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The Silesian Wars were a series of wars between Prussia and Austria (and their changing allies) for control of Silesia. They formed parts of the larger War of the Austrian Succession and Seven Years' War.

Contents 1 1st Silesian War (1740-1742) 2 Peace of Breslau 1742 3 2nd Silesian War (1744-1745) 4 3rd Silesian War (1756-1763)

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 Habsburg 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.

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.

The Austrians attempted to get back their lost province. During the war, the Prussians beat the Austrians and Saxons at the Battle of Hohenfriedberg, and then at the Battle of Soor, two historic victories for Frederick the Great. However, the peace was less helpful to the Prussians as might have been expected, and they went back to the terms under the Peace of Breslau. They then signed the peace of Dresden, which confirmed the Prussian possessions in Silesia.

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.