World War II | Facts, Summary, History, Dates, Combatants, & Causes
World War II was a conflict that involved virtually every part of the world during 1939–45. The main combatants were the Axis powers ...
Poland
By the early part of 1939 the German dictator Adolf Hitler had become determined to invade and occupy <anchor>Poland</anchor>. Poland, for its part, had guarantees of French and British military support should it be attacked by Germany. Hitler intended to invade Poland anyway, but first he had to neutralize the possibility that the Soviet Union would resist the invasion of its western neighbour. Secret negotiations led on August 23–24 to the signing of the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact in Moscow. In a secret protocol of this pact, the Germans and the Soviets agreed that Poland should be divided between them, with the western third of the country going to Germany and the eastern two-thirds being taken over by the U.S.S.R.
Poland | History, Flag, Map, Population, President, Religion, & Facts | Britannica
Poland \| History, Flag, Map, Population, President, Religion, & Facts \| Britannica

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[Poland](https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland)

Table of Contents


- [Introduction & Quick Facts](/place/Poland)

- [Land](/place/Poland/Land)



- [Relief](/place/Poland/Land#ref256672)

  - [The coastal plain](/place/Poland/Land#ref28222)

  - [The lake region and central lowlands](/place/Poland/Land#ref28223)

  - [The Little Poland Uplands](/place/Poland/Land#ref28224)

  - [The Sudeten](/place/Poland/The-Sudeten)

  - [The Carpathians](/place/Poland/The-Sudeten#ref28226)

- [Drainage and soils](/place/Poland/The-Sudeten#ref28227)

- [Climate](/place/Poland/Climate)

- [Plant and animal life](/place/Poland/Climate#ref28229)

  - [Vegetation](/place/Poland/Climate#ref28230)

  - [Wildlife](/place/Poland/Climate#ref28231)

  - [The environment](/place/Poland/Climate#ref28232)

- [People](/place/Poland/Climate#ref28236)



- [Ethnic groups](/place/Poland/Climate#ref28237)

- [Languages](/place/Poland/Languages)

- [Religion](/place/Poland/Languages#ref28239)

- [Settlement patterns](/place/Poland/Languages#ref28233)

  - [Rural settlement](/place/Poland/Languages#ref28234)

  - [Urban settlement](/place/Poland/Languages#ref28235)

- [Demographic trends](/place/Poland/Languages#ref28240)

- [Economy](/place/Poland/Economy)



- [Agriculture, forestry, and fishing](/place/Poland/Economy#ref28249)

- [Resources and power](/place/Poland/Economy#ref28246)

  - [Minerals](/place/Poland/Economy#ref28247)

  - [Energy](/place/Poland/Economy#ref256673)

- [Manufacturing](/place/Poland/Economy#ref28250)

- [Finance](/place/Poland/Finance)

- [Trade](/place/Poland/Finance#ref256674)

- [Services](/place/Poland/Finance#ref256675)

- [Labour and taxation](/place/Poland/Finance#ref256676)

- [Transportation and telecommunications](/place/Poland/Finance#ref28253)

  - [Railways](/place/Poland/Finance#ref28254)

  - [Highways](/place/Poland/Finance#ref28255)

  - [Waterways](/place/Poland/Finance#ref28256)

  - [Air transport](/place/Poland/Finance#ref28257)

  - [Telecommunications](/place/Poland/Finance#ref256677)

- [Government and society](/place/Poland/Government-and-society)



- [Constitutional framework](/place/Poland/Government-and-society#ref256678)

- [Local government](/place/Poland/Government-and-society#ref256679)

- [Justice](/place/Poland/Government-and-society#ref256680)

- [Political process](/place/Poland/Government-and-society#ref256681)

- [Security](/place/Poland/Government-and-society#ref256682)

  - [Military](/place/Poland/Government-and-society#ref28264)

  - [Police](/place/Poland/Government-and-society#ref256683)

- [Health and welfare](/place/Poland/Health-and-welfare)

- [Housing](/place/Poland/Health-and-welfare#ref256684)

- [Education](/place/Poland/Health-and-welfare#ref28266)

- [Cultural life](/place/Poland/Health-and-welfare#ref256685)



