The Formation of the Czechoslovak-Polish Border in Orava and Spiš (1918-1920)

The aim of this article is to present the Czechoslovak-Polish dispute over the belonging of two re-gions: Orava and Spiš. Těšín Silesia was one of the most industrialised regions of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, inhabited mostly by people conscious of their Polishness. Hence, the belonging of this region aroused greater emotions than in the case of Orava and Spiš. The difference also lies in the fact that in the case of these two regions, they were part of Zalitavia within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, whereas in the case of Cieszyn Silesia, they were part of Pre-litavia. Hence, the conflict over Orava and Spiš was not only a Polish-Czech-Slovak rivalry, but the Slovaks were also to some extent the subject of this dispute, given that the Slovak lands in the Hungarian state were referred to as “Up-per Hungary” and these two disputed areas were part of the Kingdom of Hungary. The time span co-vers the years 1918-1920, from the establishment of the two states to the decision of the Council of Ambassadors, which was crucial for the affiliation of the disputed territories.