Economic and Social Aspects of the Development of Railway Freight Transport in the Krkonoše and Podkrkonoší Region from the 1920s to the 1950s

This thesis examines the development of freight railway transport in the Podkrkonoší region between 1920 and 1950, a period encompassing the interwar economic recovery, the crisis of the 1930s, the Second World War, and the post-war reconstruction. The aim is to evaluate the importance of railway transport for the economic development of the region, focusing on enterprises connected through industrial sidings and other railway facilities. The study analyses the economic and transport links between the railway and various industrial sectors, assessing the cost-effectiveness of rail transport and comparing it with alternative modes of transportation. The research is based on extensive archival investigation, including company records, statistical yearbooks, official documents, siding agreements, as well as period press, historical maps, and photographic documentation. The practical part offers a detailed cost analysis of siding operations, their benefits for enterprises, and model cases where companies considered establishing or expanding railway connections. The analysis reveals that, during this period, the railway constituted a key element of transport infrastructure, enabling stable, reliable, and highcapacity movement of raw materials and finished goods, thereby directly influencing competitiveness and strategic decision-making of enterprises. The thesis provides a new perspective on the interplay between the transport network and economic structures in the Podkrkonoší region, highlighting the role of the railway as a driving force of regional development in the first half of the 20th century.