American project of internationalization of Silesia and the Polish-German border in the years 1945-1949 Cover Image

Amerykański projekt umiędzynarodowienia Śląska i granicy polsko-niemieckiej w latach 1945-1949
American project of internationalization of Silesia and the Polish-German border in the years 1945-1949

Author(s): Krzysztof Siwek
Subject(s): History
Published by: Instytut Zachodni im. Zygmunta Wojciechowskiego
Keywords: Silesia; Oder-Neisse; international diplomacy; United States; Europe; Germany

Summary/Abstract: The objective of the United States regarding internationalisation of Silesia and the Polish-German border established in 1945 was based on the needs of European economic reconstruction which included international access to Silesian coal and foodstuffs. Despite U.S. - U.S.S.R. tensions American diplomacy still emphasized the all-European dimension of the Silesian issue in particular during the Council of Foreign Ministers’ sessions in Moscow and London in 1947. Accordingly, it was not the opposition to Poland’s westward move which determined the U.S.’s critical attitude towards the Oder-Neisse question but the resolve to prevent isolation of Silesian industry behind the Iron Curtain. Nevertheless U.S. plans concerning Silesia were suspended because of the political division of Germany and Europe in 1949.

  • Issue Year: 355/2015
  • Issue No: 02
  • Page Range: 131-148
  • Page Count: 18