Talk:Upper Silesia

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Silingi remained?[edit]

"At the time of Svatopluk I and King Arnulf of Carinthia in the ninth century, Silesia was a part of Greater Moravia and after its destruction in the early tenth century it was conquered by Bohemia. A number of earlier inhabitants of Silesia, the Silingi, remained throughout and they concentrated around the Zobten mountain and in a settlement named Niempsch (derived from a Slavic name for Germans)." - Any proofs? Sources? Its more likely that all Vandalic tribes migrated from Vistula-Oder land about century before firs Slavs came there. It is obvious that small groups remained (eg. someone who transferred elder river names - like Silinga>Sьlędza) but they were slavinized very quickly and connecting it with Czech stronghold (later the city) "Nyemcha" [Polish Niemcza - from Niemiec "a German man"] is great mistake and mixing different dates and times!!

Polish names of Polish cities debate[edit]

Except just a few of Polish cities that have a commonly accepted English name like Warsaw, Cracow/Krakow and Poznan) all other cities should be named after their native or official Polish name. Usage of German names of Polish cities in English vikipedia is unaaceptable. CC, 21:07, 22 Nov 2003 (UTC)

It is perfectly acceptable for German cities like Stettin, Posen and Breslau. Norum 00:43, 28 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia naming conventions[edit]

Wikipedia:Naming_conventions#Use_English_words Use English words Convention: Name your pages in English and place the native transliteration on the first line of the article unless the native form is more commonly used in English than the English form. Rationale and specifics: See: Wikipedia:Naming conventions (use English)

Warning : Nico[edit]

WARNING: Nico is a well known and annoying silling (to avoid the word vandal) introducing German names to all Polish cities and provinces occupied by Germany in the past - CC 04:49, 4 Dec 2003 (UTC)

Polish, German or Polish-German name of Opole[edit]

CC, this does no good. And why on earth is it offensive to give the German name for the historic capital of Upper Silesia? When Upper Silesia was a province, its capital was called Oppeln, not Opole, no? In any event, your behavior of late has been seriously unacceptable. john 05:30, 4 Dec 2003 (UTC)

I think it is enough if we introduce the alterrnative names in the city articles. The readers (searchers) will find it, there's no need to place double Polish/German names everywhere in the English wikipedia. It is offensive to put German names everywhery beacuse the Germans (in Bismarck's and Hitler's times) Germanized everything and Polish language was forbidden, even in Upper Silesia having Polish majority. CC, 05:41, 4 Dec 2003 (UTC)

BUT WHY IN THE.... do you introduce Polish names in the Lower Silesian Province (Prussia) article, then? Nico 18:17, 6 Dec 2003 (UTC)

Of course the German name of the province is informative and shoud stay CC, 05:43, 4 Dec 2003 (UTC)

It would be offensive to use the German names primarily. I don't see what's wrong with mentioning them. john 06:26, 4 Dec 2003 (UTC)

What is the purpose of these German names?? The official city name is just Opole, and this is the only valid name in English. The city name is NOT billigual, so there's no place for old German names here CC, 06:31, 4 Dec 2003 (UTC)

The article refers to it as the historical capital of Upper Silesia. When it was said historical capital, it was called Oppeln. john 07:07, 4 Dec 2003 (UTC)

Stick to one name unless you want the page to be filled with 25 names from Kashubian to Slelisian.I personally dont see the point of pointing out that its called Opplen in German. I am sure the Germans know its Opplen :) Kommiec 07:12, 4 Dec 2003 (UTC)

The point is that it's talking about the historical capital of Upper Silesia. Oppeln was its name when it was the capital of Upper Silesia. The other cities are not referred to in a historical context, so there's no need for the German names. john 07:15, 4 Dec 2003 (UTC)


Opole wasnt always the capital of upper silesia. I dont know if its historical or not. Kommiec 07:17, 4 Dec 2003 (UTC)

It was mentioned as such in the article... john 07:18, 4 Dec 2003 (UTC)

From the 1911 encyclopedia...

OPPELN (Polish, Oppolie) , a town of Germany, in the Prussian province of Silesia, lies on the right bank of the Oder, 51 m. S.E. of Breslau, on the railway to Kattowitz, and at the junction of lines to Beuthen, Neisse and Tarnowitz. Pop. (1905) 3o,769~ It is the seat of the provincial administration of Upper Silesia,

john 07:20, 4 Dec 2003 (UTC)


In 1911 Poland didn't exist and the Germans tried to Germanize the Polish People. However that is a different subject(Britannica is known for many errors). I am under the impression that Upper Silesia this article is referring to is the current 1998 Province in Poland. From 1998 to know its capital is Opole so maybe the Historically part of the article is right though I wouldn't call 5 years Historical. Kommiec 07:24, 4 Dec 2003 (UTC)

No, the current province of which Opole is a part is the Opole Voivodship. Upper Silesia is a historic region. In any event, in 1911, Oppeln was a German city, part of Silesia, a Prussian province, and hadn't been part of Poland for many centuries. It was known as Oppeln. At the time, Oppeln was the capital of the province of Upper Silesia. It was such, I would imagine, until 1945, when Upper Silesia ceased to exist as a province, and the city's name was changed (back?) to Opole. john 07:51, 4 Dec 2003 (UTC)

Official name is Opole[edit]

The official city name is Opole and this ONLY should be used in English wikipedia. -- CC, 12:27, 6 Dec 2003 (UTC)

Sigh, we are talking about Opole as being the historical capital of Upper Silesia. When this was the case, its name was Oppeln. Should we talk about Kaliningrad being the historical capital of East Prussia, as well? john 18:04, 6 Dec 2003 (UTC)