- [Cultural milieu](/place/Poland/Health-and-welfare#ref256686)

- [Daily life and social customs](/place/Poland/Daily-life-and-social-customs)

- [The arts](/place/Poland/Daily-life-and-social-customs#ref256688)

  - [Literature](/place/Poland/Daily-life-and-social-customs#ref256689)

  - [Music](/place/Poland/Daily-life-and-social-customs#ref256690)

  - [Visual arts](/place/Poland/Daily-life-and-social-customs#ref256691)

  - [Theatre and motion pictures](/place/Poland/Theatre-and-motion-pictures)

- [Cultural institutions](/place/Poland/Theatre-and-motion-pictures#ref28274)

- [Sports and recreation](/place/Poland/Theatre-and-motion-pictures#ref28275)

- [Media and publishing](/place/Poland/Theatre-and-motion-pictures#ref256693)

- [History](/place/Poland/History)



- [The Piast monarchy](/place/Poland/History#ref28158)

  - [The early state](/place/Poland/History#ref28159)

  - [Collapse and restoration](/place/Poland/History#ref28160)

  - [The period of divisions](/place/Poland/History#ref28161)

    - [Collapse of Bolesław’s governing system](/place/Poland/History#ref28162)

    - [Cultural developments, 11th–13th century](/place/Poland/History#ref28163)

    - [Social and economic developments](/place/Poland/History#ref28164)

    - [Feudalism](/place/Poland/History#ref28165)

    - [The arrival of the Teutonic Knights](/place/Poland/The-arrival-of-the-Teutonic-Knights)

  - [Revival of the kingdom](/place/Poland/The-arrival-of-the-Teutonic-Knights#ref28167)

    - [The Czech dynasty](/place/Poland/The-arrival-of-the-Teutonic-Knights#ref28168)

    - [Władysław I](/place/Poland/The-arrival-of-the-Teutonic-Knights#ref28169)

    - [Casimir the Great](/place/Poland/The-arrival-of-the-Teutonic-Knights#ref28170)

    - [Louis I](/place/Poland/The-arrival-of-the-Teutonic-Knights#ref28171)

    - [The marriage of Jadwiga](/place/Poland/The-arrival-of-the-Teutonic-Knights#ref28172)

- [The states of the Jagiellonians](/place/Poland/The-states-of-the-Jagiellonians)

  - [The waning of the Middle Ages](/place/Poland/The-states-of-the-Jagiellonians#ref28174)

    - [The rule of Jagiełło](/place/Poland/The-states-of-the-Jagiellonians#ref28175)

    - [Casimir IV](/place/Poland/The-states-of-the-Jagiellonians#ref28176)

  - [The golden age of the Sigismunds](/place/Poland/The-golden-age-of-the-Sigismunds)

    - [Political developments](/place/Poland/The-golden-age-of-the-Sigismunds#ref28178)

    - [Foreign affairs](/place/Poland/The-golden-age-of-the-Sigismunds#ref28179)

    - [Social and cultural developments](/place/Poland/The-golden-age-of-the-Sigismunds#ref28180)

- [The Commonwealth](/place/Poland/The-Commonwealth)

  - [Báthory and the Vasas](/place/Poland/The-Commonwealth#ref28182)

    - [Social and political structure](/place/Poland/The-Commonwealth#ref28183)

    - [Stephen Báthory](/place/Poland/The-Commonwealth#ref28184)

    - [Sigismund III Vasa](/place/Poland/The-Commonwealth#ref28185)

    - [Władysław IV](/place/Poland/The-Commonwealth#ref28186)

    - [The Cossacks](/place/Poland/The-Cossacks)

    - [Bohdan Khmelnytsky](/place/Poland/The-Cossacks#ref28188)

    - [John II Casimir Vasa](/place/Poland/The-Cossacks#ref28189)

  - [The 17th-century crisis](/place/Poland/The-17th-century-crisis)

    - [Social and economic changes](/place/Poland/The-17th-century-crisis#ref28191)

    - [Political stagnation](/place/Poland/The-17th-century-crisis#ref28192)

    - [Cultural changes](/place/Poland/The-17th-century-crisis#ref28193)

