Oberschlesisches Landesmuseum - Wir beleben Zusammenarbeit

The permanent exhibition broaches the issue of Upper-Silesias culture and history. Pictures from Upper-Silesia printed on textile accompany the way upstairs. They are chosen in intention to show the three main topics of the permanent exhibition.

1. “Upper-Silesia before Industrialisation”,
2. “Upper-Silesia and Industry”,
3. “Upper-Silesia in 20th Century Politics”.

Arriving the anteroom of the permanent exhibition, an overview of all three parts, which open themselves like stages in the eye of the observer, is given. Partitions like bright intermediate walls, glas, metal and textile, present the objects, as well as dedicated showcases. The interior designer Bernhard Denkinger from Vienna well accentuated the evidence with regard to content, given by the Museum, as well as the objects, with his composition. Additionally the volitional impression of transparency, openness and soberness is communicated, which avoids emotions in favour of historic enlightenment.

The principals and basics of the permanent exhibition, especially the origin of the collection, are exposed in a “prologue”: In a bigger part it persists of foundations of Upper-Silesians, who gave their remembrance-objects to the Upper-Silesian Provincial Museum, in purpose to let Upper-Silesia not become forgotten. In the permanent exhibition memories are processed to a cultural historical illustration.

The first part of the exhibition is about culture and history of upper-Silesia before industrialisation. The central point is the German-judicial settlement since the 13th century, which influenced towns as well as rural areas. It was determined by the Silesian Piasts, a byline of the Polish royal dynasty. Shortly they affiliated to the kingdom of Bohemia, whereby Upper-Silesia became a member of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation since the middle of 14^th century. The House of Habsburg became inheritor of Bohemia. In the 18^th century the Prussian king Friedrich II. conquered the largest part of Silesia. Only a small part of Upper-Silesia stayed in possession of Austria.

The second part is concerned with industrial history of Upper-Silesia, especially with mining as well as extractive metallurgy and metal working. In this context parallels to the Ruhr-area become possible. The carriers of the industrial development are introduced – at first the gentry as an especialness of Upper-Silesian industry – then the Prussian state, civil entrepreneuers and increasingly stock corporations. Historic industry-views show how mining and industry developed and how they were recognized. The importance of the rail as mean of transport to the markets and as employer for the industry is showed up. Agriculture and its connection to the industry is also depicted. Impressions of the working environment and hints to social problems are following. Deeply sensed popular piety, as well as domains like family life, school, clubs and sociability, which become visible in typical credentials, belonged to Upper-Silesian every day life – also in industrial society.

In the third part it is pictured, how Upper-Silesia came in the area of conflict of international politics: as bone of contention between Germany and Poland, as theatre of the German attack on PolandAuschwitz in the province, extended by annexation. This led to escape, displacement and later evacuation of many inhabitans, connected to the problem of their integration in the west. Some documents of life, assembled by typical vitas, show, how happenings of times interfered fates of people. The exhibition ends with a forecast, which hopefully expects a peaceful cohabitance of Germans, who remained in Upper-Silesia, and Poles in a merging Europe.
and the unleashing of World War II and as theatre of Nazi crimes in
An own area is dedicated to the poet Joseph von Eichendorff (1788 – 1857). There the collection of the Eichendorff-Society e.V., which is located in the house, an extensive insight into his life and work, as well as to his impact until today.

The exhibition, essentially built-on chronological, is usable with systematic and comparative questions – for example in museum educational access -  as topics like “migration“, “home“ and ”ethnic cleansing”, ”foreigners”, ”comparative  industrial history”.