Poland has a unique history, as it has been the center stage of the clash of western and the communist interests. The monarchy in Poland came to an end in 1795 when the country was into between Prussia, Russia and Austria. During the World War I, President Woodrow Wilson established 14 points, one of which outlined the independence of Poland in 1918.This independence was followed by the non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union. This called for the disintegration of Poland into two Nazi and Soviet controlled zones.

The Poles started a resistance movement and the exile government was recognized by the Soviet Union. World War II witnessed half of the Poles fighting under the soviet command and the rest fighting on the western front. The Soviet Union snapped relations with the exile government of Poland in April 1943, which was followed by the Soviet Red Army actually entering Poland and establishing the Polish Committee of National Liberation at Lublin.It was totally communist controlled.

World War II saw 6 million Poles killed and the deportation of about 2.5 million to Germany while the Jews perished in the concentration camps. The Yalta Conference led to the formation of the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity in June 1945, which was recognized by the U.S. The elections in January 1947 led to the domination of the communists.

The subsequent period was marked by internal strife and disturbances in Poland. There was economic turbulence and the imposition of martial law. After a series of related events, the Republic of Poland was declared in December 1989. The year 1991 was memorable, as it witnessed the country?s first free parliamentary elections. The history of Poland is marked by blood and strife, under the domination of different powers.

Max Bellamy
http://www.poland-web.com/