German Catholics as a Minority in the Catholic Church of Polish Silesia after 1945
German Catholics as a Minority in the Catholic Church of Polish Silesia after 1945

Summary/Abstract: The article outlines the situation of the German Catholics who lived as a minority in the Catholic Church of Polish Silesia after 1945. Germans had lived in the historical region of Silesia since the Middle Ages, and they were Christians with a strong relationship with their Catholic Church. After the Reformation in the sixteenth century many became Lutherans, but a number remained within the Catholic faith. The downfall of the Third Reich had significant consequences for many Germans in Silesia, who were expelled or forced to emigrate from the newly risen Poland. A small minority remained in Polish Silesia and found further trust in the Catholic Church in of their difficult situation. The article provides an overview of the period from 1945 to 1989 and gives a brief look at contemporary developments.

• Details
• Contents