Theofil Kupka
Encyclopedia
Theofil Kupka (born August 22, 1885 in Marklowitz
/Marklowice, died November 20, 1920 in Beuthen
/Bytom) was a Silesian politician.
(Marklowice), where he and his family (brothers Paul, Johann and Joseph and sister Paula) were active in the Polish-Catholic Association. He married his wife, Apolonia in Lipiny
and lived with her in Beuthen
. An official at a coal mine, he was put forward by Wojciech Korfanty
to take over the management of the Organization Division of the Polish Plebiscite Commission in Beuthen
. When Kupka became aware of its secret activities, Korfanty demanded that he change the direction and methods of plebiscite agitation. Afraid of a break, Korfanty expelled Kupka from the Commission. Along with Kupka left other Silesian officials such as Cysarz, Zmuda, Gemander, Szymura, Pietruszka. This diminished Korfanty's support.
On September 1920 Theofil Kupka founded the Upper Silesian Plebiscite Committee (Das Oberschlesische Plebiszit-Komitee) in Beuthen
. Initially this committee aimed for "free-state autonomy" (independence) of Upper Silesia
and opposed the "corruption" of the Polish Plebiscite Commission.
Soon Theofil Kupka recognized that independence for Upper Silesia was unrealistic and therefore broke his cooperation with the Union of Upper Silesians
and made contact with Kurt Urbanek, the German plebiscite commissioner. Afterwards, in November 1920, Kupka edited the first edition of the bilingual weekly „Wola Ludu – Der Wille des Volkes” (The Will of the People).
On November 20, 1920 at about five o’clock in the evening, two members of the Bojówka Polska (Polish Paramilitary Unit) named Myrcik and Jendrzej came to Kupka’s house under the pretext of seeking jobs in the mine where he worked as an official. Once inside, they killed him with eight revolver shots to the head and chest in front of Kupka’s pregnant wife and five children.
Marklowice
Marklowice is a village in Wodzisław County, Silesian Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Marklowice. It lies approximately east of Wodzisław Śląski and south-west of the regional capital Katowice.In 2005 the village had a population of 5,180...
/Marklowice, died November 20, 1920 in Beuthen
Bytom
Bytom is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central-western district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Bytom is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Bytomka river .The city belongs to the Silesian Voivodeship since...
/Bytom) was a Silesian politician.
Biography
Kupka's childhood was spent in MarklowitzMarklowice
Marklowice is a village in Wodzisław County, Silesian Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Marklowice. It lies approximately east of Wodzisław Śląski and south-west of the regional capital Katowice.In 2005 the village had a population of 5,180...
(Marklowice), where he and his family (brothers Paul, Johann and Joseph and sister Paula) were active in the Polish-Catholic Association. He married his wife, Apolonia in Lipiny
Lipiny
Lipiny may refer to the following places:* Lipiny, Augustów County in Podlaskie Voivodeship * Lipiny, Hajnówka County in Podlaskie Voivodeship * Lipiny, Siemiatycze County in Podlaskie Voivodeship...
and lived with her in Beuthen
Bytom
Bytom is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central-western district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Bytom is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Bytomka river .The city belongs to the Silesian Voivodeship since...
. An official at a coal mine, he was put forward by Wojciech Korfanty
Wojciech Korfanty
Wojciech Korfanty , born Adalbert Korfanty, was a Polish nationalist activist, journalist and politician, serving as member of the German parliaments Reichstag and Prussian Landtag, and later on, in the Polish Sejm...
to take over the management of the Organization Division of the Polish Plebiscite Commission in Beuthen
Bytom
Bytom is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central-western district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Bytom is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Bytomka river .The city belongs to the Silesian Voivodeship since...
. When Kupka became aware of its secret activities, Korfanty demanded that he change the direction and methods of plebiscite agitation. Afraid of a break, Korfanty expelled Kupka from the Commission. Along with Kupka left other Silesian officials such as Cysarz, Zmuda, Gemander, Szymura, Pietruszka. This diminished Korfanty's support.
On September 1920 Theofil Kupka founded the Upper Silesian Plebiscite Committee (Das Oberschlesische Plebiszit-Komitee) in Beuthen
Bytom
Bytom is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central-western district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Bytom is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Bytomka river .The city belongs to the Silesian Voivodeship since...
. Initially this committee aimed for "free-state autonomy" (independence) of Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
and opposed the "corruption" of the Polish Plebiscite Commission.
Soon Theofil Kupka recognized that independence for Upper Silesia was unrealistic and therefore broke his cooperation with the Union of Upper Silesians
Union of Upper Silesians
The Union of Upper Silesians was a mass movement for the independence of Upper Silesia. The lands of Prussian Upper Silesia and Austrian Silesia, which existed from January 1919 to 1924 within the borders of Germany, then in the borders of the international plebiscite territory, constituted Upper...
and made contact with Kurt Urbanek, the German plebiscite commissioner. Afterwards, in November 1920, Kupka edited the first edition of the bilingual weekly „Wola Ludu – Der Wille des Volkes” (The Will of the People).
On November 20, 1920 at about five o’clock in the evening, two members of the Bojówka Polska (Polish Paramilitary Unit) named Myrcik and Jendrzej came to Kupka’s house under the pretext of seeking jobs in the mine where he worked as an official. Once inside, they killed him with eight revolver shots to the head and chest in front of Kupka’s pregnant wife and five children.
Literature
- Dariusz JerczyńskiDariusz JerczyńskiDariusz Jerczyński is a Silesian politician and historical writer.-Biography:Dariusz Jerczyński has authored books about the history of Silesia, historical articles in the magazines Czas Górnośląski and Jaskółka Śląska. From 2001 to 2007, Jerczyński was a member of the Silesian Autonomy Movement...
, Orędownicy niepodległości Śląska, Zabrze 2005, ISBN 83-919589-4-9 - Władysław Zieliński, Ludzie i sprawy hotelu „Lomnitz“, Katowice 1985
- Sigmund Karski, Albert (Wojciech) Korfanty. Eine Biographie, Dülmen 1990, ISBN 3-87466-118-0
See also
- Ewald LataczEwald LataczEwald Latacz was Silesian politician, doctor of law, lawyer in Racibórz since 1913 and Wodzisław Śląski, chairman of Workers Council in Wodzisław Śląski and co-founder secret Upper Silesian Committee in 1918, civil law notary since 1919, co-founder and leader Union of Upper Silesians in the period...
- Joseph MusiolJoseph MusiolJoseph Musiol was a Silesian politician. He served as secretary of the Catholic Trade Union, as a member of the town council in Bytom, and as leader of a local group in Bytom...
- Union of Upper SilesiansUnion of Upper SilesiansThe Union of Upper Silesians was a mass movement for the independence of Upper Silesia. The lands of Prussian Upper Silesia and Austrian Silesia, which existed from January 1919 to 1924 within the borders of Germany, then in the borders of the international plebiscite territory, constituted Upper...
- Silesian People's PartySilesian People's PartyThe Silesian People’s Party was a political organization in Cieszyn Silesia that existed from 1909 to 1938 in Austrian Silesia, which later became international plebiscite territory and finally part of Czechoslovakia. The party included mainly Slavic people, who saw themselves as members of a...
- Józef KożdońJózef KożdońJózef Kożdoń was Silesian autonomist politician.-Biography:...
External links
- http://www.slonsk.de/Slonsk/Kalendarium/1920/19201120_Kupka.htm