First Silesian Uprising

In connection with the aspirations of Polish inhabitants of Upper Silesia the National Polish Committee demanded during the Paris Peace Conference that those terrains be included in the Republic of Poland. That postulate met with German protests. In consequence, the powers decided to conduct a referendum. The German authorities responded with a wave of repressions aimed against the Polish activists. In reaction to that the activists associated in the underground Polish Military Organization of Upper Silesia launched an uprising on 17 August 1919. Still in its formation phase, the small and poorly-equipped organization faced the well trained and armed detachments of the German Grenzschutz. The uprising failed on 26 August despite local successes. The wave of repressions led to mass emigration of the insurgents and their families to Poland. It was discontinued only by the amnesty announced in autumn.

Insurgent detachment’s stopover at Brzeziny. (Uprising Museum in Góra Świętej Anny)

Our group of 40 men, armed with 2 rifles, about a dozen brownings, and about a dozen hand grenades which we produced ourselves, disarmed and rendered harmless the well-armed enemy. I then went with Emanuel Siwy to the apartment of German policeman Szczurek, whom we disarmed of his browning. Meanwhile, the Grenschutz from Bytom, armed with machine guns, came to the imprisoned men’s succor and we, as the weaker ones, retreated in the direction of Brzeziny and Kamień, to Poland. Then came repressions and searches for the insurgents in homes, with arm in hand. Bookstore owner Rudzki, Piotr Żymańko, and Karolik were arrested.

Karol Przewdzinek