Polish minority in the Czech Republic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Poles |
|---|
| Total population |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Zaolzie:[4] 37,117 (2001 census) |
| Languages |
| Cieszyn Silesian dialect, Polish and Czech |
| Religions |
| Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Atheist |
| Related ethnic groups |
| Poles and Czechs |
Polish minority in the Czech Republic (Polish: Polska mniejszość narodowa/narodowościowa w Republice Czeskiej, Czech: Polská národní/národnostní menšina v České republice) is a Polish national minority living mainly in Zaolzie territory. The Polish community is the only national (or ethnic) minority in the Czech Republic that is linked to a specific geographical area.[5] Zaolzie is located in northeastern part of the country. It comprises Karviná District and the eastern part of Frýdek-Místek District. Poles living in other regions of the Czech Republic are also in large part from Zaolzie.
Contents |
[edit] History
Historically, the largest ethnic group inhabiting this area were the Poles.[6] 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 Poles became a minority, which they are to this day.
From 1848 national consciousness of local people grew and from 1848 to the end of the 19th century, local Polish and Czech people co-operated, united against the Germanizing tendencies of the Austrian Empire and later of Austria-Hungary.[7] Various Polish clubs have been founded. Most of schools were Polish, followed by German and Czech.[8] At the end of the century, ethnic tensions appeared as the area's economic significance grew. This growth caused an immigration wave from Galicia. About 60,000 people arrived between 1880 and 1910.[9] The new immigrants were Polish and poor, about half of them being illiterate. They worked in coal mining and metallurgy. For these people the most important factor was material well-being; they cared little about the homeland from which they had fled. Almost all of them assimilated into the Czech population.[10] Social structure of the territory was following: Germans were economically strongest, most of owners were German, Czechs were mostly clerks and other officials and Poles were mostly workers, miners and metallurgists.[11] This structure had changed over time but still in 1921 it was practically the same. 61,5% of Poles worked as workers.[12]
[edit] Decision time (1918-1920)
There was a very tense climate in 1918-1920 when it was a time of decision. It was decided that a plebiscite would be held in the area asking people which country this territory should join. Plebiscite commissioners arrived there at the end of January 1920 and after analyzing the situation declared a state of emergency in the territory on 19 May 1920. The situation on the territory remained very tense. Mutual intimidation, acts of terror, beatings and even killings affected the area.[13] A plebiscite could not be held in this atmosphere. On 10 July both sides renounced the idea of plebiscite and entrusted the Conference of Ambassadors with the decision.[14] Eventually 58.1% of the area of Cieszyn Silesia and 67.9% of the population was taken over by Czechoslovakia on 28 July 1920 by a decision of the Spa Conference.[14] This division practically created Zaolzie.
[edit] In Czechoslovakia (1920-1938)
The local Polish population felt that Warsaw had betrayed them and they were not satisfied with the division of Cieszyn Silesia. It is not quite clear how many Poles were in Zaolzie in Czechoslovakia. Estimates range from 110,000 to 140,000 people in 1921.[15] The 1921 and 1930 census numbers are not accurate since nationality depended on self-declaration and many Poles filled in 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 reality in Zaolzie was quite different. 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.[16] 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 for the period around 1920 receded and local Poles increasingly co-operated with Czechs. Still, Czechization was enforced by Prague, which did not follow certain laws related to language, legislative and organizational issues.[17]
[edit] In Poland (1938-1939)
On 1 October 1938 Zaolzie was annexed by Poland following the Munich Conference.[18] The Polish Army, commanded by General Władysław Bortnowski, annexed an area of 801.5 km² with a population of 227,399 people. The Polish side argued that Poles in Zaolzie deserved the same rights as Germans in the Munich Agreement. The vast majority of the local Polish population enthusiastically welcomed the change, seeing it as a liberation and a form of historical justice.[19] But they quickly changed their mood. The new Polish authorities appointed people from Poland to various positions from which Czechs were fired. The Polish language became the sole official language. Rapid Polonization followed. Czech organizations were dismantled and their activity was prohibited. Czech education ceased to exist.[20] About 35,000 Czechs emigrated to Czechoslovakia by choice or forcibly.[21] The behaviour of the new Polish authorities was similar to that of the Czech ones before 1938. Two political factions appeared: socialists (the opposition) and rightists (loyal to the new authorities). Leftist politicians and sympathizers were discriminated against and often fired from work.[22] The Polish political system was artificially implemented in Zaolzie. Local Polish people continued to feel like second-class citizens and a majority of them were dissatisfied with the situation after October 1938.[23] Zaolzie remained a part of Poland for only 11 months.
