Polish Coal Mining in Interwar Poland and in People's Poland

Abstract

Polish coal mining on Polish territories dates back to the 15th century in Lower Silesia and the mid-17th century in the Upper Silesian coal basin. It is one of the most important branches of the country's industry, yet a synthesis continuously tracing its development from the interwar period to People's Poland - covering the effects of the Polish-German customs war, the role of coal conventions, structural change, and mechanization - has been lacking.
This article analyzes the development of Polish coal mining in the interwar period (1918-1939) and in People's Poland (1945-1967), examining trends in coal production and coal export, the consequences of the Polish-German customs war (from 1925), the coal conventions as cartel organizations, the mechanization of mining (Wandabbau, Schrämmaschinen), and investment policy in the five-year plans.
The study draws on Polish statistical yearbooks, annual reports of the coal industry, official documents of the coal convention, and relevant economic-historical publications of the author.
The analysis shows that after Poland regained the Upper Silesian mines in 1922 it became a significant coal exporter. The Polish-German customs war (from 1925) caused a sharp export drop from 11.4 to 8.2 million tons and forced reorganization through two coal conventions, later merged as the Polska Konwencja Węglowa. In the interwar years, the world economic crisis, competition, and capital shortages hampered modernization. In People's Poland, coal production rose from 27 million tons in 1945 to 123.9 million tons in 1967. The Six-Year Plan (1950-1955) prioritized volume growth through extended working hours, while the five-year plans of the 1960s advanced Wandabbau, Schrämmaschinen, and automation. The coal industry served as the so-called Polish currency financing the import of necessary machinery and the development of other economic branches.