  - [Decline and attempts at reform](/place/Poland/The-17th-century-crisis#ref28194)

  - [The Saxons](/place/Poland/The-17th-century-crisis#ref28195)

    - [Augustus II](/place/Poland/Augustus-II)

    - [Augustus III](/place/Poland/Augustus-II#ref28197)

  - [Reforms, agony, and partitions](/place/Poland/Augustus-II#ref28198)

    - [Reform under Stanisław II](/place/Poland/Augustus-II#ref28199)

    - [The First Partition](/place/Poland/The-First-Partition)

    - [Social and economic changes](/place/Poland/The-First-Partition#ref28201)

    - [The constitution of 1791](/place/Poland/The-First-Partition#ref28202)

    - [The Second and Third Partitions](/place/Poland/The-First-Partition#ref28203)

- [Partitioned Poland](/place/Poland/Partitioned-Poland)

  - [The legions and the Duchy of Warsaw](/place/Poland/Partitioned-Poland#ref28205)

  - [From the Congress of Vienna to 1848](/place/Poland/Partitioned-Poland#ref28206)

    - [Early Russian rule](/place/Poland/Partitioned-Poland#ref28207)

    - [Emigration and revolt](/place/Poland/Emigration-and-revolt)

  - [The January 1863 uprising and its aftermath](/place/Poland/Emigration-and-revolt#ref28209)

  - [Accommodation with the ruling governments](/place/Poland/Accommodation-with-the-ruling-governments)

- [Poland in the 20th century](/place/Poland/Poland-in-the-20th-century)

  - [The rebirth of Poland](/place/Poland/Poland-in-the-20th-century#ref28212)

  - [From the Treaty of Versailles to the Treaty of Riga](/place/Poland/Poland-in-the-20th-century#ref28213)

  - [The Second Republic](/place/Poland/The-Second-Republic)

  - [World War II](/place/Poland/The-Second-Republic#ref28215)

  - [Communist Poland](/place/Poland/Communist-Poland)

  - [Transitioning from communism](/place/Poland/Communist-Poland#ref256694)

  - [The constitution of 1997](/place/Poland/The-constitution-of-1997)

- [Poland in the 21st century](/place/Poland/The-constitution-of-1997#ref337615)

[References & Edit History](https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland/additional-info) [Facts & Stats](/facts/Poland)

[Images, Videos & Interactives](https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland/images-videos)

[![Poland](https://cdn.britannica.com/52/3552-004-83ABA964/Flag-Poland.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/52/3552-050-3E9D7E32/Flag-Poland.jpg)[![Poland](https://cdn.britannica.com/53/3553-004-F296F4F6/Poland.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/53/3553-050-2F51A3DD/Poland.jpg)[![Gdańsk, Poland](https://cdn.britannica.com/09/14409-004-FC3CC93D/Waterfront-Gdansk-Poland-Motlawa-River.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/09/14409-050-A19FC640/Waterfront-Gdansk-Poland-Motlawa-River.jpg)[![Poland](https://cdn.britannica.com/35/183735-004-B63B1820/World-Data-Locator-Map-Poland.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/35/183735-050-5F8442D3/World-Data-Locator-Map-Poland.jpg)[![Physical features of Poland](https://cdn.britannica.com/62/3562-004-2E7D2453/Poland-map-features-locator.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/62/3562-050-6174B631/Poland-map-features-locator.jpg)[![Carpathian Mountains; cross section of the Western Carpathians](https://cdn.britannica.com/72/372-004-0F1F8DC3/division-cross-section-Carpathian-Mountains-Western-Carpathians.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/72/372-050-CCFBE41E/division-cross-section-Carpathian-Mountains-Western-Carpathians.jpg)[![Gdańsk, Poland](https://cdn.britannica.com/26/115026-004-5F4751DB/Gdansk-Poland.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/26/115026-050-58B62437/Gdansk-Poland.jpg)[![Tatra Mountains, Poland](https://cdn.britannica.com/93/4593-004-5F680283/peak-border-Tatra-Mountains-Poland-Slovakian.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/93/4593-004-5F680283/peak-border-Tatra-Mountains-Poland-Slovakian.jpg)[![Poland](https://cdn.britannica.com/06/12006-004-27BE4210/Vistula-river-Poland-section-Warsaw-Old-Town.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/06/12006-050-35512247/Vistula-river-Poland-section-Warsaw-Old-Town.jpg)

