Poland suffered tremendously during World War II, with millions killed and many cities destroyed, after which it fell under Soviet control and communist rule for decades, during which time the government persecuted opposition, restricted freedoms, and used propaganda to promote communist ideals and policies while Poland remained dependent on the Soviet Union.

1. Time after ending
World War II

2. Destroying the country during the war
During World War II Poland was
occupied by Germany and Russia.
6 million of Polish were killed.
Many cities were destroyed
including the capital – Warsaw, also
Wrocław, Gdańsk, Szczecin...

3. Borders after the war
Polish borders were
changed after the
war: the eastern
lands were joined to
The Soviet Union,
Poland received
Śląsk, Pomorze and
Mazury – in previous
years they belonged
to Germany.

4. Communism in Poland
The end of the war did
not mean for Poland
independent.
The governments
of The Soviet Union,
The Great Britain and
USA during different
meetings decided about
lot of Poland
and its borders.
We got under Russian influence what ment communism
and lack of independent.

5. Characteristic of communism system:
• one party – Polaska Zjednoczona Partia
Robotnicza - which ruled in country and
decided about everything: society, trade,
industry...
• farming belonged only to government,
• private trade was closed down,
• the workers were the main social group,
• lack of religion meanning,
• lack of freedom of speech,
• terror and compulsion behind the law.

6. Three and six years plans
Polish economy developed
thanks to economical plans.
First three years plan –
realized between 1947
and 1949 was the only one
succeded. During that
time Polish economy was
rebuilt after the war's
destroyes.
Second six years plan –
realized between 1950
and 1955 was connected
with developement
of metal and heavy industry.

7. Warsaw
rebuilding
According to three years plan
all main places in country had
to be rebuilt. The symbol
of that time was rebuilding
of Warsaw which was
completly destroyed during
the war in 1945.

8. Building
of Nowa Huta
Building of Nowa Huta was
one of the most important
assumption of six years
plan. It was a city for
workers of new metal
factory.
Today Nowa Huta is a part
of Cracow.

9. Stalinism
in Poland
The Stalinist era are the years
following World War II until
Józef Stalin's death.
During that time (40' and 50')
the communism was the
strongest. The communistic
power was real and unlimited
and our country was
dependent of The Soviet
Union.

10. Persecution during Stalinism
The government fought
with the opposition in
very restrictive way.
People were
persecuted in
different ways: object
trials, capital
punishments, years
in prison – all of
these caused that the
opposition was
destroyed.

11. Also church was
atteacked. The
example of that
persecution was
arresting of Stefan
Wyszyński in 1953
– the Primate of
Poland.

12. Propaganda
During communism time propaganda was very important. It
presented what was good and what was neccessary to do and
think. It was connected with politic, industry, cultural and social life.
Communistic power was strongly connected with propaganda and
terror.
„We build the strength of Poland”
„Students – we work for you
and we wait for you.”

14. After the war Poland
as a country
dependent of
The Soviet Union
found itself in
opposition to western
countries and USA.
Officially America
was believed as our
enemy.

15. Subbotniks were days of volunteer
work organising by schools, offices,
factories. Subbotniks were mostly
organized for cleaning the streets
Subbotniks of garbage, fixing public amenities,
collecting recyclable material, and
other community services.

16. Authors:
Karolina Pakulska
Weronika Wojdacz