„The procession of German Catholics”. General meetings of the association of German Catholics in Poland (Verband Deutscher Katholiken in Polen) in Silesian Voivodeship 1925–1938 Cover Image
  • Price 4.50 €

„Defilada niemieckich katolików”. Walne zgromadzenia Verband deutscher Katholiken in Polen w województwie śląskim 1925-1938
„The procession of German Catholics”. General meetings of the association of German Catholics in Poland (Verband Deutscher Katholiken in Polen) in Silesian Voivodeship 1925–1938

Author(s): Sebastian Rosenbaum
Subject(s): History, Cultural history, Ethnohistory, History of ideas
Published by: Instytut Śląski
Keywords: German Catholicism;Catholic meetings;German minority;the Association of German;Catholics in Poland;Silesia voivodeship;inter-war period

Summary/Abstract: After the revolution of 1848 a tradition developed in German Catholicism to organise the so-called Catholics’ Days (Katholikentag), i.e. meetings of the representatives of Catholic organisations to debate on the issues crucial for the Church, the Catholic laity and the society. Tis tradition took roots in the Diocese of Wrocław as well, becoming a vital element of the Catholics’ self-organisation and their creation of a coherent cultural environment. After the division of the Upper Silesia region in 1922 the leading organisation of German Catholics in Silesia voivodeship – the Association of German Catholics in Poland (Verband deutscher Katholiken in Polen, VdK), seated in Katowice, referred to the tradition of the Catholics’ Days. The general meetings of VdK, which took place in the years 1925–1938, became fora for the presentation of the German Catholicism in Poland, and simultaneously public events of remarkable importance for the German minority in the Republic of Poland. During the general meetings of VdK prominent speakers from Germany and leading representatives of German Catholics in Poland took the floor. Some of the general meetings took place in Silesian voivodeship – mainly in Katowice and once in Królewska Huta (Chorzów). The events, which usually lasted several days, comprised of the internal part, during which the association authorities were elected, and the public part, which included German minority choir and music band performances, as well as speakers’ lectures. The events were accompanied with press reports, lecture reprints, brochures with lecture texts and other materials referring to the subject matter.

  • Issue Year: 2017
  • Issue No: 81
  • Page Range: 65-84
  • Page Count: 20
  • Language: Polish