Polish minority in the Czech Republic
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Czechs and Slovaks |
The Polish minority in the Czech Republic is a Polish national minority living mainly in the Trans-Olza region of western Cieszyn Silesia. The Polish community is the only national (or ethnic) minority in the Czech Republic that is linked to a specific geographical area.[4] Trans-Olza is located in the north-eastern part of the country. It comprises Karviná District and the eastern part of Frýdek-Místek District. Many Poles living in other regions of the Czech Republic have roots in Trans-Olza as well.
Poles formed the largest ethnic group in
History
Historically, the largest ethnic group inhabiting the Trans-Olza area was the Poles.[5] During the 19th century the number of Germans grew. At the beginning of the 20th century and later from 1920 to 1938, the Czech population grew significantly (mainly as a result of immigration and the assimilation of locals) and the Poles became a minority, which they are to this day.
From 1848, the national consciousness of the local people grew and from 1848 to the end of the 19th century local Poles and Czechs co-operated, uniting against the
Decision time (1918–1920)
There was a very tense climate in 1918–1920, a time of decision. It was decided that a
In Czechoslovakia (1920–1938)
Local Czech militants forced about 5,000 local Poles, mostly from the northern part of the region, to flee to Poland already before July 1920. 4,000 of these expellees were located in a transitional camps in Oświęcim. About 12,000 Poles in total were forced to leave the region and flee to Poland in the aftermath of the division of Cieszyn Silesia.[15] The local Polish population felt that Warsaw had betrayed them and they were not satisfied with the division. It is not quite clear how many Poles were in Trans-Olza in Czechoslovakia. Estimates range from 110,000 to 140,000 people in 1921.[16] The 1921 and 1930 census numbers are not accurate since nationality depended on self-declaration and many Poles declared Czech nationality mainly as a result of fear of the new authorities and as compensation for some benefits. Czechoslovak law guaranteed rights for national minorities, but the reality in Trans-Olza was quite different. The local Czech authorities made it more difficult for local Poles to obtain citizenship, while the process was expedited when the applicant pledged to declare Czech nationality and send his children to a Czech school.[17] Newly built Czech schools were often better supported and equipped, thus inducing some Poles to send their children there. This and other factors contributed to the assimilation of Poles and also to significant emigration to Poland. After a few years, the heightened nationalism typical of the period around 1920 receded and local Poles increasingly co-operated with the Czechs. Still, Czechization was supported by Prague, which did not abide by certain laws related to language, legislative, and organizational issues.[18] Polish deputies in Czechoslovak National Assembly frequently tried to put that issues on agenda. One way or the other, increasingly local Poles thus assimilated into the Czech population.
In Poland (1938–1939)
On 1 October 1938, Trans-Olza was annexed by Poland following the
World War II
During the war, strong
Since 1945 and during the Communist Era (1948–89)
Immediately after World War II, Trans-Olza was returned to Czechoslovakia within its 1920 borders, although local Poles hoped it would again be given to Poland.
During the communist era, rapid urbanization and growth of heavy industry occurred. Whole villages in the coal mining areas were destroyed by the mining activity.
During the 1960s, cultural life flourished. Polish books were published and Polish sections in Czech libraries were set up. For example, the state Czech Postal and Newspaper Service was delivering 72 magazines from Poland.[37] During the Prague Spring, the more liberal atmosphere also contributed to the growth of cultural life. After 1968, purges were conducted throughout Czechoslovak society, including the Polish minority. Reformists were fired from their positions. The so-called "normalization" also affected the PZKO. From 1976 the law recommended the introduction of bilingual signs in some municipalities. Being only a recommended measure, it was not implemented. The Czechoslovak communist authorities tried to limit the influence of Poles, resident or not, considering the influence of Poles (given that Polish communist regime was considered more liberal) in the workplace a threat to the regime.
Present times
After the
Language and culture
The primary language of the Polish population in Trans-Olza is the Cieszyn Silesian dialect, with the vast majority of Poles using it in everyday communication. The dialect is very prestigious and contributes to the pride of local people.[4] It is also used by some local Czechs. Local Poles also feel a strong regional identity.[40] In the Trans-Olza region, a few church services are conducted in Polish. 90% of worshippers among Polish secondary school students are reported to pray in Polish.[4]
Concerning literature, there is a great variety of authors, genres, and editions produced in Polish. For traditional music, many groups are united in the association Ars Musica; this association also includes many choirs, such as Collegium Iuvenum, Collegium Canticorum, and Canticum Novum. Many other choirs and traditional folk vocal and dance groups exist, including Olza, Bystrzyca, Oldrzychowice, Suszanie, and Błędowianie, among others. Pop and rock bands include Glayzy, Glider, P-metoda, Apatheia, Poprostu and other groups. The
Many cultural, folk, and music festivals are organized each year. The largest folklore festival of the Polish community and also the largest folklore festival in the Trans-Olza region is the annual Gorolski Święto (lit. "Goral's Festival") organized in Jablunkov. Dożynki (harvest festivals) are organized each year in several villages. Music festivals include Zlot in Bystřice, Zlot in Vendryně and Dni Kultury Studenckiej (Days of Student Culture) in Bystrzyca.
