INFLUENCE OF THE GERMAN PROTESTANT WORK ETHIC ON THE FORMATION OF THE SILESIAN WORK ETHOS

The most important factor in theorising of the Silesian work ethos was the German Protestant work ethic. Firstly, the article presents a socio-economic situation in Upper Silesia in the second half of the nineteenth century. The development of industry and the influx of German population and its role in the industrial development of Silesia, which resulted in the transfer of both German work patterns, sand their accompanying values into Silesia. The article ends with a conclusion stating that the impact of the German Protestant work ethic led to the creation and consolidation of such characteristics of the population of Silesia as diligence, conscientiousness, work discipline, obedience, order and thriftiness. This influence continued even after Poland regained a large part of the Upper Silesia.