Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

170 CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE

formation of the Commonwealth of

the Two Nations (Rzeczpospolita

Obojga Narodów). In 1572, the

Jagiełłonian Dynasty ended, after

which the Polish authorities intro-

duced elective kings, with the

nobility having the right to vote. The

17th century was dominated by wars

with Sweden, Russia and the

Ottoman Empire, and although the

country survived, it was considerably

weak ened, and its period of domi-

nance was over. In 1795, the republic

was partitioned by Russia, Prussia

and Austria, and was wiped off the

map for more than 100 years.

Attempts to wrest independence by

insurrection were unsuccessful, and

Poland did not regain its sovereignty

until 1918. The arduous process of

rebuilding and uniting the nation was

still incomplete when, at the outbreak

of World War II, a six-year period of

German and Soviet occupation began.

The price that Poland paid was very

high: millions of people were mur-

dered, including virtually the entire

Jewish population. The country suf-

fered devastation and huge territorial

losses, which were only partly

compensated by the Allies’ decision

to move the border west wards.

After the war, the Soviet Union

subjugated Poland, but the socialist

economy proved ineffective. The for-

mation of Solidarity (Solidarność), the

first Independent Autonomous Trades

Union, in 1980, led by Lech Wałęsa,

accelerated the pace of change. This

was completed when Poland regained

its freedom after the June 1989

elections. In 1999, Poland became a

member of NATO, and in 2004 it

joined the European Union (EU).

LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

Polish is a West Slavic language

closely related to Slovak and Czech.

Many of its words are borrowed from

Latin, although German, Italian and

English words are also common.

The legacy of more than 100 years

of partition rule is still visible in

Poland’s cultural landscape. Russian,

Prussian and Austrian administrations

left their mark not only on archi-

tecture, but also on the customs and

outlook of the people. The Poles have

a deep reverence for religious sym-

bols and rituals, and the presence of

the church can be seen every where,

either in the form of Baroque shrines

or in images of the Black Madonna.

Solidarity demonstrators at a mass rally in 1987

KEY DATES IN POLISH HISTORY

AD 966 Adoption of Christianity under Mieszko I

1025 Coronation of Bolesław the Brave, first

king of Poland

1320 The unification of the Polish state

1385 Poland and Lithuania agree on dynastic

union under the Treaty of Krewo

1569 The Union of Lublin creates the Polish-

Lithuanian Commonwealth of the Two Nations

1596 The capital moves from Cracow to Warsaw

1655 Beginning of the “Deluge” (the Swedish

occupation); it ends in 1660

1772–1918 Poland divided three times between

Russia, Prussia and Austria. The final partition

(1795) is made after a Polish uprising led by

Tadeusz Kościuszko

1918 Poland regains independence

1939 Invasion by German, then Soviet forces

1940 Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp

established; over one and a half million Poles

and Jews are gassed here during the war

1945 Communist government takes control

1980 Solidarity formed, led by Lech Wałęsa

1989 First free postwar elections are held.

Lech Wałęsa wins the presidency by a landslide

1999 Poland joins NATO

2004 Poland becomes a member of the EU

2010 President Lech Kaczynski and 96 others

killed in air crash; Poland goes to polls