Poland

The Poland ( Polska in Polish), officially the Republic of Poland ( Rzeczpospolita Polska in Polish), is a Pays of Central Europe populated by more than 38 million inhabitants. It is bordered by the the Baltic, the Russian Enclave of Kaliningrad and the Lithuania in north, the Bielorussia and the Ukraine in the east, the Slovakia and the Czech Republic in the south, and the Germany in the west. The country also divides maritime borders with the Denmark and the Sweden.

Old State of the Eastern bloc during the Cold war, Poland is member of UNO since the October 24th 1945, of the the Council of Europe since the November 26th 1991, of the European Union and signatory of the Convention of Schengen since May 1st 2004.

Geography

See also: Geography of Poland

The Polish landscape consists almost entirely of grounds constituting the European Plaine North. The south is however marked by the solid mass of the Carpates which forms a natural border with the Czech Republic and the Slovakia. The country has of a broad opening on the Baltic facilitating the agricultural or manufactured exportations of products and raw materials (coal), and allowing the creation of shipyards. The border with the Germany was fixed on the line Oder-Neisse, of the name of the river and its affluent located at the west of the country.

Cours d' water

Poland is traversed by two Fleuve S major which is thrown in the Baltic. The the Vistula, long 1047 km, crosses several Polish big cities of which Warsaw, the capital. The Oder, length 854 km, delimits as for him part of the border between Germany and Poland. The country counts also Rivière S of first importance such as the Warta, a Affluent of long Oder the 808 km, the Bug, a long affluent of the 772 km the Vistula, as well as the Alle and the Angrapa.

The majority of the rivers of Poméranie and of the neighbouring areas finish their race in the Baltic, but in the Beskides source some take Ruisseau X which indirectly flow in the Black Sea, either via the Dniestr, or via the Orava, then Váh, and finally of the the Danube.

The rivers Polish are for a long time used for navigation. The Viking S, for example, were accustomed to going up the Vistula and Oder. With the the Middle Ages and the beginning of the modern era, when the Poland-Lithuania were the attic of the Europe, the routing of Céréale S and other agricultural produce along the Vistula towards Gdańsk then the Western Europe became particularly important.

Geology

The geological structure of Poland results from the collision of the European continents and African during the last sixty million years on the one hand, and of the effect of the Quaternaire in the north of Europe on the other hand, these two phenomena having led to the formation of the Sudètes and the Carpates. The plains of the north of Poland comprise grounds primarily made up of Sable or sandy Marne, while in the south, the Vallée S dug during the glacial era often contain Lœss. The plate X of the area Cracow - Częstochowa, which form besides one of oldest the massive of planet, the Piénines, and the Western Tatras consist of Calcaire, while the High Tatras, the Beskides, and the Monts of the Giants are mainly made up of Granite and Basalte.

Climate

The climate is of type oceanic in north and the west and becomes gradually more continental while going towards the south and is. The summers are tepid, with average temperatures varying between 20°C and 27°C. The winters are cold, with average temperatures turning around 3°C with the North-West and -8°C in the North-East. Although precipitations remain regular throughout the year, the winter is drier than the summer, especially in the east. One finds traces of Moraine S which make it possible to the scientists to say that there was before glaciers in this zone of the sphere (in particular at the time of the wurm diluvial period).

Main cities

See also: Towns of Poland, more big cities of Poland

Warsaw (1,7 million inhabitants), Łódź (: 803000), Cracow (: 757000), Wrocław (: 635000), Poznań (: 578000), Gdańsk (: 458000), Szczecin (: 417000), Bydgoszcz (: 387000), Lublin (: 356000), Katowice (: 345000)

History

See also: History of Poland, Chronology of the History of Poland

Based at the 10th century on the territory of the Polanes, the Poland becomes with the Moyen-âge a power impossible to circumvent in Central Europe. Its first sovereign is Mieszko I {{er}}, founder of the dynasty of Piast, which reigns on Poland from 966 to 1370. The capital is then Gniezno, in the East of Poznań.

Advanced station of the Occident roman catholic vis-a-vis the worlds orthodoxe (Russian, Belorusse, Ukrainian), pagan (Baltic), and Moslem (turco-Mongolian), it is also confronted with the Drang nach Osten (Germanic push towards the east), which he comes from the Saint Empire or the teutonic Chevaliers. Located at the crossroads of several worlds, and deprived of natural borders, Poland is extremely exposed with the invasions. Those, particularly at the 13th century, will ruin the country (invasions of the Mongolian Gold Horde of 1248 to 1275).

Casimir III Large the, last king of the dynasty of Piast, unifies Poland.

It reaches its apogee with 15th and 16th centuries, under the Lithuanian dynasty of the Jagellon, with Ladislas II. The Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodów ( LMBO publica of two nations ) resulting from the union of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Union of Lublin - 1569), then covers a territory which “went from the Baltique to the Black Sea” and to the doors of Moscow. The capital was then Cracow, in Small Poland. Casimir IV joins together even for a small period the crowns of Bohemian (1471) and of Hungary (1490) to that of Poland.

