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シレジアにおけるドイツ系住民の「追放」の歴史的前提

Historical preconditions of the "Expulsion of Germans" in Silesia

Japanese (日本語)

国際文化学研究 : 神戸大学大学院国際文化学研究科紀要

63

137*-170*

神戸大学大学院国際文化学研究科

2025-03

This paper aims to examine the historical preconditions closely related to the "expulsion of Germans" in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in Silesia, after World War II. As a foundational study, it explores the following factors: (1) Nazi Germany's occupation policies in Poland, (2) the postwar territorial settlement and Polish border issues, (3) international agreements on the migration of German populations, and (4) the Polish government's policies. (1) Nazi Germany's ethnic and racial policies in occupied territories significantly influenced the post-1945 "expulsion" of German populations from eastern territories. Individuals registered on the "Deutsche Volksliste" (German People's List) during the Nazi era were subjected to reassessment under the Polish administration after the war, resulting in fluctuating national identities between Polish and German. This suggests that the "expulsion" was not merely a straightforward removal of "Germans," but a complex process intertwined with the reconfiguration of postwar Polish society. (2) The Polish question was a recurring topic during Allied conferences at Tehran, Yalta, and Potsdam. Ultimately, the Oder-Neisse line was approved as a provisional border at Stalin's insistence. While disagreements persisted among the Allied leaders regarding the choice between the "Eastern" and "Western" Neisse rivers as the border near Silesia, the Western Neisse was confirmed as the boundary during the Potsdam Conference. (3) The Potsdam Conference also addressed the transfer of German populations, stipulating that it should occur "in an orderly and humane manner." This approach reflected the positive view of ethnic migration rooted in the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne. Winston Churchill and others endorsed the migration of Germans, viewing the Treaty of Lausanne as a model example. (4) The Polish Committee of National Liberation (Polski Komitet Wyzwolenia Narodowego ) issued a decree in August 1944 declaring that "Germans" had forfeited their nationality and were "obliged to leave Polish territory," providing a legal basis for forced migration. However, the decree's definition of "German nationality" was vague, leading to subsequent disputes over the classification of "Germans" and "Poles." At a Polish government meeting in February 1945, the "export" of German inhabitants from the "Western Territories," including Silesia, was discussed as a given, driven by a desire for retribution. Nevertheless, fundamental uncertainties regarding nationality screening remained unresolved, as highlighted by Michał Kaczorowski's comments. The ambiguity of national identity among Silesian inhabitants posed ongoing challenges in determining "who is Polish and who is not."

Oder-Neisse line

紀要論文