Summary: The third Silesian uprising, which broke out in May 1921, was a military event of great significance. Undoubtedly, the insurgent uprising of the Silesian people had a great impact on the provisions favourable for Poland made by the western powers ceding the most industrialized part of the region (a German province for many years) to Poland. Wojciech Korfanty, a Silesian politician who gained political experience in the Second German Reich, was the leader of the uprising. He was able to evaluate the situation in Upper Silesia with incisiveness claiming that the most important issue was to win the plebiscite, which was to decide about the old Polish province, and not military actions against a much stronger German army. It does not change the fact that in 1921 the Polish authorities as well as Wincenty Witos' government were against the idea of the uprising although not so much against the insurgents themselves whom they secretly supported with weapon deliveries. The Silesian insurgents were treated as rebels by the majority of Europe which is understandable as Silesia had been an integral part of the Germanspeaking countries (Austria, then Prussia and finally the United Germany). However, the rebellion of the Silesians who did not want to be under the authority of Berlin any longer contributed substantially to the change of attitudes of the Western powers towards the Silesian province. And it was only due to the Third Silesian Uprising that the Polish Republic was awarded such a heavily industrialized area of Upper Silesia whereas the Polish "government of national defence" led by Wincenty Witos hardly contributed anything towards it. The only justification for the passive attitude of the Polish authorities might have been fear that the Silesian rebellion would turn the Western powers against the newly born Polish state. Great Britain and Italy were against taking even a part of Upper Silesia from Germany and the Polish demands were only supported by France.