POCIĄG POSPIESZNY CZY OSOBOWY? SPÓR NARODOWOŚCIOWY WOKÓŁ WITKOWICKIEJ HUTY W CZECHOSŁOWACJI W OKRESIE MIĘDZYWOJENNYM
EXPRESS OR SLOW TRAIN? THE NATIONAL DISPUTE OVER THE VÍTKOVICE IRONWORKS IN INTERWAR CZECHOSLOVAKIA

Summary/Abstract: The ironworks at Vítkovice were among the largest industrial plants in interwar Czechoslovakia and held strategic importance. For most of this period, the plant was owned by the Witkowitzer Bergbau- und Hüttengewerkschaft based in Vienna. While the majority of the workforce was Czech, Germans occupied dominant functions in management and senior positions. Representatives from Czech nationalist organisations and engineers viewed this as a remnant of Austrian rule, which they believed posed a threat to the security of the new state. Throughout the interwar period, there was rivalry for influence in the ironworks, involving German and Czech officials from the plant, nationalist associations, and state institutions. Historically, the discourse was dominated by the belief that the management of the steelworks was actively pursuing Germanisation efforts. However, during this time, German influence gradually diminished. This article illustrates how this process unfolded.

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