Historical determinants of the Opole Silesia region distinctiveness

Danuta Kisielewicz

University of Opole, Institute of Political Science
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5613-2569

Abstract

Opole Silesia is a historical region of Upper Silesia. It is a land situated by the Upper Odra river. In the Middle Ages, this region was the Duchy of Opole and Racibórz. Under the Prussian reign it was Opole regency and after 1922 the province of Upper Silesia (Opole regency). In 1950 Opole region obtained the status of the Opolskie Voivodeship. It is a territory with distinct borders, with a population bound by the common historical experience. It was always a region with individual, distinct space and administration. This region has always been a separate, both spatial and administrative unit. The Opole city was the capital during the Duchy period, the regency and the province of Upper Silesia. Only during the Second World War and in the years 1945-1950 Opole was not the capital city. Opole Silesia is borderland area, passing in its history from one state to another, crossing political influence and blending the population. It is a region of diverse ethnocultural structure and nationality. Opole Silesia, understood today as an area located within the Opolskie Voivodeship, has its own history, culture and tradition, as well as population structure. Since the end of the Second World War, the population consists of the Polish majority, the so-called new immigrants, and native population - German minority and ethnic Silesia minority.

Keywords:

the borders of Opole Silesia, borderland, national and ethnocultural diversity, history of the Opole Silesia