West Slavs are part of Slavs People . The West Slavs experienced a cultural split with the other two main Slavic groups : while the East Slavs and most South Slavs converted to Orthodox Christianity , thus being culturally influenced by the Byzantine Empire , the West Slavs along with the westernmost South Slavs ( Croats and Slovenes ) converted to Roman Catholicism , thus coming under the cultural influence of the Latin Church . ( Rarely , the term `` West Slavs '' includes these Catholic South Slavs . )