Oberschlesien

Oberschlesien, known in English as Upper Silesia, is a historic region in Central Europe that lies in the southwestern part of the historic Silesia. Today it is mainly in Poland, with small parts extending into the Czech Republic. The region centers on the dense industrial belt around Katowice and includes several cities in the Silesian and Opole Voivodeships. It is part of the broader Upper Silesian Industrial Region, one of Europe’s most densely developed industrial areas.

Historically, Oberschlesien formed part of the Piast-ruled Polish state, then came under the Crown of Bohemia in 1335, and later under Habsburg rule. In 1742, much of Upper Silesia was seized by Prussia during the Silesian Wars and subsequently became part of the German Empire in 1871. After World War I, a plebiscite in 1921 split the region between Poland and Germany, with the Polish portion containing much of the coal mining and industry. The area was annexed by Germany again during World War II (1938–1945) and, after the war, borders shifted westward. The Polish state repopulated areas that had been German-speaking, and the region was reorganized administratively in the postwar period.

In contemporary terms, Oberschlesien is a historical designation rather than an official administrative unit. In present-day Poland, the historic region spans parts of the Silesian and Opole Voivodeships, continuing to be a major center of industry, mining, and urbanization. The region retains a mixed cultural heritage influenced by Polish, German, and Silesian traditions, and the Silesian language/dialect is recognized as a regional language in parts of the area.