Border conflicts between Poland and Czechoslovakia started in 1918 between the two newly independent countries of Poland (Second Polish Republic) and Czechoslovakia. They were centered around the disputed Cieszyn Silesia, Orava Territory, Spiš, Klodzkie Territory and Racibórz Territory . The conflicts diminished after 1938 and were finally settled in 1956 in a diplomatic treaty between the People's Republic of Poland and Czechoslovakia.

Czechoslovak-Polish war of 1919

After the First World War, a territorial dispute between Poland and Czechoslovakia erupted over Teschen area in Silesia. Both countries had agreed borders after collapse of Austro-Hungarian Empire but neither country upheld the agreement.

In November 1918 Poland occupied disputed territory. Czechoslovakia requested immediate withdrawal. This was not accepted and during the short military confrontation from January 23 to February 5 1919 Czechoslovakian troops gained the advantage. Poland could not spare any more troops to the border area, as it was fighting for its very survival in the Polish-Soviet war. Czechoslovakia was denounced by Allied so both countries, Czechoslovakia and Poland, were forced to sign new demarcation line. Final definition of borders was agreed in July 28 1920, giving western part of disputed terrritories to Czechoslovakia, while Poland received the eastern section.

Aftermath

Parts of the disputed territory were reannexed by Poland in 1938, and occupied by Germany in 1939 after their invasion of Poland and the begining of the Second World War. After 1945 the border between Poland and Czechoslovakia was returned to the line of 1920. On the 13 June 1958 in Warsaw both countries signed a treaty confirming the border on the line of 1 January 1938 and since then there have been no conflicts regarding this matter.

See also

• History of Cieszyn and Tesin
• History of Czechoslovakia
• History of Poland
• Spiš treats all the border conflicts on the territory of present-day Slovakia
• Zaolzie