Scholarly record

POLISH-SLOVAK POLITICAL RELATIONS AT THE TURN OF THE 1920S AND 1930S OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Karol Janas

Abstract

The Polish-Slovak relations were very complicated at the turn of the 1920s and 1930s. Both Slovakia and Poland formed part of Czechoslovakia and they represented the product of a new international political order that emerged after the First World War. However, these states had mutual unresolved problems and border disputes dated often back a long time. These issues also related to Slovakia. Since the late 19th century, the Region of Northern SpiВљ, Region of Orava and the areas around the Town of ?adca had represented the subject of several disputes between the two states. Poland, in particular, was dissatisfied with the post-war arrangement and made demands concerning the Slovak border since the establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic. Furthermore, Slovakia perceived as unfair the fact that Poland annexed several disputed municipalities in Slovakia with Slovak population. On the basis of international agreements, in 1920 and 1924 Poland joined the municipalities in the North of Slovakia, even though Slovakia did not agree. Although the situation at the turn of the 1920s and 1930s of the 20th century stabilised, distrust could not be completely eliminated. This attitude in Slovakia was particularly deepened by the fact that there were continuous requirements in Poland for additional territorial gains from Czechoslovakia. Moreover, Czechoslovakia did not have a place in Poland's promoted Concept of Central European called "Third Europe - Intermarium", through which Poland wished to exert its influence on the international stage.

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