When dealing with the pre-1945 city, the English name (this is the English language wikipedia, huh?) is OPPELN. In English the city have two names: until 1945: Oppeln, after 1945: Opole. Nico 18:21, 6 Dec 2003 (UTC)

Yes, exactly. In any event, I think this is a fair compromise between listing the German names of all the cities and not listing any German names. In the case of Opole/Oppeln, it makes sense to mention the German name, because we are discussing something about the city prior to 1945. The other cities are not mentioned in a historical context, and therefore there's no reason to mention their German names. john 19:04, 6 Dec 2003 (UTC)

Do you suggest we should use the Russian names for every mention of all cities in East Germany? (as their were part of the Russian zone in Germany). In my opinion this would be ridiculous, just as much ridiculous as inserting German names for every mention of Polish cities. In my opinion your activities are very abusive. -- CC, 06:06, 8 Dec 2003 (UTC)

German was the official language of the German Democratic Republic. You are being ridiculous. I have only wanted one city to have its German name mentioned, and that because we are discussing its history before 1945 pretty explicitly in the article. john 07:44, 8 Dec 2003 (UTC)

Well, John considering your points the only real justification for mentioning Oppeln name would be if there were some real section "History of Upper Silesia". Now it seems that the only sign of history is use of the word "historically". For the time being I propose to remove the words "historically" and "Oppeln" until there is a passage about history written.
Kpjas 23:20, 8 Dec 2003 (UTC)

That seems fair enough. I'm going to remove the whole sentence about Opole, in this case. Since it wouldn't make sense to talk about it non-historically, since it's not currently the capital of Upper Silesia. john 05:28, 9 Dec 2003 (UTC)

Saw this while playing with Random page and I'm sure it (which isn't much) should be merged and redirected, I amn't sure of the details so can some one here do this? Notjim 16:37, 21 Jan 2005 (UTC)


Częstochowa is not a silesian city[edit]

There are some cities listed that are part of the Upper Silesian voivodship but arent in reality part of Upper Silesia (the administrative borders of viovedship arent the same as geographical and historical borders of the province), Częstochowa was never part of Silesia. I think it should be changed (cities that are outside Silesia removed form the list), if there are no objections i can do it. --Serus 00:43, 28 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, you are right, I edited page and deleted all cities, which, I was certain, are not historically part of Upper Silesia and even not in Silesia Voivodship. I add a note "not historical Upper Silesia" to cities which are in Voivodship but not in historical Upper Silesia (like Sosnowiec, Dąbrowa Górnicza itd. which are the cities of Little Poland region - pl:Zagłębie Dąbrowskie - which is even "hated" by Upper Silesians, Hanysi call them Altrajch ;P). Moreover I add a note about cities in Cieszyn Silesia, and lower that Cieszyn Silesians are especially glad to be a part of Upper Silesia, and information about Ostrawa and Bielsko-Biała, that they lay only partly in historical part of Silesia, for instance Biała always belonged to Little Poland, as well as Żywiec, Andrychów, Oświęcim etc. D T G 09:56, 4 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]


Part of Germany from 1143 till 1945)[edit]

Sorry upper silesia was part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation (First Empire), from 1143 till 1807. (From 1807 till 1815 only part of Prussia( during the napoleonic Wars). Part of the German Federation from 1815 till 1866. From 1866 till 1871 part of the North German Federation (as part of Prussia). From 1871 till 1945 it was part of the German Empire(Second Empire till 1919, First German Republic till 1933, Third Empire till 1945 (also known as third Reich). Large parts of the population were german speaking (during the census held by the league of nations in 1919 only in the eastern part of the uppersilesia province, the western part was nearly 100 % germanspeaking)) 60 % of the population voted to stay part of Germany). In 1945 during the Westexpansion of Poland the absolute mayority of the population was forcibly expulsed to germany). Only since that time there is a large polnish mayority polpulation in that area. Not to mention the German names of the Citys and Towns of these historical region is faking up of hististory . A cultural cleansing of history after the ethnical cleansing of the region. Don´t let some polnish ultra nationalists in wikipedia came trough with it. Wikipedia should not be the playground for the enemys of humanity and democracy.

You have some points; an interest; and much to contribute! Please sign your posts so we can collaborate. Thanks for your contributions!--Agrofe 02:42, 11 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Nysa[edit]

Upper or Lower Silesian? The Duchy of Nysa is usually referred to as Lower Silesian, as the lands of Otmuchów and Nysa were not part of the territories incorporated by Duke Mieszko IV Tanglefoot of Opole and Racibórz upon the death of Jarosław Opolski in 1201. 92.225.108.142 (talk) 09:31, 31 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Currently, neither. It's part of Opolskie. Historically, Upper Silesia. While it started out under the control of Wrocław, it eventually came under the control of Opole. As part of Prussia, the German Empire, and after WWI, it was in Upper Silesia. I don't know whether present-day redidents consider themselves Silesian, though. I doubt it, as the present-day population came from what is now the Ukraine. Silesian identity outside of Ślaskie and the eastern parts of Opolskie is very weak. Lower Silesians do not consider themselves Silesians. Dominus Vobisdu (talk) 09:59, 31 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Upper Silesia has never stretched this far west. I believe that people of Nysa consider themselves to be Lower Silesians. Norum 11:21, 27 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]

A better map?[edit]

I just came to this entry to see where Upper Silesia in relation to Germany, Poland and Austria. Basically, a simple map of Europe with Upper Silesia highlighted. But there is nothing here to give anyone unfamiliar with the area any idea of where Upper Silesia is located. Can a better map be posted? 69.125.134.86 (talk) 12:19, 6 July 2013 (UTC)[reply]