselli and later reinforced with the Rifle Regiment from Italy. During the war the Czechoslovak army was reinforced by the newly formed 2nd Brigade with a strength of six battalions, with the support of two artillery batteries, and one cavalry squadron.
The Czechoslovak army was further strengthened by the 1st Battalion of the 28th Infantry Regiment, 1st Btn. of the 3rd Infantry Reg., 2nd Btn of the 93rd Infantry Reg. and 5 volunteer battalions.
Polish forces under the command of Franciszek Latinik were weaker than the Czechoslovak forces. At the end of World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, Poland was fighting in border disputes with all its neighbors, and during the war with Czechoslovakia the main force was committed to the fighting in Eastern Galicia with the Ukrainians. The Polish forces were composed of six infantry battalions, two cavalry squadrons and an artillery battery. Other forces included approximately 550 members of the gendarmerie and around 4,000 (Polish claim) to 6,500 (Czech claim) local Polish volunteers. Polish forces were reinforced during the war.
Battle
On 23 January 1919 at 11:00 in Cieszyn Silesia Polish commander Franciszek Latinik and Czechoslovak officer Josef Šnejdárek met with a group of officers, consisting of British, French, Italian and U.S. representatives (at the request of the Czechoslovak party). The Polish side was given an ultimatum, that they evacuate the area to the Biała River in less than two hours. After the expiry of this period, the Czechoslovak army started its operations at 13:00 following its operational guidelines to seize Bohumín/Bogumin and Karviná
Karviná (; , ) is a city in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 49,000 inhabitants. It lies on the Olza (river), Olza River in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia.
Karviná is known as an industrial city with t ...
/Karwina. From the east, at the same time, an attack was launched by the Italian legionnaire unit. The Czechoslovak army moved forward, and took Bohumín (at 16:00), Orlová/Orłowa and Karviná/Karwina. Cieszyn Silesia was taken over by Czechoslovak forces on 27 January 1919. Polish troops retreated to the Vistula
The Vistula (; ) is the longest river in Poland and the ninth-longest in Europe, at in length. Its drainage basin, extending into three other countries apart from Poland, covers , of which is in Poland.
The Vistula rises at Barania Góra i ...
river.
On 30 January 1919 Josef Šnejdárek received the order to cross the Vistula and secure the railway line between Bohumín and Jablunkov/Jabłonków. They crossed the river and the Polish troops retreated to Skoczów, where the front line was stalled. Further Czechoslovak reinforcements arrived, which gave Šnejdárek an advantage over the Polish units. The Czechoslovak army prepared for an attack on Skoczów assuming that it would lead to the collapse of the Polish defenses.
On 31 January 1919, because of the pressure from the Triple Entente representatives, the attack on Skoczów was cancelled, and the Czechoslovak army ceased fighting. The Czechoslovak army withdrew to the new Green Line, established by the International Commission Agreement on the basis of the Czechoslovak–Polish Treaty, concluded on 3 February 1919 in Paris.
Conclusion
The disputed territory was placed under international control. The final division of Cieszyn Silesia came in July 1920 as a result of the Spa Conference. In conclusion, the railway line connecting the Czech lands
The Czech lands or the Bohemian lands (, ) is a historical-geographical term which denotes the three historical regions of Bohemia, Moravia, and Czech Silesia out of which Czechoslovakia, and later the Czech Republic and Slovakia, were formed. ...
with Slovakia and the territory to the south of it were assigned to Czechoslovakia, while the territory north of the railway line was assigned to Poland. Vast majority of the coal mines, as well as Třinec Iron and Steel Works were on the territory assigned to Czechoslovakia.
In precise terms, Poland was given one-third of the population (142,000 out of 435,000), less than half of the territory (1002 km2 out of 2222), and the town of Cieszyn. Czechoslovakia received the districts of Fryštát and Frýdek, most of the area of the district of Cieszyn, the railway station of Cieszyn, Karviná and coal mines, Třinec with ironworks, and the entire Bohumín- Jablunkov railway line. Some 140,000 Poles were left on the Czech side.
War crimes
On 26 January, Czechoslovak forces killed 20 Polish POWs in the village Stonava, which has been documented in photos. According to some sources, they were bayonetted to death. A monument has been erected in their memory in Stonava.
According to Polish claims an unspecified number of Polish POWs were also killed in the village of Bystřice and a number of civilians killed in Karviná
Karviná (; , ) is a city in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 49,000 inhabitants. It lies on the Olza (river), Olza River in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia.
Karviná is known as an industrial city with t ...
.[Michał Wołłejko, Jak Czesi zrabowali Zaolzie. Zbrojna napaść na Śląsk Cieszyński 1919, „ Uważam Rze" 9 December 2012, p. 38.] Several thousand people were forced to flee to Poland, who returned in 1938 with the Polish annexation of Trans-Olza and in turn started taking revenge on the local Czech populace. There is a monument
A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, due to its artistic, historical ...
in Orlová
Orlová (; , ) is a town in Karviná District in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 28,000 inhabitants. The town is struggling with structural problems and is infamously known as the worst town to live in in the Czech ...
, commemorating the Czech victims of the war.
File:POL Cieszyn Muzeum ŚC - Mapa bitwy skoczowskiej.JPG, Skoczów battle
File:Czech monument Orlová.jpg, The original form of the monument in Orlová
Orlová (; , ) is a town in Karviná District in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 28,000 inhabitants. The town is struggling with structural problems and is infamously known as the worst town to live in in the Czech ...
, commemorating the Czechoslovak victims
File:Pomník v Orlové.jpg, The current form of the monument in Orlová, commemorating the Czechoslovak victims
File:Cieszyn Monument 2.JPG, Memorial to Polish Silesian legionnaires in Cieszyn
Cieszyn ( , ; ; ) is a border town in southern Poland on the east bank of the Olza River, and the administrative seat of Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship. The town has 33,500 inhabitants ( and lies opposite Český Těšín in the Czech Repu ...
File:ZebrzydowicePLmariuszjbie.jpg, Monument to the Polish victims in Zebrzydowice
File:Stonawa5.jpg, Grave of 20 Polish soldiers killed by Czech legionists on 26 January 1919 in Stonava
References
Further reading
* Davies, Norman. ''Polsko. Dějiny národa ve středu Evropy''. Praha : Prostor, 2003. .
* Gawrecki, Dan. ''Studie o Těšínsku 15. Politické a národnostní poměry v Těšínském Slezsku 1918–1938''. Český Těšín : Muzeum Těšínska, 1999. .
* Collective of authors: ''Stonawa pamięta: 1919–1999'', Interfon (1999), Těšín,
* Matroszová, Veronika. ''Českoslovenští legionáři, rodáci a občané okresu Karviná''. Prague: Státní okresní archiv Karviná, 2005. .
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Polish-Czechoslovak War
Conflicts in 1919
Cieszyn Silesia
Territorial disputes of Czechoslovakia
1919 in Poland
1919 in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia–Poland relations
January 1919
20th-century prisoner of war massacres
Interwar Czechoslovakia
Invasions of Poland
Wars involving Czechoslovakia
Wars involving Poland