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COUNTRY HOPPING: Poland
Official name: Republic of Poland
Poland Area: 312,684 sq km
Population: 38,615,000
Capital: Warsaw
Currency: Zloty
Official language: Polish
Major cities: Cracow, Breslau, Posen, Danzig, Stettin, Kattowitz, Bromberg, Lublin
Independence Day: November 11, 1918
Major exports: Machinery, metals, chemicals, fuels and power, food, pork products, coal, clothing, electrical goods, wood and paper products
A country in eastern Europe, with the Baltic Sea towards the north, Lithuania towards the northeast, Belarus and Ukrain to the east, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic to the south, and Germany towards the west.
Physical features
Poland is a lowland country situated in the North European Plain. The highest peak Mount Rysy in the Tatry Mountains measure 8,199 feet. Central Polish Lowlands, the Baltic Heights, and the Coastal Plain constitute the northern zone. Silesian Plain, the Little Polish Upland, the Western Carpathian mountain system, which includes the Tatry Mountains and the Beskids, form the southern zone.
Climate
Both continental and moderate climate prevail here. The climate of the eastern part is humid continental while western part experiences marine coastal climate. Weather conditions are highly variable. The average annul rainfall is about 610 mm, but it varies in certain areas from 1000 to 1500mm. The warmest temperatures may exceed 40°C and the lowest may drop below -42°C in Poland.
Ethnicity & religion
About 98 per cent of the people are of Polish origin. Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Germans form the minorities. Virtually 100 per cent of the population is Christian.
Language
Polish is the official language of the republic. German is taught in some schools and Russian was once the second language of the people during the communist rule. Now English is mostly taught as the second language.
Diet
The main meal consists of soup, meat or fish, salad, and potatoes. Pastries or ice cream are eaten as an afternoon snack. Some common dishes include pierogi (dumplings with cream cheese and potatoes), uszka (a kind of ravioli), bigos (sausage, mushrooms, and cabbage), braised pork and cabbage, poppy-seed desserts, and cheesecake. Bread, dairy products, and canned fish are used in plenty. Fruit compote is served with the main meal. The liquid of the compote, which is home made, is sipped during the meal, and the remaining fruit is eaten at the end of the meal.
Sports
Soccer is very popular in Poland. People also participate in athletics, cycling, table tennis, skiing, basketball, volleyball, and various individual sports. Bridge is a favourite card game.
Government
Poland has a limited presidential political system. The executive president, elected for a five-year term in a two-round majority contest, has responsibility for military and foreign affairs and has the authority to appoint the prime minister, dissolve parliament, call referenda, veto bills, and impose martial law. There is a two-chambered legislature, comprising a 460-member lower assembly, the Sejm (parliament), and a 100-member upper chamber, the Senat (senate). The Senat has the power of veto in specified areas, which can be overridden by a two-thirds Sejm vote.
Wildlife
Fallow deer, grey wolf, red deer, moose, common hamster, brown bear, European Suslik, Eurasian badger, pine marten, red fox, common dormouse, red squirrel, wild boar, wildcat, green toad and Eurasian otter constitute the wildlife of the country.
The birds found here are peregrine falcon, golden oriole, blue tit, whooper swan, European robin, song thrush, hoopoe, great spotted woodpecker, osprey, common eider, great bustard and bohemian waxwing.
History:
966: Slavic tribes under Mieszko I, leader of Piast dynasty, adopted Christianity and united to form first Polish state.
1241: Devastated by Mongols.
13th-14th centuries: German and Jewish refugees settled among Slav population.
1386: Jagellonian dynasty came to power.
1569: Poland united with Lithuania to become the largest state in Europe.
1572: Jagellonian dynasty became extinct.
Mid-17th century: Defeat in war against Russia, Sweden, and Brandenburg (in Germany).
1772-95: Divided between Russia, which ruled the northeast; Prussia, the west, including Pomerania; and Austria in the south-centre.
1815: After Congress of Vienna, Russian eastern portion of Poland re-established as kingdom within Russian Empire.
1830 & 1863: Uprisings against Russian rule.
1892: Nationalist Polish Socialist Party (PPS) founded.
1918: Independent Polish republic established after World War I, with Marshal Jozef Pilsudski, founder of the PPS, elected president.
1919-21: Abortive advance into Lithuania and Ukraine.
1926: Pilsudski seized full power in coup and established autocratic regime.
1935: On Pilsudski’s death, military regime held power under Marshal Sacutemigly.
1939: Invaded by Germany; western Poland incorporated into Nazi Reich (state) and the rest became a German colony; 6 million Poles were killed in the next five years.
1944-45: Liberated from Nazi rule by Soviet Union’s Red Army; boundaries redrawn westwards at Potsdam Conference.
1947: Communist People’s Republic proclaimed after manipulated election.
1949: Joined Comecon.
Early 1950s: Harsh Stalinist rule under communist leader Boleslaw Beirut.
1955: Joined Warsaw Pact Defence organization.
1956: Poznan strikes and riots. The moderate Wladyslaw Gomulka installed as Polish United Workers’ Party (PUWP) leader.
1970: Gomulka replaced by Edward Gierek after Gdansk riots.
1980: Solidarity, led by Lech Walesa, emerged as free trade union following Gdansk disturbances.
1981: Martial law imposed by General Wojciech Jaruzelski.
1983: Martial law ended.
1984: Amnesty for 35,000 political prisoners.
1988: Solidarity-led strikes and demonstrations for pay increases. Reform-communist Mieczyslaw Rakowski became prime minister.
1989: Agreement to legalize Solidarity, allow opposition parties, and adopt a more democratic constitution, after round-table talks. Widespread success for Solidarity in first open
elections in 40 years; noncommunist grand coalition government formed, headed by Tadeusz Mazowiecki.
1990: PUWP dissolved and re-formed as Democratic Left Alliance (SLD). Walesa was elected president and Jan Bielecki became prime minister.
1991: Shock-therapy economic restructuring programme, including large-scale privatization, produced sharp fall in living standards and rise in unemployment. Unpopular Bielecki resigned.
1992: Political instability continued.
1993: Polish economy was the first in Central Europe to grow since collapse of communism.
1994: Joined NATO’s partnership for peace programme; last Russian troops left Poland.
1995: Ex-communist Jozef Oleksy replaced Pawlak as prime minister. Walesa narrowly defeated by Aleksander Kwasniewski, leader of the SLD, in presidential election.
1996: Oleksy resigned as prime minister amid allegations of spying for Russia’s secret service.
1997: New constitution approved. Poland invited to join NATO and begin negotiations to join European Union. General election won by Solidarity Electoral Action (AWS). Coalition government formed, led by Jerzy Buzek.
1998: Number of provinces reduced from 49 to 16.
1999: Poland became full member of NATO.
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