 The history of Poland from 1945 to 1989 spans the period of Soviet communist dominance imposed after the end of World War II over what had become the Polish People 's Republic . These years , while featuring general industrialization and urbanization and many improvements in the standard of living in Poland , were marred by social unrest and severe economic difficulties . Near the end of the period , however, there was a significant economic revival .
 nobody in the world is so stupid as the man who thinks he is so smart that he can't learn from his own mistakes.
Poland is a country in Central Europe, bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech