The document provides a history of Poland, covering major periods and events such as the formation of the first Polish state in the 10th century, key battles and wars throughout Polish history including World War I and II, periods of occupation and communism under Soviet rule, and the formation of modern democratic Poland in the late 20th century. Major figures and achievements are also highlighted, such as key kings, historians who chronicled Polish history, military leaders, Polish Nobel laureates, and presidents of the third Polish Republic.

1. The history of
Poland

2. Where is Poland?

3. National symbols
The national flag
The national emblem Anthem

4. During the formation of the Polish country , lands among
the Baltic Sea, the Vistula River, the Odra and the Noteć
belonged to tribes of Mazowszanie, Polanie, Wiślanie,
Lędzianie and Goplanie. These tribes are included to the
West Słowian Group. The lands of Poland at that time
were not much populated and there were mostly rural
areas. In the X th century the most powerful tribe was
Polanie. Around Gniezno and Poznań they have set their
own country. Under the reign of dukes from the Piast
Dynasty, the Polish history was born. A very important
event this history was the Baptism, which took place in
AD 966.

5. The first King of Poland
The first crowned king of Poland
was Bolesław Chrobry. He was
Mieszko I
crowned in 1025. He was a son
of Mieszko I and Czech
princess Dobrawa. His
achievement is the Union in
Gniezno in 1000.
Bolesław Chrobry

6. The battle of Grunwald
It was fought on 15 July in 1410. The Polish-Lithuanian
army was fighting against the army of the Teutonic
Order.
It was one of the biggest battles of medieval Europe,
in which the Polish defeated the Teutonic Knights.

7. The XVII th century-a war century
 The symbol of great
victories of Rzeczpospolita
in XVII century were
hussars. They were the
main type of Polish army.
 The battle of Vienna
(conflict with Russia and
Turkey)

8.  After many battles fought with Turkey, finally the hero
appeared. He was hetman Jan III Sobieski, who was to
be a king. He pushed away the Turkish army in Vienna
in 1683.
 Swedish Deluge.
 In the summer in 1655 the Swedish army approached
Poland. Most of the country was occupied, however
the attack on Jasna Góra caused the war of the whole
country. The war ended in making peace in Oliwa in
1660. According to it, the king of Poland Jan Kazimierz
resigned his rights to Swedish throne.

9. Who wrote down the Polish
history?
I. Gall Anonim
He was the author of the first Polish History
Chronicle.
II. Wincenty Kadłubek
He is also the author of the Polish History
Chronicles from legendary times to 1202.
III. Jan Długosz

10. Wars of the XX th century
Poland during the Ist World War /1914-
1918/-Polish army sided with either the
Central Powers or the Entente. The Polish
wanted to form their own divisions to take
part in the Ist World War in order to show
their willingness to fight for their
independence.

11. Józef Piłsudski was one of the
most courageous and determined
people. He was the Temporary
Chief of State from 1918, and
between 1919 and 1922- the Chief
of State. He was in charge of the
Polish army during the Polish-
Bolsheviks War. He was also in
charge when Poland was attacked
by the Red Army, which was
spreading communism to the west.

12. The miracle at the Vistula
It was a battle
between 13th and
22nd August 1920
during the Polish-
Bolsheviks War. The
Polish army with the
leader - Józef
Piłsudski-has stopped
and defeated the Red
Army, as a result not
only Poland but also
Western Europe were
rescued.

13. The Polish fighting abroad -the Home army (in
Polish „Armia Krajowa”) with Władysław Anders in
charge, the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade (pl
„10 Brygada Kawalerii Pancernej”) with Stanisław
Maczek as a leader, the Polish Independent
Carpathian Brigade (pl „Samodzielna Brygada
Strzelców Karpackich”) which was led by the
general Zygmunt Szyszko-Bohusz, the Polish
Army with the general Zygmund Berling in charge.
They fought in the west under the command of
Władysław Sikorski.

