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Europe
Poland |
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Last reviewed: 20 July 2009 |
Country information
HISTORY
After World War I Poland regained its independence after over a hundred years of partition by Russia, Prussia and Austria. The democratic system established proved unsustainable and, after a coup in 1926, became increasingly authoritarian. The invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in September 1939 precipitated the outbreak of the Second World War. Two weeks after the Nazi invasion, Soviet forces attacked and invaded Poland from the east and set up their own occupation according to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Non-Aggression Pact. The Nazis extended their brutal occupation further east after the outbreak of the Russo-German War in 1941. During the War a Government-in-Exile was formed in London, and an underground army and administration loyal to the exiled government functioned in occupied Poland. 600,000 Poles fought on the Allied side under British or Soviet Command. Polish cryptographers were the first to break the Enigma codes facilitating an early reading of German codes.
About 6 million Poles lost their lives during the war, including the vast majority of the country’s large Jewish population. Warsaw was levelled to the ground. The country was liberated from Nazism by the Red Army, but then in turn Soviet political and security forces succeeded in imposing their brand of totalitarianism. Poland became a communist state and member of the Warsaw Pact. Major revolts were staged in 1956, 1968, 1976 and 1980. It was only in 1989, after round-table talks between the communist authorities and the Solidarity opposition movement, that partially free elections took place. The collapse of communism quickly followed. Since 1990 Poland has been a democratic state and has built a free-market economy.
1918 - Independent Polish state created after the end of World War I.
1939 - (September) Nazi Germany and Soviet Union invade Poland.
1943 - Warsaw ghetto uprising.
1944 - Warsaw uprising.
1945 - Soviet forces capture Warsaw in January.
1956 - (June) Poznan rising. Stalinism abandoned in Poland.
1957 - (March) Student demonstrations suppressed.
1978 - Karol Wojtyla, Cardinal of Krakow, elected Pope.
1979 - The Pope visits Poland, giving a huge boost to opponents of communism.
1980 - Wave of strikes result in agreements allowing for the creation of the Solidarity Trade Union.
1981 - Martial law imposed.
1983 - Martial law lifted.
1989 - Round-table talks between Solidarity, the Communists and the Church. Partially democratic elections herald the collapse of the communist system
1990 - Solidarity leader Lech Walesa elected President of Poland.
1992 - Soviet troops start to leave.
1998 - The EU and Poland open talks on membership.
1999 - Poland joins Nato.
2002 - EU summit in Copenhagen formally invites Poland to join in 2004.
2003 - Poles vote in referendum in favour of joining EU.
2004 - (1 May) Poland joins the EU.
Longer Historical Perspective
Poland adopted Christianity in 966. Poland reached the zenith of its power under the Jagiellonian dynasty after forming a union with Lithuania in 1386. At one stage the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. Its power declined during the 16th and 17th centuries, ending with the partition of Poland by Prussia, Russia, and Austria at the end of the 18th century.
BBC News Country Timeline: Poland