Museum of Silesian Uprisings - Świętochłowice

 

Written on 2 May 2016.

Why exactly did I mark this text with a date? Why is it used?

 

I realized that the night from 2 to 3 May is 95 anniversary of the outbreak of the Third Silesian Uprising. This is the most important of the three uprisings. It resulted in granting Poland a much larger part of Silesia than they originally planned after the plebiscite conducted on 20.03.1921 in which the majority of the Silesian residents (59.4%) opted for leaving Silesia in Germany.

 

But it is not my intention to give you the lecture on history. On the other hand, you will not be able to get to know and fully understand Silesia without knowing the history of uprisings, their processes, causes of outbreak. It was a completely different formation than outbreaks of independence in the nineteenth century, not to mention the Warsaw Uprising.

 

I usually only suggest people to explore this beautiful land, but this time I will make a clear statement: Museum of Silesian Uprisings in Świętochłowice is a mandatory place to visit!!! You can find there a piece of the history of our homeland. Get to know the events about which most of us know far too little. Oh! How complicated were those days. So much conflicting emotions, opposing views, the conflict on the line Korfanty - Piłsudski was getting bigger and bigger. By the way, the two monuments dedicated to the above-mentioned men (Korfanty and Piłsudski) are “looking at each other' reluctantly from the pedestals that are located in front of the building of the Silesian Parliament in Katowice. You should have a look at it, too. It is max. 5 minutes walking from the hostel. I know that it is so comfy inside so that you may not want to go out sometimes… But at the end of a day, you have not come there to stay all day long in the hostel.

 

We are standing in front of a renovated building from 1907. It was designed by Emil and George Zillmann (the same people who designed the settlements in the Giszowiec and Nikiszowiec).

 

Until the year 1939 the Local Governement of Świętochłowice was located in the building and during the occupation - the Schutzpolizei post. Until the year 1999, when the building got burned in the New Year's Eve, militia had its headquarters there, and after the year 1989 the police had. Who had seen the decaying ruins, could not believe their eyes, how big changes were made. We are going inside. The exhibition is impressive. That is the building of the XXI century level. Multimedia effects make us move to the reality of the 1920s. Virtual guide leads us through the rooms and floors. Each floor is devoted to different uprising. One can listen to the uprising songs from hidden speakers. We are having a look at the mock-up models, virtual plans of the skirmishes and battles, including the most important one - the battle of Annaberg (St. Anne's Mountain). We are having a ride in the uprising tram. We are in a different historical rooms, e.g. a classroom transformed into the plebiscite place, we can stop in front of the press kiosk, where we are welcomed by a virtual salesperson. But above all, knowing the heroism of the insurgents, the tragedies of orphaned children - all of it has influenced the Silesian ethos. I am not skilled enough to describe all the curiosities of this exhibition. I look up to its authors.

 

After such a brief summary, we are a bit tired. Please do not worry. Your hosts predicted everything. We are going down to the basement to a small cafe and there ... everyone will find something delicious for themselves. We have time to ponder on everything we have experience there and perceive differently the history of this land and its inhabitants. It was worthy visiting this place, wasn’t it?

 

MUSEUM of the Silesian Uprisings

 

Victor Polak Street 1 41-600 Świętochłowice

Telephone number: 32 245 23 88 (booking the tickets).

 

OPENING HOURS

Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 9.00 - 17.00

Thu: 9.00 - 18.00

Sat, Sun: 12.00 - 17.00

On the last Thursday of the month museum is closed - technical day

 

PRICE LIST

Normal ticket 10 PLN

Discounts (pupils, students with ID, seniors) 6 PLN

Family ticket (3 - 6 people) 20 PLN

Group ticket (10 people) 5 PLN per person, Guided tours 20 PLN (please call in advance to appoint).

On Sunday admission is free.

Our clients have discounts ...

M13 Wygodne Spanie
Mariacka 13, 40-001 Katowice

+48 793 278 926

Comfortable sleeping in Katowice!

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