Are Silesian really Poles ?

[Mordid]

I have a silesian root and i want to know about silesian history because i'm quite interesting and i want get to know my silesian root.
Anyway i've heard that they dont consider themselve as Pole or German but Silesian. Can i ask why's that ? is it because they are culturally mixed and racially mixed ? Which tribe were the first settle in Silesia ?

Come one people
I want an answer.

[W. R.]

I'd like to ask the same question about Kashubians.

Subjectively I take Silesians as Poles and Kashubians as non-Poles.

[Mordid]

Subjectively I take Silesians as Poles.

Why so ?
Most Silesian dont consider themself as Poles or German but Silesian.
I think it'd be offensive if you say to Silesian person that Silesian are Pole.

[MagnaLaurentia]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silesian_people

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashubians

It seems that these people are the result of a mixture of Germanic (German and Prussian?) and Slavic (Polish and Czech). (but mainly Slavic)

[kwp_wp]

I'd like to ask the same question about Kashubians.

Subjectively I take Silesians as Poles and Kashubians as non-Poles.

I must disagree. If i had to choose between them I would be more inclined toward Silesian to identify themself more with Germans than Kashubians do. I live in Kashubian Region so it's based on my empiric experience and knowlegde. It doesn't mean that all Silesian are consider themselves as a German but it would be easier to find some Silesians who feel strong sentiment to Germany through their family pedigree.
But it's a typical subjective matter which we can't generalize at all IMO
The point is that both ethnicities mentioned above are descendants of Slavic tribes and lingualistically they're Slavic as well because both languages (Kashubians and Silesians) belongs to the West Slavic group.
Culturaly - it's a matter of personal family heritage. Some of the people have more tight connections with Germany, others with Poland.

Why so ?
Most Silesian dont consider themself as Poles or German but Silesian.
I think it'd be offensive if you say to Silesian person that Silesian are Pole.

As I said this is their personal choice. And I don't think word "offensive" is a proper one in field of someone's ethnicity. You can be offended by someone who'll call you ugly or stupid but not when call you a Pole or a German or a Silesian or even Mongolian if you really are one.

[Loddfafner]

I have one line of ancestors who left Silesia for Sweden in the XVIIth century. From what I understand, urban craftsmen were mostly German while the peasants were part of a Slavic continuum in between Poles, Czechs, and Sorbs. My own ancestors were most likely German. Those who left a trace in the historical record were clerics (deliberate pun on church clerics and 'clerical workers' as one went on to become the accountant at Marborg Castle) but their surnames refer to trades. Religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants seems to account for their dispersal.

[lei.talk]

the only self-described silesian
of my acquaintance
(her grand-parents fled their hereditary estate
in upper silesia during the last war)

would be quietly astonished
at any one miss-taking her for a polka.

the single elevated eye-brow
speaks volumes.

[Albion]

Yes.

We can't keep tearing apart countries based on the slightest of regional divisions.

[Mordid]

Fuck you Albion for bumping my old thread. I've learned so far that Silesians are Poles, so you don't need to answer my question.

[Albion]

Fuck you Albion for bumping my old thread. I've learned so far that Silesians are Poles, so you don't need to answer my question.

Sorry. Just a lot of crap threads on here at the moment so I'm digging through the archives.