Slovak-Polish relationships in 1938-1947 in the context of border disputes

After World War I Poland demanded a connection to the northern part of the former Kingdom of Hungary (Spis, Orava and Kysuce). This area was also claimed by Czechoslovakia. The regions became the subject of the Czechoslovak-Polish territorial dispute. The Supreme Council decided by plebiscite on the regions of Tesin, Orava and Spis on 28 September 1919. In the end it was not a plebiscite which decided about the controversial territory, but international arbitration. The Conference of Ambassadors decided on dividing Spis and Orava between Poland and Czechoslovakia on 28 July 1920. Most of the inhabitants disagreed with the decision. Another border dispute occurred in 193 8 after the signing of the Munich Agreement, when Poland made a claim not only to other parts of Orava and Spis but also Kysuce. The Slovak-Polish Delimitation Committee was attacked by inhabitants of disputed territory several times, resulting in the Polish army occupying the area. After the beginning of the Second World War all parts of the regions of Spis, Orava and Kysuce became part of Slovakia, as Bratislava collaborated with Berlin. At the end of WWII the border was returned to the pre-Munich position but the situation in the disputed territory was unstable for a long time after 1945.

th century were Polish.The area was temporarily of local self-government councils, the Polish and the Czech the agreement.When the Polish government announced an election for the Polish Parliament within the disputed territory, Prague claimed that the delimitation was only interim and As regards Spiš and Orava, the Czecho-Slovak party responded to the claim with argu--1 The Slovak party, while considering Gorals identity, pointed out the national feeling of Gorals, who, in most cases felt themselves sugar, which were very precious at that time (AMTZ: AR/NO/382, 379, AR/248, 315, 300; Poland initially did not have any territorial demands toward Slovakia, which gained its regarding Goral citizens in Spiš, Orava and Kysuce as Polish, although the majority of them 1 Most Polish historians support this thesis even today and some are trying to provide evidence that in earlier the conference proceedings TRAJDOS, M. Tadeusz (ed.): , 2004, p. 161-172.declared (registered) themselves as Slovakians.They were mostly the associations situated Komitet dla Spisza, Orawy i Czadeckego), which was delivering letters, analyses and memonot to disrupt Polish-Slovakian relations too much.A few days later, under the impression of unsuccesful diplomacy in competition with Germany, Warsaw was tougher and expanded It was not so easy for the common Slovak-Polish delimitation commission to demarcate the annexation of their region to Poland.According to the plans of organizers, the demonstra- 2003: 319-320;Gotkiewicz 1998: 121).
so that the demonstrators could see that the Polish delgates were not inside.In this way, they than send them to Polish schools.Men later joined them and started to threaten the Poles.
-Supporters who considered north Kysuce as part of Poland did not change their attitude the unaware citizens in anti-Polish protests (Gotkiewicz 1998: 117, 130).naire where, aside from other information, they were to express if they were ready to pledge But the majority of the Polish priests left their parishes voluntarily in the autumn of 1939 questions on the questionnaire (AKM: no.33; ASD: no.1509/1940, no.1847-1848/1940, Still, some Polish priests stayed in their parishes, even in 1940.However in March they lowed to move to any part of Slovakia, aside from incorporated areas (AÚPN: no.S-1410).later in 1945-1947 ( 1945: 3).-ings (Garek 2007: 158).New teachers were sent to the territory to control the local schools could to prevent Polish activities.They even tried to protect their area with guns, so there were some clashes with Polish militia (Kwiek 2002: 8).
the Czechoslovak army and police.Another argument was that the inclination of the populademands to the President and Czechoslovakian government representatives.First, on 7 April 1946: 20-21).
The Czechoslovak government considered the issue of northern Spiš and Orava at their territory was stressed (Kwiek 2002: 11).

representative present. Only representatives of local authorities -Powiatowa Rada Narodowa
According to some Polish historians, the sudden handover of controversial territory to Poland was connected with consolidation of Czechoslovak administration in the region of Zaolzie, which was economically more important to the newly restored Czechoslovakia.When the territories of northern Spiš and Orava were returned to Poland, the Czechoslovakian side their villages to Poland.They signed petitions, moved their property to Slovakia, and attacked in summer.On 17 July 1945 the Polish army appeared in northern Spiš and on 14 August - Kwiek 2002: 13, 18-19).
The Czechoslovak side used this situation while negotiating with Polish side mon Slovak-Polish delimitation commission.As the Polish and Czechoslovak armies were 226 km 2 of its territory along with 4,280 citizens to Poland.It concerned the villages of and Skalité in Kysuce.The annexation of new areas of northern Spiš, Orava and part of Kysuce as well as invasion against Poland.Slovak propaganda explained the Slovak participation in the invasion 10; AMTZ, no.AR/306; Baka 2006: 165).
At last, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs pushed In following years in spite of the interventions of Czechoslovak representatives the situation in northern Spiš and Orava was not satisfactory.Even in autumn 1947 local Polish However, Polish agencies were more afraid of reports and other indications suggesting the existence of secret organizations among Slovakian citizens preparing for armed prothe hints (AAN: MAP, no.776, B-1795, 1-2).For a closer look on the course of situation on a territory in issue after 1947 see also: AAN, MAP, no.777, 2