From Historical Pages
The oldest traces of human settlements in Silesia which were found in a number of places especially in the vicinity of Wroclaw go as far back as to the Neolithic age (4000-1700 B.C.).
In subsequent centuries this land was inhabited by peoples of various descent and cultures. The Slavonic tribes such as the Slenzans, the Opolans, the Dziadoszans, the Bobrzans and many others living in Silesia in early medieval times, at the end of the 10th century, happened to be within the boundaries of the Polish state, then still under formation, and ruled by the first kings of the Piast dynasty. Political, military and economic role of these lands for the Polish state was confirmed through the establishment of the church administration and the foundation of the diocese in Wroclaw in 1000, subordinated to the metropolis of Gniezno, the first capital of historical rulers of Poland. In the 10th and 11th centuries, Silesia saw many disputes waged between German feudal lords /the Bohemians/. After the death of the Polish king Boleslaw the Wrymouth in 1138, the process of feudal decomposition began, including Silesia, which was being disintegrated into small princedoms ruled by the descendants of the Polish Piast dynasty. Such processes made easier for the Bohemians to dominate Silesia. By the end of the 14th c. Silesian princes had recognised the supremacy of the Luxemburg dynasty. After the unification of Poland the efforts to regain Silesia failed, and in 1348 king Casimir the Great renounced his rights to it. Between the 13th and 15th century a remarkable economic expansion was observed, particularly the towns were getting richer due to the growth of carftsmanship and trade, and the increased output of gold, copper and iron. Arts and architecture originally based on French, German and Czech designs later found their own expression as seen in hundreds of Silesian monasteries, churches, castles and burgher estates. From here comes the oldest Polish manuscript "Henrykowska Book" from the 13th century and the first Polish prints made in Wroclaw in the 15th century. The 16th century opens a new period in the history of Silesia. In 1526, after the death of Ludwig the Jagiellon in the battle against the Turks, the Bohemia as well as Silesia came under the rule of the Habsburg dynasty.
In 1675 the Piast dynasty ruling in Europe for the longest period of time expired with the death of the last ruling prince. In 1741, the Prussian king Frederic II the Great started war against Maria Teresa, the empress of Austria. As a result of long lasting wars, almost the whole Silesia came under the rule of the Prussian kingdom. The germanization of Polish population densely inhabiting the surroundings of Opole and the areas extending right of the Oder river was intensified. In the 2nd half of the 19th century fast development of coal-mining, engineering and textile industries as well as railways were unfolding. In the countryside sugar beets, potatoes and oil plants were grown on a large scale; fruit growing and gardening were also increased. Tourism began to expand rapidly particularly in the Karkonosze Mts and the spas situated there, began to gain world reputation. This state of affairs was maintained till the end of the World War I after which Silesia began showing the symptoms of economic recession and the outflow of population. The Polish population fougt three times to include Silesia into Poland, organising uprisings in the years 1919-1921. As a result of those uprisings and the plebiscite the eastern part of Silesia was returned to Poland. During World War II the whole economy was subordinated to war aims and the Nazi authorities were establishing concentration camps (the largest one in Gross-Rosen called Rogoznica near Strzegom) and labour camps where prisoners and prisoners of war of various nationalities from all the Nazi-dominated Europe were employed. However, the majority of prisoners working there were the Poles and Russians.
Started in 1945, a great offensive of the Soviet troops resulted, during a few military operations, in the liquidation of the resistance of the German armies and in conquering almost the whole region till May 1945. The defeat of Wroclaw stronghold and the capitulation of the Nazi army followed by the Conference in Potsdam in July, opens a fundamental stage in new history: the old Piast lands returned to Poland. A new period of reconstruction and development of towns and villages, industries and agriculture has begun. The agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany ratified in 1971, determined the state of political and legal relations between the states, stabilising the post-war territorial order in this part of Europe.
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