# Upper Silesia plebiscite (1921)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1921-upper-silesia-plebiscite
Location: Upper Silesia

In the Upper Silesia plebiscite about 60 percent voted for Germany, though many districts had Polish majorities. Within the broader World War I & Independence period: The First World War destroyed the partitioning empires. Poland regained independence in November 1918 and fought for its borders in a series of wars and uprisings until 1921. At this point in the timeline (20 March 1921), the governing authority was Józef Piłsudski (Chief of State). Architect of independence and Chief of State; after the 1926 coup he remained Poland's dominant figure until his death in 1935. Upper Silesia plebiscite mattered because it altered the structure of power and the direction of Polish statehood. The event is placed here so readers can follow it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion and culture across Polish history.

## Why it matters
Upper Silesia plebiscite mattered because it altered the structure of power and the direction of Polish statehood.

Ruler at the time: [Józef Piłsudski](https://poland-history.com/rulers/jozef-pilsudski)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — 1921 Upper Silesia plebiscite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1921_Upper_Silesia_plebiscite)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Upper Silesia plebiscite](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Upper+Silesia+plebiscite)
- [Wikipedia — History of Poland during World War I (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland_during_World_War_I)