There is a 15-minute daily radio broadcast in Polish by
Education
The Polish national minority has a complete education network with Polish teaching language. Polish education is the only ethnic minority education in the Czech Republic to cover the complete cycle from kindergarten through high school. In 2020/21, there were 19 kindergartens, 21 primary schools and one high school with Polish teaching language, in total with 3,134 pupils, and 5 kindergarten with both Polish and Czech language.[42]
Polish primary schools function in the following municipalities: Albrechtice (Olbrachcice), Bukovec (Bukowiec), Bystřice (Bystrzyca), Český Těšín (Czeski Cieszyn), Dolní Lutyně (Lutynia Dolna), Havířov (Hawierzów), Hnojník (Gnojnik), Horní Suchá (Sucha Górna), Hrádek (Gródek), Jablunkov (Jabłonków), Karviná (Karwina), Košařiska (Koszarzyska), Milíkov (Milików), Mosty u Jablunkova (Mosty koło Jabłonkowa), Návsí (Nawsie), Orlová (Orłowa), Ropice (Ropica), Stonava (Stonawa), Těrlicko (Cierlicko), Třinec (Trzyniec), and Vendryně (Wędrynia).[42]
The only Polish high school is the Juliusz Słowacki Polish Gymnasium in Český Těšín. Polish classes are open in the Technical School in Karviná, the Economic School in Český Těšín, and the Medical School in Karviná. In the past there were more Polish schools in the area, but the number is historically declining along with the demographic decline in the Polish population as a whole.
Sport
First Polish sport organizations have been founded in the 1890s. In the interwar period there was a plethora of organizations of all types in all Central European countries, the Trans-Olza region wasn't exception. Sport clubs there were often multi-sport, associating several sport branches, mostly football, athletics, volleyball, table tennis etc.
The Sokół movement was active in Cieszyn Silesia even before World War I. After 1920 division of the region, Sokół became active in Czechoslovakia. At the beginning of the 1930s it associated 11 local branches and about 1,500 members.[43] After World War II, it hasn't renewed its activity.
Another large sport organization was Siła (i.e. "power"). It was created in 1908 but established again in 1921 as Polskie Stowarzyszenie Robotnicze Siła (Polish Workers' Association 'Power'). The organization was of
Another large organization was Polskie Towarzystwo Turystyczne 'Beskid Śląski' (Polish Tourist Association 'Silesian Beskids') established in 1910. Initially it focused on organizing the Polish tourist movement and building mountain huts in the Beskids but later widened its activities to skiing, football, athletics and volleyball. In the 1930s it associated 27 local branches. After World War II it operated half-legally and as Siła, was liquidated by Czechoslovak communist authorities after the Victorious February 1948. It resumed its activity again in 1991, after the fall of communism.
The last notable multi-sport club was Proletariacka Kultura Fizyczna (PFK, Proletarian Physical Culture). It was created in the mid-1920s and was of communist character. In the 1930s it associated about 40 active local branches. After the Trans-Olza region was annexed in 1938 by Poland it was banned together with the communist party.[44]
The most popular sport was football. Volleyball, athletics, table tennis and other sports were also popular. The club with most members was
After World War II many Polish sport clubs resumed slowly their activity. After the
After 1952 the Polish sport life was organized through the Polish Cultural and Educational Union. Through the communist era Polish minority declined demographically and this process continue to date, hence after the fall of communism in 1989 only a few sport organizations resumed their activity. Beskid Śląski, the only notable one, focuses on tourism. No exclusively Polish sport club exists today in Trans-Olza.
Legal issues
The erection of bilingual signs has technically been permitted since 2001, if a minority constitutes 10% of the population of a municipality. The requirement for a petition by the members of a minority has been abolished, thus simplifying the whole process.[46] However, only a couple of villages with large Polish minorities have bilingual signs yet (Vendryně for instance). For a list of all municipalities with a Polish population of at least 10%, see Polish municipalities in the Czech Republic.
