Efforts to develop Czech national identity in the Hlučín region in 1918-1938

The aim of this thesis is to examine efforts to shape Czech national identity in the Hlučín region between 1918 and 1938. Hlučín was a unique region that was only incorporated into Czechoslovakia in 1920. Its former affiliation with Prussia was reflected in its political, social, and cultural development. The Czechoslovak state sought to promote national identity in the region using a variety of tools, such as education, the activities of educational and cultural organizations, and the celebration of holidays as a means of symbolic integration. The thesis focuses on the main integration trends after the annexation of the Hlučín region to Czechoslovakia. The main focus is on how the local population reacted to the chosen holidays of February 4, March 7, and October 28. The thesis is based primarily on archival sources stored in the State District Archives, the Provincial Archives in Opava, the National Archives, and the Archives of the Office of the President. In addition to official sources, it also draws on local chronicles and contemporary press. As the research has shown, the reactions of the Moravians were not uniform and ranged from active participation in the celebrations to passivity and open resistance. Key words: Hlučín region 1918-1938, regional history, festivities, national identity