Polish students in Breslau – the “Silesia Superior” society of Upper Silesian academics (1924–1939)
“Silesia Superior” Polish student society – Breslau / State Secret Police in Oppeln
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State Archive in Opole/Archiwum Państwowe w Opolu, Signature: 45/56/0/7.23/12816
After passing an exam and completing a course of education, the members of “Silesia Superior” became “Old Gentlemen”. The first Polish doctor to join the group was Maksymilian Kośny, who was granted membership in 1932. His fate, like that of many other Polish students at the University of Breslau, illustrates his determination and commitment to the Polish community, while at the same time pursuing his own goals. In later years, many members of “Silesia Superior” worked actively to further the Polish cause. Some of them died under tragic circumstances. It is worth remembering the life stories of at least some of these individuals:
- Ludwik Affa – born in Ratibor (Racibórz) in 1910, law student. Member of the Union of Poles in Germany, founder and chair of the “Piast” academic society. After the war, named local administrator in Olesno by voivod Aleksander Zawadzki, member of the PPS, lawmaker.
- Ignacy Cebula – born in Groß Pramsen (Prężyna) in 1898, law student. Member of the Union of Poles in Germany. He was arrested in Berlin in 1939 and died in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.
- Leon Chodera – born in Nowa Świeta in 1917, medical student. After the war, he worked at the railway hospital in Poznań.
- Leon Głogowski – born in Gleiwitz (Gliwice) in 1908, medical student. Member of the Union of Poles in Germany, contact person during the Third Silesian Uprising. He gained his doctorate in 1938. During the war, he was imprisoned in Auschwitz. After the war, he worked as a doctor. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.
- Franciszek Gralla – born in Gleiwitz (Gliwice) in 1905, medical student. Member of the Union of Poles in Germany, doctor, prisoner of Auschwitz. He died during the evacuation in 1945.
- Marian Horst – born in Zakrzewo in 1917, medical student. Member of the Union of Poles in Germany and the “Harmonia” singing society. Participant in the Congress of Poles in Germany, 1938. He obtained his doctorate in 1950. Director of the City Hospital in Piła, President of the Polish Medical Association.
- Franciszek Jankowski – born in Bottrop in 1908, student of modern philology. Member of the Union of Poles in Germany, teacher, member of the Berlin editorial board of “Mały Polak w Niemczech”, organiser and director of the First State Grammar School and the Secondary School in Wrocław (opened in September 1945).
- Tadeusz Kania – born in Alt Schalkowitz (Stare Siołkowice) in 1906, medical student. He defended his doctoral thesis in 1938. Member of the administrative council of the Polish House in Breslau and member of the society for the promotion of the sciences (Towarzystwo Naukowej Pomocy). Prisoner in the Buchenwald concentration camp. After the war, he opened a district hospital in Siołkowice.
- Augustyn Kośny – born in Chrosczütz (Chrościce) in 1896, medical student. Soldier in the army under Gen. Haller. Member of the Union of Poles in Germany. Editor and journalist for “Katolik” and “Nowiny Codzienne”. In 1935, he obtained his doctorate at the University of Berlin. From 1937, he was an active member of the local Polish community. He was posthumously awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.
- Maksymilian Kośny – born in Chrosczütz (Chrościce) in 1905, medical student. Member of the Union of Poles in Germany. In 1934, he obtained his doctorate at the University of Leipzig. After the war, he worked as a doctor in Poland.
- Lutosława Malczewska – born in Breslau in 1914, student of English and German philology. During her period of study (1935–1939), she was the only female Polish student in Breslau. Member of the Union of Poles in Germany, an active member of “Sokół” and of the “Harmonia” choir. During the Second World War, she secretly gave lessons. After the war, she worked as a journalist and was actively involved in public life.