WEIMAR GERMANY
POSTCARDS
UPPER SILESIAN PLEBISCITE
(20th Mar 1921)

Much like other plebiscites in the years after the end of the First World War, quite a large number of postcards were published to commemorate the 20th of Mar 1921 Upper Silesian Plebiscite. Under the terms of the Versailles Treaty the region of Upper Silesia, between Germany and Poland, was to determine its own fate in a vote. The region was split about 60/40 in favour of Polish residents and the years leading up to the vote were marked by three violent uprisings as the Poles reacted against alleged German oppression. Despite being policed by units of French, Italian and British police, the Polish forces managed to take over almost 60% of the disputed region. This line of control effectively became the new border as Allied troops were unable to stop the waring German and Polish militias.

Poles and Germans were both permitted to campaign ahead of the vote, each side desiring the region's coal and zinc mines as well as for nationalistic reasons. There was an estimated 2 million inhabitant of the region and almost 1.2 million votes were cast ending with 717,122 votes for Germany and 483,514 for Poland. Following the vote, and fearing they were going to be sold out, the Poles instigated another armed uprising. The issue was handed over to the League of Nations who eventually brought both sides together and gave Poland 1.9 million of the population and Germany 965,000. Despite the lower population, Germany did secure almost 1/3 of the territory and more importantly, 80% of the heavy industry.

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UPPER SILESIAN VOTE

This first card features the mythical GERMANIA ascending on a cloud to the industrial heartland of Upper Silesia as depicted by chimneys belching out smoke. At Germania's feet are two cherubs holding a pot, presumably being used for the storage of voting slips. To the right are two figures holding hands and waving in unity. The string of emblems along the right-hand and bottom edges are the crests of the various cities in the Silesian region.

The inscription on the top of the card is a well-used "Seid Einig-einig-einig", a phrase also found on some pre-war German stamps and translated as 'Be one-one-one'. There is an additional inscription between the two figures which reads "Wir Wollen Sein | ein einig | Volk von | Brudern!" - 'We want to be | a united | People of | Brothers!'