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1ST SILESIAN WAR ( 1740 - 1742 )


Part of the War Of The Austrian Succession . After a 2-month campaign, Prussian forces occupied Silesia, which belonged to the Bohemian Crown of the Hapsburg possessions. In 1741 the Prussians defeated the Austrians in the Battle Of Mollwitz near Brieg . In the Peace of Breslau 1742 most of Silesia was ceded to Prussia and was organized into the Silesian Province .

The southern portion of Silesia (with Jägerndorf/Karniow , Troppau and Teschen ) remained under Habsburg control and was called Bohemian Silesia , and after 1849 Austrian Silesia . Small portions of Polish Silesia ( Oświęcim , Zator , Żywiec and Siewierz ) were not involved in this war.


PEACE OF BRESLAU 1742


Map of Silesia (see map on right) as divided between Prussia, Bohemia-Austria and Poland after the Peace of Breslau of 1742, which ended the first Silesian War

  • The red line shows the historical boundaries of Silesia that were stable for some 1000 years.

  • The grey area shows the major part of Silesia acquired by Prussia from Austria-Bohemia in the Peace of Wrocław ( 1742 ), as a result of the First Silesian War;

  • The yellow area shows the remainder of Bohemian-Austrian Silesia. It was called Bohemian Silesia up to 1849, and then Austrian Silesia. The map show the cities of Opava , Krnov and Cieszyn ;

  • The Red/Orange area shows Polish Silesia: the duchies of Oświęcim and Zator , with Biała, Later Bielsko-Biała - all shown on the map; and also the duchy of Siewierz .



2ND SILESIAN WAR ( 1744 - 1745 )


The Austrians attempted to get back their lost province. During the war, the Prussians beat the Austrians and Saxons at the Battle Of Hohenfriedberg , but the Prussians were beaten at the Battle Of Soor . This forced the Prussians to go back to the terms under the Peace of Breslau. They then signed the peace of Dresden , which confirmed the Prussian possessions in Silesia.


3RD SILESIAN WAR ( 1756 - 1763 )


This was a part of the all European Seven Years' War , Austria tried to get back Silesia for the second time, but was abandoned by her ally Russia . Prussia then confirmed her Silesian possessions for the next 150 years.