Przemoc i represje. Działania Selbstschutzu Oberschlesien wobec polskiej ludności Śląska Opolskiego w latach 1921–1922 na przykładzie obszaru pogranicza powiatów opolskiego i kluczborskiego
Violence and Repression: The Activities of Selbstschutz Oberschlesien against the Polish Population of the Opole Silesia Region in 1921– 1922. A Case Study of the Borderlands between Opole and Kluczbork Counties

Summary/Abstract: In 1920–1922, Upper Silesia, including Opole County, a so-called plebiscite area, was formally governed by the Interallied Commission for Government and Plebiscite in Upper Silesia, under the presidency of French General Henri Le Rond. The Interallied authorities, supported by their own military units, sought to ensure the security of the population on both sides of the conflict. The situation changed following the outbreak of the Third Silesian Uprising (2/3 May–5 July 1921), when the plebiscite area was divided by the opposing Polish and German forces, and French troops withdrew from areas outside the larger cities. During this period, Kluczbork and Opole counties (with the exception of the town of Opole itself) came under the control of the German Upper Silesian Self-Defence Force (Selbstschutz Oberschlesien). In this area, numerous acts of repression occurred, including politically motivated murders of Polish Silesians. The the most serious of these crimes was the murder of six plebiscite activists in Dąbrówka Łubniańska. The victims were tortured and then executed. As a consequence, Polish residents of Opole County fled to Polish-controlled territories.

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