1. Poland: Past and Present
Poland is
located in
Europe’s
Center
Note: in the east Europe
stretches to the Ural
mountains, which are off
the map
2. • Notes: “located in Europe’s Center“ is literally true. If one draws one
straight line from the Norway’s North Shore (Europe’ furthest
northern point) – to Cyprus, (its farthest point south) and a second
straight line from Portugal’s to the Ural Mountains that separate
Europe from Asia (not shown on this map) the two lines cross in
Poland.
3. The country is
bordered by
the Baltic Sea
to the North
and the
Carpathian
Mountains to
the South
4. The highest Carpathian Mountains, the Tatras, rise above the
resort town of Zakopane and are belowed by the Poles.
5. Warsaw, the country’s capital for the last 500
years, is a bustling modern metoropolis studded
with skyscrapers but also possessing many
palaces and an Old Town.
6. • THE ROYAL CASTLE
Zamek Krolewski
• Built by royal order of the king, then rebuilt by the efforts of the
nation, the Royal Castle in Warsaw was the seat of kings from the
17th century on. Totally destroyed during World War II, it has been
restored to its former beauty during the 1970s, thanks to the
generous donations of Poles and numerous Polish communities
abroad. Now, as a splendid museum, it is open to the public.
7. • THE WILANOW PALACE
• Wilanow is a Baroque palace and park complex situated in the
outskirts of Warsaw. Formerly it was a residence of King John III
Sobieski. The Baroque palace and garden complex is one of the
finest in Poland. Unfortunately, the Nazis plundered the palace
during World War II, carrying off most of its treasures. Nevertheless,
thanks to a successful campaign to reclaim the looted property, the
palace that can be seen at Wilanow today is no less rich and
beautiful than it was in the days of John III. The palace has been
converted into a museum of interior decorations, while its former
carriage house shelters the Poster Museum.
8. • THE ROYAL LAZIENKI PALACE AND GARDENS
• In the second half of the 17th century, the King's Prime Minister
commissioned a celebrated master builder to construct two buildings
(baths and an hermitage) in the old river bed of the Vistula. The property
was purchased in 1794 by King Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski. Over
the next thirty years, the King developed the site into his summer
residence. An admirer of beauty and a lover of the Arts, the King
transformed the property into one of Europe's most beautiful palace and
garden complexes, covering a total of 73 hectares.
• To the inhabitants of Warsaw, the Lazienki Park is nowadays a favorite
place for walks. Most of the palace buildings are open to the public as
museum facilities, and also provide a splendid background for theatrical
performances, which are staged in the park amphitheater during the
summer months. Sunday concerts of music are given at the foot of the
monument to Frederic Chopin, the famous Polish composer and pianist.
9. During WWII Warsaw was 98% destroyed, but it has since been completely
rebuilt An exception is the monument to the unknown soldier which is located
in a piece of a collonade that had formed part of a royal palace.
10. WORLD WAR II
• The German onslaught on Poland on September 1, 1939, started
the Second World War. On September 3, Britain and France
declared war on Germany. On September 17, the Soviet Union
invaded Poland.
11. • Poland was under occupation by two cruel and totalitarian states.
The Soviet Union snatched 50% of Poland's territory, inhabited by
14.3 million people, including 6.5 million Poles. During eighteen
months of occupation the most active individuals from all walks and
domains of life were murdered. Hundreds of thousands of people
were arrested and sent to Soviet concentration camps. Together
with members of their families, upwards of 1.5 million Poles were
imprisoned in the Gulag system. Most of them died of exhaustion
and famine. In the spring of 1940, 15.000 Polish officers, who had
been taken prisoners of war, were murdered at Katyn, Kharkov and
Miednoie. Among them were commissioned officers and doctors,
scientists, lawyers, engineers, chaplains and teachers called up for
service at the outbreak of war.
12. Poland: Past and Present
Poland is a fertile land and
agriculture dominates
much of the countryside
13. Poland: Past and Present
Historical timelines
966 – Mieszko I accepts Christianity on behalf of the Nation: History begins
1374, September 17 – In Kosice, King Louis I pledges to the Polish Nobility no
Royal imposition of taxes without consent; integrity of the Nation’s territory ...