[edit] World War II
During the war, strong Germanization was introduced by the Nazi authorities. The Jews were in the worst position, followed by the Poles.[24] Poles received lower food rations, they were supposed to pay extra taxes, they were not allowed to enter theatres, cinemas, etc.[24] Polish and Czech education ceased to exist, Polish organizations were dismantled and their activity was prohibited. The Nazis especially targeted the Polish intelligentsia and many functionaries died during the war. The German authorities introduced terror into Zaolzie. Mass killings, executions, arrests, taking locals to forced labour and deportations to concentration camps all happened on a daily basis.[24] The most notorious war crime was a murder of 36 villagers in and around Żywocice on 6 August 1944. Most of the victims were Poles.[25] This massacre is known as Tragedia Żywocicka (the Żywocice tragedy). The resistance movement, mostly comprised of Poles, was fairly strong in Zaolzie. Volkslists were introduced. (A Volksliste was a document introduced by the Nazi authorities; a non-German citizen declared that he had some German ancestry by signing it. Refusal to sign this document could lead to deportation to a concentration camp.) Local people who took them were later on enrolled in the Wehrmacht. Many local people with no German ancestry were also forced to take them. The World War II death toll in Zaolzie is estimated at about 6000 people: about 2500 Jews, 2000 other citizens (80% of them being Poles)[26] and more than 1000 locals who died in the Wehrmacht (those who took the Volksliste). Also a few hundreds Poles from Zaolzie were murdered by Russians in the Katyń massacre. Percentage-wise, Zaolzie suffered the worst human loss from the whole of Czechoslovakia– about 2.6% of the total population.[26]
[edit] Since 1945 and during the Communist Era (1948-1989)
Immediately after World War II, Zaolzie was returned to Czechoslovakia within its 1920 borders, although local Poles hoped it would again be given to Poland.[27] The local Polish population again suffered discrimination, as many Czechs blamed them for the discrimination by the Polish authorities in 1938-1939.[28] Polish organizations were banned, and Czech authorities made many arrests and firings from work.[29] Polish properties stolen by the Germans during the war were never returned. Communist Party of Czechoslovakia was the only political party defending the rights of the Polish minority.[30] In the 1946 elections, the majority of Poles voted for communists.[27] In Zaolzie, 51% of elected communist officials were ethnic Poles.[27] The situation had improved somewhat when the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia took the power in February 1948. PZKO (Polish Cultural-Educational Association) was created in 1947. The creation of other Polish organizations was prohibited.[31] It was the only Polish organization representing Polish minority in the communist era, therefore it was under strong influence of the Communist Party. It is still the largest Polish organization with largest membership. 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.[32] These conditions quickened the assimiliation of the Poles. Another cause of assimilation was a high rate of intermarriage.[33] 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.[34] 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, etc. Normalization also affected PZKO. From 1976 the law recommended the introduction of bilingual signs in some municipalities. Being only a recommended measure, it was not implemented.
[edit] Present times
After the Velvet Revolution of 1989, under democratic conditions, Polish organizations were quickly created. Rada Polaków (Council of the Poles) was created in 1990. The founders of the Council argued that PZKO was not fulfilling its function of representing the Poles.[35] The organization was renamed "Kongres Polaków" (Congress of the Poles) in 1991. It is the main body representing the Polish minority in negotiations with the Czech government, etc. The border between Poland and Czechoslovakia was opened in mid-1991.[36]
[edit] Language and culture
The primary language of the Polish population in Zaolzie 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.[5] It is also used by some local Czechs. Local Poles also feel a strong regional identity.[37] In the Zaolzie region, a few church services are conducted in Polish. 90% of worshipers among the Polish secondary school students are reported to pray in Polish.[5]
Concerning literature, there is a great variety of authors, genres and editions produced in Polish. For traditional music, many groups (e.g. Olza) are united in the association Ars Musica. Pop and rock bands include Glayzy, Glider, P-metoda, Apatheia and other groups. Těšín Theatre in Czeski Cieszyn (Český Těšín) has a Polish ensemble. It is the only professional Polish theatre abroad.[38]
There is a 15-minute daily radio broadcast in Polish by Czech Radio Ostrava. Czech TV has been broadcasting in Polish for 10 minutes a week since September 2003; TV programmes from Poland can also be received. In 2003, Czech Television’s studio in Ostrava launched a regular 5-minute news and current affairs weekly in Polish. The broadcast was shortened to 4 minutes from 2007, causing outrage in the Polish community.[39] The decision to shorten that already brief broadcast is also in contravention with the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.[40] The largest Polish newspaper in the country is Głos Ludu; the largest magazine is Zwrot.
