As I documented Al Willner's Walk in Remembrance for his father, Eddie Willner, and all those who died and suffered and survived the Death Marches 75 years ago, I also took pictures of the people, the countryside, the villages and the towns I saw along the way. Al Willner and Mike Bayles also photographed people and scenes they came across on the walk and some of their pictures are included.
Polish friends who helped us understand Poland and Silesia |
A little history of Silesia |
Silesia has a long contested history with Germanic tribes first recorded there in the 1st century and Slavic people arriving in the 7th century.
In 1742, most of Silesia was seized by King Frederick the Great of Prussia in the War of the Austrian Succession. It became part of the German Empire in 1871. After World War I and the Third Silesian Uprising in 1921 parts of Upper Silesia were awarded to the newly independent Second Polish Republic. Most of Silesia remained part of Germany until the end of World War II. It is now mainly Polish territory with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany.
The country people of Silesia |
and city folk |
