Zabrze
Hindenburg
In the first days the insurgents seized substantial industrial areas. Allied interventions forced them out of some larger towns, including Bytom and Katowice, which were occupied by Allied garrisons.
Map of places in the Silesian Uprisings
Choose a place to see its related events. Select a year to narrow the results.
The base map shows present-day roads and borders. Markers identify places connected with events of 1919–1922.
Markers show settlements, not areas of fighting. Historical borders are not shown. Map tiles: OpenStreetMap. Settlement coordinates: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).
Places and their events
Tarnowskie Góry
Tarnowitz
Maksymilian Iksal’s order, issued during the night of 16–17 August, initially reached some structures in the Pszczyna and Rybnik districts. Fighting began on 17 August and spread to other districts the following day. We therefore date the outbreak to the night of 16–17 August 1919.
Szopienice
Schoppinitz
As the uprising’s dictator, Korfanty headed the civilian authorities. Maciej Mielżyński assumed military command and was later replaced by Kazimierz Zenkteler. Headquarters were in Szopienice. Insurgent forces were organised into North, East and South groups.
Rybnik
Rybnik
Maksymilian Iksal’s order, issued during the night of 16–17 August, initially reached some structures in the Pszczyna and Rybnik districts. Fighting began on 17 August and spread to other districts the following day. We therefore date the outbreak to the night of 16–17 August 1919.
Pszczyna
Pleß
Maksymilian Iksal’s order, issued during the night of 16–17 August, initially reached some structures in the Pszczyna and Rybnik districts. Fighting began on 17 August and spread to other districts the following day. We therefore date the outbreak to the night of 16–17 August 1919.
Opole
Oppeln
The Inter-Allied Administrative and Plebiscite Commission took over the plebiscite territory in February 1920. It was chaired by French General Henri Le Rond. France, Britain and Italy participated in Allied administration, but their interests and partition proposals differed.
Mysłowice
Myslowitz
On 15 August 1919 people who had come to the Mysłowice mine over wage payments were shot and killed. The incident became an important focus for mobilisation. It does not explain the uprising by itself: tensions, strikes and underground preparations were already under way.
Kędzierzyn-Koźle
Kandrzin
Between 6 and 10 May 1921 insurgent forces fought for Kędzierzyn and its important railway junction. They had taken the area by 10 May. Kędzierzyn became a battleground again during the German offensive in June. Control of transport was an important dimension of the conflict.
Katowice
Kattowitz
Wojciech Korfanty headed the Polish Plebiscite Commissariat at the Lomnitz Hotel in Bytom. Kurt Urbanek led the German commissariat in Katowice. The campaign involved newspapers, meetings and organisational work; competition extended beyond electoral argument.
Góra Świętej Anny
Annaberg
Góra Świętej Anny, called Annaberg in German sources, was a major focus of fighting in May 1921. The detailed IPN chronology dates the German offensive and capture of the hill to 21 May. Insurgent counterattacks failed to recover it. This local German success did not amount to control of the whole industrial district.
Gliwice
Gleiwitz
In the first days the insurgents seized substantial industrial areas. Allied interventions forced them out of some larger towns, including Bytom and Katowice, which were occupied by Allied garrisons.
Bytom
Beuthen
Wojciech Korfanty headed the Polish Plebiscite Commissariat at the Lomnitz Hotel in Bytom. Kurt Urbanek led the German commissariat in Katowice. The campaign involved newspapers, meetings and organisational work; competition extended beyond electoral argument.