2. World Wars’ effect on Poland and their Independence After WWI Poland regained its independence in November 1918 and the Second Polish Republic They then proved there independence after the Polish Soviet War in which they greatly defeated the Red Army Then in September 1939 During WWII Nazi Germany invaded and the Soviets invaded which broke the Soviet-Polish Non-Aggression Pact. Poland was then split in two one half controlled by Germany and the other by the Soviets. Of all the countries in WWII Poland lost the highest percentage of its citizens. After the war Poland had been shifted westward and was twenty percent smaller.
3. Communist Poland After WWII the Soviet Union instituted a communist government in Poland. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the creation of the independent trade union called, Solidarity and eventually became a political force. In 1989 the Solidarity party won in parliamentary elections which led to Lech Wałęsa a Solidarity candidate won the presidential election in 1990 which ended communist rule in Poland.
4. Religion Up until WWII Poland was a diverse religious society where Jewish, Protestant, and Christian Orthodox minorities got along with the religious majority the Roman Catholics. Though after the Holocaust Poland became overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. Now and since 1989, the statute of the Polish constitution, allowed for freedom of religion.
5. Polish Cuisine Polish food is heavily influence by Europe (a lot from France and Italy) and especially its surrounding countries. Their food is heavy in meat, typically chicken and pork, and things like winter vegetables, such as cabbage, spices, and noodles. The preparation of the traditional food is very time intensive and for special occasions it can take days to prepare.
6. In Poland the most popular sport is football which is what we call soccer. Track and field, basketball, boxing, ski jumping, fencing, handball, ice hockey, swimming, volleyball, and weightlifting are also popular sports. Sports
7. Sources All information was found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland Sources for the pictures are written in the note section on each slide