For Students


[![](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-124/images/shared/default3.png?v=3.124.78)](/summary/Poland)

[Poland summary](/summary/Poland)

Quizzes


[![Flags of all countries of the world. Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery](https://cdn.britannica.com/40/129640-131-0EB20858/Flags-countries-world-flags-Country-blog-geography-2009.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/quiz/the-country-quiz)

[The Country Quiz](/quiz/the-country-quiz)

[![7:023 Geography: Think of Something Big, globe showing Africa, Europe, and Eurasia](https://cdn.britannica.com/95/168695-131-11055CC5/Geography-Something-globe-Europe-Eurasia-Africa.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/quiz/which-country-is-larger-by-area-quiz)

[Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz](/quiz/which-country-is-larger-by-area-quiz)

[![Flags of the world against blue sky. Countries, International. Globalization, global relations, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Poland, Palestine, Japan. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society](https://cdn.britannica.com/91/142291-131-1FF39F2D/Flags-world-blue-sky-Countries-Globalization-relations-2010.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/quiz/which-country-is-larger-by-population-quiz)

[Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz](/quiz/which-country-is-larger-by-population-quiz)

[![Flags of all nations of the world. Grouping of various country flags on a world map.](https://cdn.britannica.com/64/244164-131-C5EE8DAB/nation-flags-world-map.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/quiz/which-country-is-larger-quiz)

[Which Country Is Larger? Quiz](/quiz/which-country-is-larger-quiz)

[![Opened passport with visas, stamps, seals, world map. (travel, tourism)](https://cdn.britannica.com/38/247338-131-37776892/passport-visas-stamps-world-map.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](/quiz/guess-the-country-by-its-neighbors-quiz)

[Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz](/quiz/guess-the-country-by-its-neighbors-quiz)

Related Questions


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[5 Prominent Paintings in Poland](/list/5-prominent-paintings-in-poland)

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[Military Commanders of World War I](/list/military-commanders-of-world-war-i)

Discover


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Contents


[Geography & Travel](/browse/Geography-Travel)[Countries of the World](/browse/Countries-of-the-World)

[![](https://cdn.britannica.com/53/3553-050-2F51A3DD/Poland.jpg?w=300)](https://cdn.britannica.com/53/3553-050-2F51A3DD/Poland.jpg)

[Poland](https://cdn.britannica.com/53/3553-050-2F51A3DD/Poland.jpg)(more)

[![](https://cdn.britannica.com/09/14409-050-A19FC640/Waterfront-Gdansk-Poland-Motlawa-River.jpg?w=300)](https://cdn.britannica.com/09/14409-050-A19FC640/Waterfront-Gdansk-Poland-Motlawa-River.jpg)

[Gdańsk, Poland](https://cdn.britannica.com/09/14409-050-A19FC640/Waterfront-Gdansk-Poland-Motlawa-River.jpg) Waterfront of Gdańsk, Poland, on the Motława River.(more)

# Poland



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External Websites


- [Jewish Virtual Library - Poland](https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/poland-virtual-jewish-history-tour)
- [Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Poland](https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/poland/)

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

- [Poland - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)](https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Poland/345768)
- [Poland - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)](https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Poland/276483)



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- [Jewish Virtual Library - Poland](https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/poland-virtual-jewish-history-tour)
- [Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Poland](https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/poland/)

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

- [Poland - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)](https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Poland/345768)
- [Poland - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)](https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Poland/276483)

Also known as: Polish People’s Republic, Polska, Polska Rzeczpospolita, Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa, Republic of Poland, Rzeczpospolita Polska, Rzeczpospolita Polska Ludowa


Written by


[Norman Davies\
\
Professor of Polish History, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University of London. Author of _God's Playground: A History of Poland._](/contributor/Norman-Davies/694)

