Between ‘Liberation’ and Conquest. The Red Army in Upper Silesia in 1945

The article presents the events accompanying the occupation of Upper Silesia by the Red Army in 1945, with particular emphasis on the actions of the latter which directly affected the inhabitants of this region. In this context, the problem of the division of Upper Silesia into Polish (the Silesian Voivodeship [województwo śląskie]) and German parts (the Opole district [Regierungsbezirk Oppeln]) and the consequences for the civilian population are outlined. The author has attempted to synthesise the phenomenon of terror that ensued when the towns of Upper Silesia were occupied by the Soviet army. The examples include phenomena such as suicides out of fear or terror, the killings and executions of civilians, the rapes of women (including nuns), abuse of victims, internment and deportation to the Soviet Union of males of working age, the disassembly of industrial plants, and the organised and methodical looting of property, and the destruction of builtup areas which took place after the front moved away and the fighting ceased.