UPPER SILESIA- GORNY SLASK

Under the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, an Inter-Allied Commission was set up to administer a plebiscite in Upper Silesia following the First World War.  The 4 designated powers were England, France, Italy and the United States.  Each of these countries sent soldiers to occupy the region, which was the scene of fighting between German and Polish (and some Czech) insurgents.  There were two Polish uprisings against the Germans before the plebiscite.  The plebiscite of March 20, 1921 proved inconclusive and the Allied Commission divided the territory based on the vote.  A third Polish uprising occurred after the vote.  It was later discovered that the Germans had brought in thousands of people from Germany to participate in the plebiscite, most of them returning to Germany after the vote.

Issued under the Inter-Allied Commission Occupation after World War One.  The stamp on the left is from a series of 9 issued in 1920.  2 1/2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 50 (shown) pfenig, 1 and 5 mark.
The other two are from a series of 17:  2 1/2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40 pfenig in the smaller size shown in the middle; 50, 60, 75, 80 pfenig, 1, 2, 3, and 5 mark in the larger size shown on the right.  The middle and right stamps were also issued with a Plebiscite overprint.  All the above stamps were also issued with surcharges.  The stamps above were printed in Paris.

"Commission of Government Haute Silesie" (CGHS) overprint on Official German Stamps.
1920.  20 different stamps in this series.

(Simulated overprint)
The French Administration in Opole (Oppeln) used a CIHS overprint on German stamps as official postage.  Original stamps with this overprint are rare and are often forged.


Stamps of this type (un-authorized by the Inter-Allied Commission) were issued privately by the Polish Insurgents during the 3rd Silesian Uprising against the Germans, early May, 1921.  Known sometimes as the KORFANTY issue.  Wojciech KORFANTY (1873-1939)  led the Polish Insurgents and became acting head of the Upper Silesian Government.  Some stamps were reputedly used for postage, particularly for internal and official mail of Korfanty's government.
Values issued in this series: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 fenigow and 1 marek.

One of a series of 7 labels issued by German insurgents.  These were never recognized as legitimate postage.  The labels, which resemble Polish stamps,  are counterfeits. They were intended to cause confusion during the dispute.  The overprint claims that the stamp is recognized by Germany.  Printed in various colours that approximate the colours of the Polish originals.


1922-23:  A set issued in Poland to commemorate the incorporation of parts of Upper Silesia into Poland.  The lower value stamps in fenig resemble the 1919 issues, but the colours are different.  The 1 mark and above show a coal miner.  5, 10, 20, 40, 50 and 75 fenig, 1, 1.25, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 20, 50, 80, 100, 200 and 300 marek in this series.


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