Norman Davies,

[Piotr S. Wandycz\
\
(d. 2017) Professor of History (1966-97), Yale University. Author of _The Lands of Partitioned Poland, 1795–1918_ an many others.D](/contributor/Piotr-S-Wandycz/4316)

Piotr S. Wandycz• [All](https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland/additional-info#contributors)

Fact-checked by

[The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica\
\
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.](/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419)

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated:

Sep 12, 2024
• [Article History](https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland/additional-info#history)


Table of Contents

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## Recent News

Sep. 12, 2024, 4:05 PM ET (AP)


[Blinken wraps up Ukraine-focused Europe trip in Poland with arms requests on the table](/news/466681/54232b14cae7785df02f9d48a77e7823)

Sep. 11, 2024, 1:55 PM ET (AP)


[Harris' suggestion that Poland could be next if Ukraine loses the war resonates with Poles](/news/466681/eedfa6de06355a87ae4f04de40786899)

Sep. 11, 2024, 9:26 AM ET (AP)


[Jewelry seized from Polish inmates of Nazi German concentration camps is returned to families](/news/466681/04e19cfafb7d336d01fe5d5f26c5687a)

Sep. 10, 2024, 1:38 PM ET (AP)


[Germany's expansion of border controls is testing European unity](/news/466681/a9d7a025bab08160c772b8644441c66b)

Sep. 2, 2024, 9:49 PM ET (AP)


[Poland holds a state burial for more than 700 victims of Nazi Germany's World War II massacres](/news/466681/5ddf3fc42a8d0c13cc615ce8b9a383e3)

**Poland**, [country](https://www.britannica.com/topic/nation-state) of central [Europe](https://www.britannica.com/place/Europe). Poland is located at a geographic [crossroads](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/crossroads) that links the forested lands of northwestern [Europe](https://www.britannica.com/place/Europe) and the sea lanes of the [Atlantic Ocean](https://www.britannica.com/place/Atlantic-Ocean) to the fertile plains of the [Eurasian](https://www.britannica.com/place/Eurasia) frontier. Now bounded by seven nations, Poland has waxed and waned over the centuries, buffeted by the forces of regional history. In the early [Middle Ages](https://www.britannica.com/event/Middle-Ages), Poland’s small principalities and townships were subjugated by successive waves of invaders, from [Germans](https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany) and [Balts](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Balt) to [Mongols](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mongol). In the mid-1500s, united Poland was the largest state in Europe and perhaps the continent’s most powerful nation. Yet two and a half centuries later, during the [Partitions of Poland](https://www.britannica.com/event/Partitions-of-Poland) (1772–1918), it disappeared, parceled out among the contending empires of [Russia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Russia), [Prussia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Prussia), and [Austria](https://www.britannica.com/place/Austria).

[![](https://cdn.britannica.com/35/183735-050-5F8442D3/World-Data-Locator-Map-Poland.jpg?w=300)](https://cdn.britannica.com/35/183735-050-5F8442D3/World-Data-Locator-Map-Poland.jpg)

[Poland](https://cdn.britannica.com/35/183735-050-5F8442D3/World-Data-Locator-Map-Poland.jpg)(more)

[![Poland](https://cdn.britannica.com/52/3552-050-3E9D7E32/Flag-Poland.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/52/3552-050-3E9D7E32/Flag-Poland.jpg)

See article: [flag of Poland](/topic/flag-of-Poland)

**Audio File:**
National anthem of Poland

[See all media](https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland/images-videos)

Head Of Government: Prime Minister: [Donald Tusk](/biography/Donald-Tusk)_(Show more)_

Capital: [Warsaw](/place/Warsaw)_(Show more)_

Population: (2024 est.) 37,587,000_(Show more)_

Currency Exchange Rate: 1 USD equals 4.062 Polish zloty_(Show more)_

Head Of State: President: Andrzej Duda_(Show more)_

[See all facts & stats →](/facts/Poland)