1505, May 3 – In Radom, the Nihil Novi Constitution adopted by Sejm and
Senate. No introduction of new laws without consent of both Seim and Senate
15. 1573, 28 February – The Seym (parliament) meeting as the Confederation of
Warsaw assures the practice of any religion without discrimination or penalty
1573, 4 April to 20 May – Election of King and his signing the Pacta Conventa
promising not to declare war, raise an army, levy taxes without consent of Seym
1791, 3 May – Enactment of Europe’s first written Constitution
16. Poland: Past and Present
Poland in 1772
Poland 1918 - 1939
Poland since 1945
17. Poland: Past and Present
Confederation of Bar – 29 February 1768 – aimed at Russian garrisons (Pulaski)
Kosciuszko Uprising – March 24, 1794 – Krakow - For liberty, integrity, and sovereignty
November Uprising – November 30, 1930 – Warsaw - For independence
January Uprising – January 22, 1863 – Warsaw -For independence
Wielkopolskie Uprising – December 27, 1918 – Poznan – to free Wielkoposka
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising – April 1943 – To perish with dignity
Warsaw Uprising – August 1, 1944 – To liberate city in advance of Red Army
Poznan Demonstration – June 28, 1956 – For truth, freedom and bread
Gdansk Events – December 12-22, 1970 – For bread …
18. Poland: Past and Present
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising – April 1943 – To perish with dignity
Warsaw Uprising – August 1, 1944 – To liberate city in advance of Red Army
Poznan Demonstration – June 28, 1956 – For truth, freedom and bread
Gdansk Events – December 12-22, 1970 – For bread …
19. Solidarity
• In the summer of 1980, Poland was swept by a wave of strikes.
Lech Walesa assumed leadership of the strike committee at the
Gdansk Shipyard. The most outstanding Polish intellectuals became
the workers' advisers. The authorities had to institute negotiations
on the a list of 21 demands, which, together with pay raises and
many other things, called for an end to censorship and the
establishment of free trade unions. Devoid of any program, the
ruling group agreed to make concessions. Within two months, the
enormous, ten-million-strong Solidarity trade union [Solidarnosc]
came into being. It was a union and, at the same time, a reform and
independence-oriented social movement, resorting to peaceful
methods only.
20. 20 years of liberty 2009
Anniversaries
• Ladies and Gentleman,
• This year marks a series of anniversaries that encourage debate on the place
and role of Poland in Europe and the nature and directions of European
integration. The twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Communist regime bears
particular significance for Poland and its people.
• Solidarity, bravery and responsibility: these are the virtues that brought freedom
to nations oppressed by totalitarian rule and paved the way for a new order in
Europe. These principles inspired people to persevere in their determination to
struggle for a Europe of fundamental social values: human and civil rights,
freedom, right to a life of dignity and right to work. Indeed, the values of
solidarity, bravery and responsibility were what ensured that this struggle –
which reached its peak in 1980s – was waged using the force of argument
rather than the argument of force.
• Resistance against Communism in Europe would not have been possible
without the combined efforts of many nations. Yet it was the bravery of Polish
people in championing freedom, sovereignty, openness of mind and heart to
another human being – as personified by the Solidarity movement and a sense
of civic responsibility for future generations – that fuelled the collapse of
Communism on the Old Continent in 1980s.
21. • The Round Table Talks and the region’s first democratic election on
4 June 1989 marked the birth of a new democratic Post-Cold War
Europe, the end of totalitarian rule and the arrival of long-awaited
freedom in Central Europe.
• The anniversary celebrations and the political and cultural events
accompanying them will provide an opportunity to promote our
country. Poland is proud of its image of a country which loves, and
wants to share, freedom. We believe that freedom and its
underpinning values, namely solidarity, bravery and responsibility,
are a quality mark of a united Europe, a stepping stone towards a
common European identity.
• Let us therefore manifest our joy and pride across the world in 2009
in keeping with the slogan “Freedom’89. Made in Poland”. ”.
• Radosław Sikorski
22. At the end of WWII Poland
found itself consigned to the
Soviet zone of influence and
a was imposed a communist
government. The elevation
of Cardinal Wojtyla of
Krakow in 1978 to the
Papacy as John Paul II and
his pastoral visits to Poland
gave the nation courage
23. In 1980, the workers at the shipyards in
Gdansk, led by an electrician by name
Lech Walesa, went on strike and won
the right to form a independent (non-
communist) union: “Solidarity”
24. Soon the Soldarnosc had over
10 million members and the
communist government felt
threatened.
On December 13, 1981, Gen.
Jaruzelski, the head of the
government declared matrial
law and interned Lech Walesa
and thousands of other
Solidarity members.
25. The Tables are turned:
December 22, 1990
Lech Walesa having
won a landslide election
is sworn is as Poland’s
first post WWII non
communist President
26. March 12, 1999: Poland accedes to NATO
May 1, 2004: Poland accedes to the
European Union
Aleksander Kwasniewski
Poland’s President 1995 - 2005
27. Poland - Present
Donald Tusk and Lech Kaczynski, respectively
Poland’s current Prime minister and President