[edit] Education
The Polish national minority has a network of schools including kindergartens, primary schools, grammar schools and secondary modern schools, with Polish as a language of instruction. A number of teachers have been educated at Polish universities. There are currently 25 Polish primary schools and 3 Polish high schools in Zaolzie, attended by 2,347 students. When including students attending Polish classes in several Czech high schools, the figure comes to 2,430 students. (Data from 12.9.2006)[41] There are also many Polish kindergartens in Zaolzie. Polish education is the only ethnic minority education in the Czech Republic in a complete cycle from kindergarten through high school.
Polish primary schools are functioning in the following towns and villages: Albrechtice, Bukovec, Bystřice, Český Těšín, Český Těšín-Svibice, Dolní Bludovice, Dolní Lomná, Dolní Lutyně, Hnojník, Horní Suchá, Hrádek, Jablunkov, Karviná-Fryštát, Košařiska, Milíkov, Mosty u Jablunkova, Návsí, Oldřichovice, Orlová, Ropice, Stonava, Těrlicko, Třinec I, Třinec VI, Vendryně.
The main and most prestigious Polish high school is the Polish Gymnasium in Český Těšín. It also offers classes in Karviná. 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 far more Polish schools in the area but the number is historically declining along with the demographic drop of the Polish population as a whole.
[edit] 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 was cancelled, thus simplifying whole process.[42] However, only a couple of villages with large Polish minorities have bilingual signs (Vendryně/Wędrynia for instance).
For list of all municipalities with Polish population of at least 10%, see {{Polish municipalities in the Czech Republic}}.
[edit] Demographics
The Polish population is historically declining. There are a few reasons for this: low natural birth rate, assimilation, high intermarriage rate (most of Poles live in mixed relationships) and migration to other parts of the country as a result of job seeking.[37]
| Census | 1921[43] | 1930[44] | 1950[45] | 1961[45] | 1970[46] | 1980[45] | 1991[45] | 2001[47] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poles | 103,521 | 92,689 | 70,816 | 66,540 | 64,074 | 66,123 | 59,383 | 51,968 |
Sources: Šamanová 2005. Siwek 1996, 31-38.
[edit] People
- See also: :Category:Polish-Czech people
[edit] Politicians
- Jerzy Buzek, Prime Minister of Poland
- Andrzej Feber, senator
- Karol Junga, interwar MP
- Karol Śliwka, interwar communist politician, MP
- Leon Wolf, interwar Czechoslovak MP and later senator in Polish senate
[edit] Writers
- Henryk Jasiczek, most important Polish poet of the second half of the 20th century
- Jan Kubisz, poet, author of Płyniesz Olzo po dolinie, unofficial anthem of Poles in Zaolzie
- Gustaw Morcinek
- Józef Ondrusz
- Adam Wawrosz
[edit] Other
- Adam Makowicz, jazz musician
- Tomasz Mendrek, badminton player representing Czechoslovakia at the 1992 Summer Olympics
[edit] See also
- Demographics of the Czech Republic, for other ethnic minorities in the country
- Polonia, for other Polish communities outside Poland
- Zaolzie, for historical background of Zaolzie region
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Czech Statistical Office
- ^ The real number is quite higher since in 2001 census there was a possibility to leave the "nationality" field blank.
- ^ There is also some 80,000-85,000 Czechs with Polish origin, 75,000-80,000 of whom in Zaolzie. (Siwek, not dated.)
- ^ Czech Statistical Office
- ^ a b c European Commission 2006.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 16-17.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 40.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 37.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 48.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 51.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 42.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 73.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 62-63.
- ^ a b Zahradnik 1992, 64.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 148.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 170.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 173.
- ^ a b Siwek, not dated.
- ^ Zahradnik 1992, 147.
- ^ "Bulwersujące!", Głos Ludu, 30 December 2006, pp. 1-2..
- ^ Council of Europe (1992). European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Council of Europe.
- ^ "Stan naszego szkolnictwa". Zwrot 1 (2007): 4-5.
- ^ Kongres Polaków w RC, 29.10.2006
- ^ The 1921 Czechoslovak census asked people about their native language. (Siwek 1996, 32.)
- ^ People could declare a nationality other than that indicated 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.)
- ^ The 2001 Czech census based nationality on self-declaration of citizens. There was a possibility to leave the "nationality" field blank.
[edit] References
[edit] Books
- Siwek, Tadeusz (1996). Česko-polská etnická hranice. Ostrava: Filozofická fakulta Ostravské univerzity. ISBN 80-7042-457-5.
- Zahradnik, Stanisław; and Marek Ryczkowski (1992). Korzenie Zaolzia. Warszawa - Praga - Trzyniec: PAI-press.
- "Zaolzie". Nowa Encyklopedia Powszechna PWN VI. (1997). Warszawa: PWN. ISBN 83-01-11969-1.
[edit] Websites
- European Commission (2006). Polish in the Czech Republic. The Euromosaic study. European Commission.
- Siwek, Tadeusz (not dated). 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.
