Historia lokalna i tożsamość. Przykład miast dolnośląskich
Local history and identity. Examples of Lower Silesian cities

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to investigate what role was played by referring to the local history in the space of Lower Silesian towns in shaping the identity of their inhabitants. To what degree a “mental map” in people living in these towns, built based on these suggestions, could incorporate the issues and threads from local history both before and after 1945? As a study sample to draw conclusions, three cities and towns have been chosen: 1) the capital of the region and its only metropolis (Wrocław); 2) a middle-sized county (powiat) seat having rich history with many supraregional themes (Oleśnica); 3) a small town of only local significance and regional influence in the past (Świerzawa). An analysis of the names of streets, monuments as well as of policies and declarations issued by the self-government entities and activities undertaken by the inhabitants themselves indicate that both in the town space and in the identity of the inhabitants, references to the past of the nation dominate. The situation is different in Wrocław, capital city of the region, where the inhabitants’ identity has been built on pride in the past glory of the town – both before and after 1945. Such strong emphasis on local history both regarding city space and the inhabitants’ identity in Wrocław was a result of a deliberate decision of the self-government authorities after 1989 – but despite the significance of Wrocław within the region such policy hasn’t lastingly influenced the politics of history and memory in smaller towns in Lower Silesia.

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