Polsko-słowackie spory graniczne w pierwszej połowie XX wieku. Kwestia interpretacji i percepcji

There are historical disputes and conflicts between states and nations that are well known and still resonate in the consciousness of society. Examples can be found in the history of Polish-Ukrainian or Slovak-Hungarian relations, which often influence current political and social thinking and attitudes. On the other hand, there are conflicts about which the public knows little, and their awareness is tied only to a specific region, although their course and the severity with which they were fought are comparable to those that are much better known. One of such conflicts is the dispute over the Polish-Slovak border in the years 1918-1945, on which the chapter focuses. After World War I, the regions of Spisz, Orawa and Czadecki became the subject of a Polish-Czechoslovak territorial dispute. After two years of constant conflict, the Conference of Ambassadors decided to divide the territory between Poland and Czechoslovakia. A new border dispute occurred in 1938 after the signing of the Munich Agreement. Poland gained further parts of Orawa, Spisz and Czadecki. After the outbreak of World War II, the separated parts of the territory were annexed to Slovakia, which was Germany's ally in the September campaign. After 1945, the border returned to the pre-Munich state. During this long conflict there were armed clashes and murders. The dispute also had a strong and negative impact on Polish-Slovak relations, especially just before and during World War II. Today, this topic is usually dealt with only by Polish and Slovak historiography, but the interpretation of the events is different. In this paper, I will try to answer the question of what was the essence of the dispute, why the topic is little known in the public opinion and why Polish and Slovak historians still cannot agree.