The problems of research into wartime bell losses in Lower Silesia
The problems of research into wartime bell losses in Lower Silesia

Summary/Abstract: Lower Silesia, a historical province of great artistic standing, was an area of massive requisitions of historical bells during both World Wars. Following World War II, the region experienced additional losses as a result of repeated unregulated transports to Poland’s interior, and in the early period also to the Soviet Union.The aim of the article is an attempt to respond to the current state of knowledge regarding the loss of bells in Lower Silesia, particularly highlighting certain obstacles associated with potential research.The author contends that despite the passage of 80 years since the end of World War II, Lower Silesia has not received a comprehensive investigation on losses and current state of possession. The article attempts to formulate a postulate to carry out extensive research on bell losses and the current state of possession in the area under discussion. The importance of this region, as well as the extent of losses, especially in the 20th century, appear to be among the primary justifications in support of addressing the situation at hand in a comprehensive way.According to the catalog published in 2011, which lists bells that survived requisitions during World War II and as a result of post-war decisions, they were mostly disposed of in the territory of the later Federal Republic of Germany. The catalog became the basis for further detailed studies on this issue, not only in the context of Polish-German relations after World War II, but also as a stimulus for material research and the search for specific sources and missing objects.

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