Lower Silesia in the Second World War

Abstract

Silesia had both the fortune of being so distant from the scenes of battle that it was largely exempted from destruction, and the misfortune that when the Second World War did arrive, it did so with a vengeance. Silesia became physically embroiled in the war only in January 1945. Before this date, the region had suffered only sporadic bombing attacks. Unease over the developments on the eastern front was wide-spread, even amongst the Nazi leadership. The anxiety was only increased following the devastating rout of Heeresgruppe Mitte (Army Group Centre) under the command of General Hans Georg Reinhardt and Heeresgruppe A under General Josef Harpe by the Soviet Red Army offensive commencing on 22 June 1944. The total losses to the Wehrmacht ran to more than 350 000 men, twice the number as had been lost at Stalingrad.¹