Historyczne podstawy świadomości narodowej Ślązaków

Abstract

The article describes the issue of historical and cultural conditions under which the national awareness of Silesians have developed. Being severed from the Polish state and direct interaction with the Polish culture for nearly six hundred years, Silesians have consolidated as a regional group whose identity, to a large extent, have been established in opposition to the German culture being imposed on them. In defense against germanization that intensified in the 19th century, a Polish patriotic movement was born in Upper Silesia region referring to values cherished particularly in traditional Silesian families. Catholicism played a crucial role there since it guaranteed a spiritual contact with Poland. Moreover, apart from its pastoral function, the Church also played a role of one and only public place where you could hear a mother tongue and Polish songs and prayers. A sense of a bond with Poland ensuing from common history was a vital fundament of Silesians’ national identification which was maintained by reference to the Piast reign, thus mythologizing that period as a time of common happiness and national unity. What is more, a native dialect the Silesians were using on daily basis played a very significant role. Despite German borrowings, which were quite widespread already in the 19th century, the Silesian dialect was treated as a mother tongue. Although it differed slightly from the standard Polish, it still had a lot in common with it. Currently, all the above-mentioned three vital elements of the Silesian identity are still functioning. Nevertheless, it seems that the most essential role is now being attributed to the dialect, which is being attempted to be awarded the status of a regional language.