Problem granicy na Odrze i Nysie Łużyckiej w polsko-belgijskich relacjach politycznych (1945–1955)
The problem of the border on the Oder and Lusatian Neisse in Polish-Belgian political relations (1945–1955)

Summary/Abstract: This article aims to analyze the role of the border issue on the Oder and Lusatian Neisse in Polish-Belgian diplomatic relations between 1945 and 1955. The question of the Polish western border was a key issue for Polish foreign policy, hence the Warsaw government took many steps towards its political and legal recognition, wishing to consolidate the provisional decisions made at Potsdam in this regard. This activity was of particular importance for the countries bordering Germany, including above all France and Belgium. Warsaw tried (albeit unsuccessfully) to link Poland’s demand for security, resulting from international recognition of the border on the Oder and Lusatian Neisse, with similar concepts concerning the course of these countries’ borders with Germany (France, the border with Germany on the Rhine; Belgium, the Eupen-Malmedy region). These actions were aimed not only at bringing about the recognition of the Polish western border de facto and de jure, but also at preventing the progressive integration of Western Europe over time. Hence the special importance of Polish-Belgian relations during this period, and in particular their political dimension, which is analyzed in the article. Based on Polish and Belgian archival materials, as well as a small number of academic studies, the author identifies the steps that Polish diplomacy took to bring about the formal legal recognition of the border by Brussels. In addition, she tries to determine what political considerations (external and internal) caused the Belgian government circles to decide not to do so.

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