The researchers conducted their investigations at the Cieszyn Library, the State Archives in Cieszyn, the Library of the Museum of Těšín Silesia in Český Těšín, as well as at the State Archives in Katowice, whose staff provided invaluable assistance throughout the research process. Special thanks are extended to the team of the Cieszyn Library, led by its Director, Krzysztof Szelong, for their exceptional support and commitment.
The territorial dispute examined by the researchers is analysed primarily from the perspective of international law, including its mechanisms, legal arguments and the international dimension of the Polish-Czechoslovak conflict. At the same time, the research query demonstrated how important local sources are for a comprehensive understanding of disputes of this kind. Archives and libraries make it possible to gain deeper insight into the experiences of local communities, the dynamics of historical events, the language of contemporary debates, and the social and political context of decisions taken at the international level.
However, the visit to Cieszyn Silesia was not limited to archival research. Dr Lachowski and Dr Piątkowski also visited memorial sites connected with the history of the region and the presence of Poles in the area, including Żwirkowisko in Cierlicko, the site of the 1932 air crash that claimed the lives of Franciszek Żwirko and Stanisław Wigura; the site of the killing of Polish soldiers in Stonava during the Polish-Czechoslovak conflict over Cieszyn Silesia in 1919; and Životice, the location of the tragic events of 1944, when German occupation forces murdered local residents, the vast majority of whom were Poles, as well as several Czechs.
The researchers also travelled through various parts of Zaolzie, from the industrial lowlands, including Karviná, to the highland areas of the region, with the picturesque town of Jablunkov and neighbouring localities where an active Polish community continues to live today. A series of meetings with residents of Cieszyn Silesia on both the Polish and Czech sides of the Olza River was an important complement to their visit. Conversations with members of the local community provided valuable insights into local memory, lived experiences, and contemporary perspectives on the history of the region and Polish-Czech relations.
