Upper Silesia was situated in southern Poland and a small part of Czechoslovakia. The country was occupied by British, French and Italian military troups after the first World War. They were to supervise the area in terms of the Treaty of Versailles until a plebiscite had been held, that is, a vote by the people to decide on the future of the region.

Stamps were only printed for a short period from 1920 until 1921. In March 1921, the people decided to remain as part of Germany, although there was a definite division into a German and a Polish part. Thereafter, stamps of Germany were used.