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* = site is in Polish |
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| Best viewed with MSIE | |
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| More History Resources |
 Auschwitz: A History Sybille Steinbacher |
 The Kingdom of Auschwitz: 1940-1945 Otto Friedrich |
 Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland Christopher R. Browning |
 Lost in Translation: A Life in a New Language Eva Hoffman |
 Neighbors: The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland Jan T. Gross |
 Heart of Europe: The Past in Poland's Present Norman Davies |
 In the Lion's Den: The Life of Oswald Rufeisen Nechama Tec |
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About the Country |
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Background: Poland gained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite country following the war, but one that was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of an independent trade union "Solidarity" that over time became a political force and by 1990 had swept parliamentary elections and the presidency. Complete freedom came with the implosion of the USSR in 1991. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe, boosting hopes for early acceptance to the EU. Poland joined the NATO alliance in 1999.
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Map courtesy of www.theodora.com/maps used with permission. |
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Location: Central Europe, east of Germany Geographic coordinates: 52 00 N, 20 00 E Area: Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Mexico Land boundaries: Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, arable land
Population: 38,626,349 (July 2004 est.) Age structure: Population growth rate: 0.02% (2004 est.) Birth rate: 10.64 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) Ethnic groups: Polish 96.7%, German 0.4%, Belarusian 0.1%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other 2.7% (2002) Religions: Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5% Languages: Polish
Government type: republic Capital: Warsaw Independence: 11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed) National holiday: Constitution Day, 3 May (1791); Independence Day, November 11 (1918) Constitution: 16 October 1997; adopted by the National Assembly on 2 April 1997; passed by national referendum 23 May 1997
Labor force: 17.6 million (2000 est.) Unemployment rate: 18% (2003) Exports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment 30.2%, intermediate manufactured goods 25.5%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 20.9%, food and live animals 8.5% (1999) Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment 38.2%, intermediate manufactured goods 20.8%, chemicals 14.3%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 9.5% (1999) Currency: 1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force Military expenditures - dollar figure: $3.5 billion (2002) |
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Source of background and statistical data: The World Factbook
For more on Poland, click here |
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