Even at a time of national crisis, however, Polish [culture](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture) remained strong; indeed, it even flourished, if sometimes far from home. Polish revolutionary ideals, carried by such distinguished patriots as [Kazimierz Pułaski](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kazimierz-Pulaski) and [Tadeusz Kościuszko](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tadeusz-Kosciuszko), informed those of the [American Revolution](https://www.britannica.com/event/American-Revolution). The Polish constitution of 1791, the oldest in Europe, in turn incorporated ideals of the American and [French](https://www.britannica.com/event/French-Revolution) revolutions. Poles later settled in great numbers in the [United States](https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States), [Canada](https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada), [Argentina](https://www.britannica.com/place/Argentina), and [Australia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Australia) and carried their culture with them. At the same time, Polish artists of the [Romantic](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Romantic) period, such as pianist [Frédéric Chopin](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frederic-Chopin) and poet [Adam Mickiewicz](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Adam-Mickiewicz-Polish-poet), were leading lights on the European continent in the 19th century. Following their example, Polish [intellectuals](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intellectuals), musicians, filmmakers, and writers continue to enrich the world’s arts and letters.

Restored as a nation in 1918 but ravaged by two world wars, Poland suffered tremendously throughout the course of the 20th century. [World War II](https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II) was particularly damaging, as Poland’s historically strong Jewish population was almost wholly [annihilated](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annihilated) in the [Holocaust](https://www.britannica.com/event/Holocaust). Millions of non-Jewish Poles also died, victims of more partition and conquest. With the fall of the [Third Reich](https://www.britannica.com/place/Third-Reich), Poland effectively lost its independence once again, becoming a communist satellite state of the [Soviet Union](https://www.britannica.com/place/Soviet-Union). Nearly a half century of totalitarian rule followed, though not without strong challenges on the part of Poland’s workers, who, supported by a dissident Catholic Church, called the economic failures of the Soviet system into question.

In the late 1970s, beginning in the shipyards of [Gdańsk](https://www.britannica.com/place/Gdansk), those workers formed a nationwide movement called [Solidarity](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Solidarity) (Solidarność). Despite the arrest of Solidarity’s leadership, its newspapers kept publishing, spreading its values and agenda throughout the country. In May 1989 the Polish government fell, along with communist regimes throughout eastern Europe, beginning Poland’s rapid transformation into a [democracy](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/democracy).

[![Flags of all nations of the world. Grouping of various country flags on a world map.](https://cdn.britannica.com/64/244164-131-C5EE8DAB/nation-flags-world-map.jpg)\
\
Britannica Quiz\
\
Which Country Is Larger? Quiz](/quiz/which-country-is-larger-quiz)

That transformation has not been without its difficulties, as the Nobel Prize-winning poet [Wisława Szymborska](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wislawa-Szymborska) wrote a decade later:

> I came to the paradoxical conclusion that some workers had it much easier in the Polish People’s Republic. They didn’t have to pretend. They didn’t have to be polite if they didn’t feel like it. They didn’t have to suppress their exhaustion, boredom, irritation. They didn’t have to conceal their lack of interest in other people’s problems. They didn’t have to pretend that their back wasn’t killing them when their back was in fact killing them. If they worked in a store, they didn’t have to try to get their customers to buy things, since the products always vanished before the lines did.

![](https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp)

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By the turn of the 21st century, Poland was a market-based democracy, [abundant](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/abundant) in products of all kinds and a member of both [NATO](https://www.britannica.com/topic/North-Atlantic-Treaty-Organization) (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and the [European Union](https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-Union) (EU), allied more strongly with western Europe than with eastern Europe but, as always, squarely between them.

A land of striking beauty, Poland is punctuated by great forests and rivers, broad plains, and tall mountains. [Warsaw](https://www.britannica.com/place/Warsaw) (Warszawa), the country’s capital, combines modern buildings with historic architecture, most of which was heavily damaged during World War II but has since been faithfully restored in one of the most thoroughgoing reconstruction efforts in European history. Other cities of historic and cultural interest include [Poznań](https://www.britannica.com/place/Poznan), the seat of Poland’s first bishopric; Gdańsk, one of the most active ports on the busy [Baltic Sea](https://www.britannica.com/place/Baltic-Sea); and [Kraków](https://www.britannica.com/place/Krakow), a historic centre of arts and education and the home of Pope [John Paul II](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-John-Paul-II), who personified for the Polish their country’s struggle for independence and peace in modern times.