Demography
The Polish population is historically declining. This is primarily caused by low natural birth rate, assimilation, high intermarriage rate (the majority of Poles live in mixed relationships), and migration to other parts of the country as a result of job seeking.[40]
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Notable people
Politicians
- Jan Buzek, interwar MP
- Jerzy Buzek, President of European Parliament, Former Prime Minister of Poland
- Emanuel Chobot, interwar MP
- Karol Junga, interwar MP
- Tadeusz Michejda, Minister of Health of Poland
- Karol Śliwka, interwar communist politician, MP
- Leon Wolf, interwar Czechoslovak MP and later senator in Polish Senate
- Josef Zieleniec, former Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic
Writers
- Henryk Jasiczek, poet
- Jan Kubisz, poet, author of Płyniesz Olzo po dolinie, unofficial anthem of Poles of Trans-Olza
- Paweł Kubisz, poet
- Gustaw Morcinek, one of the most important Polish writers from Silesia
- Józef Ondrusz
- Karol Piegza
- Adam Wawrosz
Other
- Józef Buzek, economist
- Ewa Farna, pop singer
- Tadeusz Kraus, footballer
- Adam Makowicz, jazz musician
- Halina Mlynkova, pop singer
- Bronislav Poloczek, theatre and television actor
- Krystyna Pyszková, model and Miss World 2023
See also
- Czechs in Poland
- Demographics of the Czech Republic, for other ethnic minorities in the country
- Polish People's Party, Polish party in interwar Czechoslovakia
- Polish Socialist Workers Party, Polish party in interwar Czechoslovakia
- Polish diaspora, for other Polish communities outside Poland
- Czech Republic–Poland relations
Notes
- ^ Including 11,416 people declaring the combination of Polish and other nationality. The real number can be higher as it was possible to leave the "nationality" field blank.
- ^ Data are for the whole country.
- ^ Historical data: 1950 census – Roman Catholics (66.06%), Lutherans (29.97%), Atheists (0.94%). 1930 census – Roman Catholicism (60.87%), Lutheranism (32.53%), German Lutheran Church (3.25%), Atheism (0.89%).
- ^ Hrušov (Gruszów) doesn't lie in Trans-Olza. It is currently a part of the city of Ostrava.
Footnotes
- ^ a b "Národnost" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- ^ Czech Statistical Office
- ^ Szymeczek, Józef (April 2007). "Obywatele narodowości polskiej na ziemiach czeskich wg wyznania 1930–1991 (table)". Zwrot: 20.
- ^ a b c European Commission 2006.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 16–17.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 40.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 37.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 48.
- ^ Baron, Roman (August 2007). "Czesi i Polacy – zaczarowany krąg stereotypów". Zwrot: 32–34.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 51.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 42.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 73.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 62–63.
- ^ a b Zahradnik 1992, 64.
- Głos Ludu. pp. 4–5.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 72.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 76.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 76–79.
- ^ Nowa Encyklopedia Powszechna PWN 1997, vol. VI, 981.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 86.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 87.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 89–90.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 88–89.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 96.
- ^ a b c Zahradnik 1992, 99.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 102–103.
- ^ a b Zahradnik 1992, 103.
- ^ Borák, Mečislav and Petra Všelichová (2007). Zločin jménem Katyň (documentary). Czech Republic: Czech Television.
- ^ a b c Zahradnik 1992, 116.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 111.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 116–120.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 114.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 128.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 158.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 143.
- ^ Country Data: Czechoslovakia
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 148.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 170.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 173.
- ^ a b Siwek, not dated.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 147.
- ^ a b "Polské národnostní školství v Moravskoslezském kraji" (in Czech). Moravian-Silesian Region. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
- ^ Zahradnik 2005, 10.
- ^ Zahradnik 2005, 15.
- ^ Zahradnik 2005, 23.
- ^ Kongres Polaków w RC, 29.10.2006.
- ^ Šamanová 2005 and Siwek 1996, 31–38.
- ^ The 1921 Czechoslovak census asked people about their native language. (Siwek 1996, 32.)
- ^ People could declare a nationality other than that implied by their native language. (Siwek 1996, 32.)
- ^ a b c d The 1950, 1961, 1980 and 1991 Czechoslovak censuses based nationality on self-declaration of citizens. (Siwek 1996, 37–38.)
- ^ The 1970 Czechoslovak census asked people about their native language. (Siwek 1996, 37.)
- ^ "Czech Statistical Office". Archived from the original on 2014-11-03. Retrieved 2006-12-27.
- ^ "Public database: Census 2011". Czech Statistical Office. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
References
Books
- Kaszper, Roman; Małysz, Bohdan, eds. (2009). Poláci na Těšínsku (PDF) (in Czech). Český Těšín: ISBN 978-80-87381-00-7.
- Siwek, Tadeusz (1996). Česko-polská etnická hranice (in Czech). Ostrava: Filozofická fakulta ISBN 80-7042-457-5.
- Zahradnik, Stanisław; Ryczkowski, Marek (1992). Korzenie Zaolzia (in Polish). PAI-press. OCLC 177389723.
- OCLC 177328652.
- "Zaolzie". Nowa Encyklopedia Powszechna PWN (in Polish). Vol. VI. Warsaw: ISBN 830111097X.
Websites
- European Commission (2006). "Polish in the Czech Republic". The Euromosaic study. European Commission. Archived from the original on 2011-08-28. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
- Siwek, Tadeusz. "Statystyczni i niestatystyczni Polacy w Republice Czeskiej". Wspólnota Polska.
- Šamanová, Gabriela (2005). "Národnost ve sčítání lidu v českých zemích" (PDF). Centrum pro výzkum veřejného mínění AV ČR. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2006-06-13.