Published: 2020-12-29

An impossible story. Karl Okonsky - Berlin born activist of the Polish United Workers' Party and member of the Reichstag

Natalia Klimaschka

Abstract

Karl Okonsky (Karol Okoński) undoubtedly belongs to the circle of the most amazing figures in the post-war history of Upper Silesia. As the editor-in-chief of „Volkswille“ he was regarded during the Plebiscite as the 
best pen fighting for German interests. He was active not only as a journalist but also as a politician. He spoke with passion on the Reichstag forum about the situation in Upper Silesia. He astonished his audience with his aversion to Polish interests, despite his Polish origin. He spoke particularly sharply about Wojciech Korfanty. He was persecuted by the Nazis during World War II. After the borders shift, despite his former German sympathies, he remained in his own home. Although he did not speak Polish enough, he could not only print in the Polish postwar press, but was even an active and recognised activist of the Polish United Workers’ Party, awarded with the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.

Citation rules

Klimaschka, N. (2020). An impossible story. Karl Okonsky - Berlin born activist of the Polish United Workers’ Party and member of the Reichstag. Studia Politicae Universitatis Silesiensis, 31, 95–121. https://doi.org/10.31261/spus.9825

Cited by / Share

Vol. 31 (2020)
Published: 2021-03-31


ISSN: 1895-3492
eISSN: 2353-9747
Ikona DOI 10.31261/spus

Publisher
Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego | University of Silesia Press

This website uses cookies for proper operation, in order to use the portal fully you must accept cookies.