14. The Second World War
The IInd World War was the most destructive
conflict in the human history. It involved almost
the whole world. Its results were enormous in
Poland too. According to the official records,
around 6 million Polish citizens died including
approximately 3 million of the Jews and people of
Jewish origin. The real number of casualties is
difficult to estimate because there were also
victims of the Stalin’s terror and the further
repression after the war. The material damage
was around 38% of the National Wealth and a lot
of cities were turned into ruins.

15. The Warsaw Uprising
1st August to 2nd October 1944. It
was an armoured rebellion against
the German Army which occupied
Warsaw. It was organized by the
Home Army as a part of the
Operation Tempest (pl „Akcja
Burza”). At the end of the uprising
the rebels were defeated and
thousands of people died, almost
entire Warsaw was destroyed. But
in fact, it was the evidence of
courage and the best example of
bravery and heroism of the Polish
Nation.

16. The Polish oppression - times of Stalin and the
Polish People’s Republic (in polish Polska
Republika Ludowa - PRL).
From 1944 to 1989 the communists were ruling
Poland. The Polish People’s Republic was a
country fully depended on the Soviet Union. The
Polish United Worker’s Party („Polska
Zjednoczona Partia Robotnicza” - PZPR) ruled
the PRL. The government was putting the
communists’ ideas into practice. In the PRL there
were many social uprisings against the
communists. They were put down violently and
took place between 1956 and 1970.

17. Between 1944 and 1989 Poland
wasn’t a fully sovereign country.
During these years authorities were
gradually changing. The terror was
decreased and a range of freedom
was broaden. Although it wasn’t the
same as in Western Europe. At the
PRL times the society was
protesting. These strikes were
mainly connected with the politics:
lack of sovereignty and freedom of
speech; and with the economy: the
low standard of life.

18. A very important episode of those times was a
legalizing of the Independent Self-governing
Trade Union „Solidarity” (Niezależny
Samorządny Związek Zawodowy- NSZZ
„Solidarność”). It was an opposing organization
consists of over 10 million people. Lech Wałęsa
was in charge of it. In December 1990 he
became the President of the Republic of Poland.
He was chosen in the grand elections. He was a
president until 1995.

19. Martial Law
Was announced in Poland on 13th December
1991. Poland was ruled by the Military Council of
National Salvation (pl Wojskowa Rada Ocalenia
Narodowego) with Wojciech Jaruzelski as a
leader. The official reason of The Martial Law
was bad economic situation in the country.
During that period around 10000 people were
imprisoned and interned. They were mostly
activists from „Solidarity”. It finished in 1983.

20. The formation of the III
Republic of Poland
 The first period of the III Republic of Poland /from 1990
to 2000/ was connected with building a legal basis of the
independent and democratic country.
 1990-the general elections for a president
 1991-the parliamentary elections
 1997-the Constitution was written
 Poland has a policy of good relations with all the
countries especially the neighbouring ones.
 From 1999 Poland is a partner of NATO.
 From 2004 Poland is a part of the European Union.

21. Great and famous Polish
people
 John Paul II (Karol Wojtyła) the
Polish Pope from 16th October 1978 to
2nd April 2005.
 On 16th October 1978 the sensational
news was revealed-the Cardinal Karol
Wojtyła, archbishop of Cracow, was
elected to be the Pope. He chose a new
name - John Paul II. He was the first
pope from many centuries who wasn’t
Italian. To the Polish it was a source of
pride, joy and hope. However the
government of the PRL was completely
astonished and panicked.

22. The Nobel Laureates
Maria Curie-Skłodowska in the field
of Physics in 1903, in Chemistry in 1911.
Henryk Sienkiewicz in the field of
Literature in 1905.
Władysław Reymont in Literature in
1924.

23. The Nobel Laureates
Czesław Miłosz in Literature in 1980.
Lech Wałęsa won The Nobel Peace
Prize in 1983.
Wisława Szymborska in Literature in
1996.

24. Presidents of RP
Wojciech Jaruzelski 19.07.1989 - 22.12.1990
Lech Wałęsa 22.12.1990 - 22.12.1995
Aleksander Kwaśniewski 22.12.1995 - 23.12.2005

25. Presidents of RP
Lech Kaczyński 23.12.2005 - 10.04.2010
Bronisław Komorowski 06.08.2010