Category: Poland

Poland is an ancient nation, formed around the 10th century. Its heyday occurred in the 16th century. Between 1772 and 1795, Poland was divided between Russia, Prussia and Austria, through a series of agreements. In 1918, Poland regained its independence, but was again invaded by Germany, in 1939, an event that started World War II. After the war, Poland became a communist country, a satellite of the Soviet Union. In the early 1980s, the workers’ union, called Solidarity, started a protest movement against the government, which gained great popular support. In the 1990s, Solidarity became a major political force and came to the government of the country, but suffered a devastating defeat in the 2001 elections. In 2004, Poland joined the European Union and has been following steps of prosperity ever since. The capital is Warsaw.