Losing the ‘Recovered Territories’: Cultural Conflicts in Polish Silesia

“Losing the ‘Recovered Territories’: Cultural Conflicts in Polish Silesia” analyzes the emigration of ethnic German “resettlers” from Poland’s western borderlands. Whereas many scholars view resettler emigration as economically motivated or due to their German national ties, this paper sees emigration as a product of failed ethno-national integration. After West Germany and Poland established diplomatic relations in 1970, Silesians who could claim German heritage began seeking permission to emigrate. This paper draws on 1970s sociological research and secret police files to argue that Polish authorities interpreted this rise in emigration through an ethno-nationalist lens. Rather than citing the region’s manifold economic problems, sociologists blamed aggressive re-Polonization policies after the war. Through discouraging the use of German, “verifying” people as Polish, and privileging newcomers from central and eastern Poland for administrative positions, the Polish government had alienated the borderland population. Twenty-five years later, many Silesians sought instead to emigrate. To counteract this tendency, experts recommended social, cultural, and political “integration” programs to celebrate the region’s uniqueness and encourage Silesian participation in government. Although it is unclear whether the recommendations were implemented, their existence reveals an attitude shift toward ethnicity. With their suggestions, the Polish experts not only recognized the Silesians as a distinct ethnicity, but sought to use this recognition as a bargaining chip. While remaining Silesians would not be recognized as German, they could freely practice their regional heritage. Thus, though fostering a Silesian identity might not create links with the Polish nation, it could weaken West Germany’s ethnic appeal.