Participation of youth from Lesser Poland and Cieszyn Silesia in the fight for the Cieszyn Region and in Silesian Uprisings in the years 1919–1921

The article describes the participation of youth from Lesser Poland and Cieszyn Silesia in the fight for the Cieszyn Region and in Silesian Uprisings in the years 1919–1921. Already in November 1918, Polish youth joined Polish military formations in Cieszyn Silesia, and then in January 1919 they took part in the fights with the Czechs for these lands. Later, together with young people from other regions of Lesser Poland, they took part in the fight for Lviv. Subsequent Silesian uprisings were supported by young inhabitants of the whole of Lesser Poland, both through participation in the propaganda campaign, as well as in bloody fights and guard duty at the border. A number of them died, and their heroic deeds are evidenced by the battle decorations awarded to them. Faithful to the idea of fighting for independence, they took part in taking over power in the Polish lands, and then joined the ranks of defenders of these lands in large numbers and contributed to shaping the borders of the Second Polish Republic.