Britain and Upper Silesia, 1919-1922
This thesis provides the first complete dedicated narrative on Britain's political and military involvement in Upper Silesia between 1919 and 1922.It establishes the background to the Paris Peace Conference's decision to conduct a plebiscite in this important industrial region on the new Polish-German frontier. It also demonstrates how the region's long-standing ethnic tensions,combined with Polish national aspirations and class consciousness led to three insurrections in Upper Silesia between August 1919 and May 1921. British military leaders utilised the prevailing fears about the post-war industrial unrest in Britain to reduce their military commitments in Europe. The thesis explains how this action resulted in a French ascendancy on the inter-Allied Commission administering Upper Silesia and the military forces policing it. The initial absence of the British troops also affected the attitude and effectiveness of the British contingent serving with the inter-Allied Commission.The internal conflicts within the Commission are dealt with, as are the differing attitudes of the French, British and Italian Commissioners towards the highly partisan, and often violent,Polish and German plebiscite campaigns. Using
Lesniewski, Peter
History
Britain and Upper Silesia, 1919-1922. This thesis provides the first complete dedicated narrative on Britain's political and military involvement in Upper Silesia between 1919 and 1922.It establishes the background to the Paris Peace Conference's decision to conduct a plebiscite in this important industrial region on the new Polish-German frontier. It also demonstrates how the region's long-standing ethnic tensions,combined with Polish national aspirations and class consciousness led to three insurrections in Upper Silesia between August 1919 and May 1921. British military leaders utilised the prevailing fears about the post-war industrial unrest in Britain to reduce their military commitments in Europe. The thesis explains how this action resulted in a French ascendancy on the inter-Allied Commission administering Upper Silesia and the military forces policing it. The initial absence of the British troops also affected the attitude and effectiveness of the British contingent serving with the inter-Allied Commission.The internal conflicts within the Commission are dealt with, as are the differing attitudes of the French, British and Italian Commissioners towards the highly partisan, and often violent,Polish and German plebiscite campaigns. Using
britain upper provide_first complete dedicate narrative britain political_military involvement upper establishes background paris peace conference decision conduct important industrial region new polish german frontier also_demonstrate region long_standing ethnic tension combine polish national aspiration class_consciousness lead upper british_military leader utilise prevail fear post_war industrial_unrest britain reduce military commitment europe explains action result french ascendancy inter allied commission administer upper military_force police initial absence british troop also affect attitude effectiveness british contingent serve inter allied commission internal conflict within commission dealt differ attitude french british italian towards highly partisan often violent polish german campaign using