The Rzeczpospolita obtained a new political system in addition from Rome Antique, the Aristocratie. The King was indeed elected, and nonhereditary there. Admittedly, this “republic” did not give the right to vote that with only the noble S. That accounted for however almost 10% of the population and more still around Warsaw, become capital at the 17th century. The noble ones obliged the king to yield his prerogatives, in particular as for the taxes, the army and justice. Thus, the Polish monarch, at the time where European monarchies (France, Spain, Austria, Prussia) “absolutisaient themselves”, on the contrary was weakened.

The religious tolerance was another major characteristic of Rzeczpospolita. If the major part of the peasants had remained catholic (in the years 1980,9 Polish out of 10 was baptized), of many noble had converted with Protestantism, Lutheran but especially calvinist. In addition, Poland had given shelter (in particular in the town of Leszno) to the “Czech Brothers” (Hussites) who wanted to escape Re-catholicisation from Bohemia undertaken by Habsbourg. Lastly, Rzeczpospolita counted a very important Jewish population (5 with 10  % of the total population), in particular in the cities and especially in the oriental party of the country.

In 1570, the Agreement of Sandomierz preached the peaceful coexistence of the religions. It was reinforced in 1572 by the Confederation of Warsaw. The tolerance was so large that the Polish nobility forced Henri de Valois (1572-1574, future Henri III in France), to be elected king de Pologne, to grant more freedoms to the French Protestants.

But this tolerance was reduced gradually to the 17th century, in particular after 1655, when Protestant Sweden invades Poland and was stopped with Częstochowa, in front of the sanctuary marial of Jasna Góra, whose prior, Augustyn Kordecki, was with the head of troops numerically much lower. The reign of Jean III Sobieski (1674-1696) was marked by construction, as from 1677, of the castle of Wilanów to Warsaw, and by the victory of its troops in 1683, called in reinforcement by the European powers and the Pape to face a Turkish offensive of great width under the walls of Vienna. Military Victoire who will have an important political consequence because the Habsbourg S, traditional rivals of the Poles, are saved and will divide later the country with Russia and Prussia. This victory is also at the origin of the Growing S, the first Viennoiserie S, whose form points out the symbol of the Othoman flag.

The Rzeczpospolita is little by little victim of a long decline, because of its anarchistic political system, and of the many invasions (Swedish, Russian, Turkish, Prussian). At the end of the 18th century, Poland loses its independence, divided three times successively between its neighbors (1772, 1793 and 1795). The first division of Poland, in 1772, led to a civic start. This start brought in 1791 to the proclamation of a Constitution, definitely less “revolutionary” that of France, but nevertheless perceived like too dangerous for its neighbors, from where the second division. Second division which caused a revolt carried out by a hero of the war of American independence, Tadeusz Kościuszko. This revolt will serve as a pretext for the third division: Poland is striped chart.

Throughout the 19th century, except the end of the Napoleonean period (Grand Duchy of Warsaw), Poland lives itself quartered, divided between Russia, Prussia (then Germany), and Austria (then Austria-Hungary). It recovers its independence only in November 1918.

As the majority of the countries of Europe of Center-Are, except for Czechoslovakia, the democratic ideals of the first times did not last. The mode quickly became authoritative, in particular under the influence of Józef Piłsudski.

The German invasion of the 1 {{er}} September 1939 starts the Second world war. The Wehrmacht reaches Warsaw in 7 days thanks to its strategy of the “Blitzkrieg” and with its technological superiority (the capitulation of Warsaw: September 28th, 1939). In the east, the Soviet invasion of September 17th destroys any hope of resistance. The country is again divided, this time between the Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. The Polish government leaves Poland and comes to take refuge in France. The various Polish ministries settle with the castle of Pignerolle (South-eastern of Angers) as to Angers which becomes in fact the temporary political capital of Poland. The Polish official government in exile will officiate until the invasion of France by the German troops in June 1940. The Polish armies fight on many faces and constitute by its manpower the 4th allied army at the time of the conflict to with dimensions of the Soviet, American and British soldiers.

At the end of the second world war, the Soviets preserve the oriental party of the country, populated mainly by the Ukrainians, annexed in 1939, and Poland “  glisse  ” towards the west, by absorbing the south of Eastern Prussia, Poméranie and Silesia. A reason used by Moscow to expel the Germans of these territories, which they had populated for already several centuries, is that these territories were historically Polish. It becomes a popular republic member of the Warsaw Pact.

In years 1970 and 80, violent revolts burst in the country. In this climate, the election with the throne of Saint Pierre of the archbishop of Cracow, Karol Wojtyła (Jean-Paul II), in October 1978, is lived by the communist authorities like a provocation.

In 1980, is born the independent trade union Solidarność (Solidarity), directed by Lech Wałęsa. The general Wojciech Jaruzelski declares the law martial on December 13rd 1981.

In 1989, take place " the Rondes" Tables; , meeting between the government and Solidarność, which will allow the birth carefully Poland news, directed by Tadeusz Mazowiecki. At this period, Poland is the first country of the Pact to be released from the Soviet influence, and to form a government nonrelated to the Soviet block.

In 1990 Lech Wałęsa is elected President of the Republic. But it is beaten five years later by the former Communist Aleksander Kwaśniewski (1995-2005).

This period made it possible Poland to integrate, and this since 1999, NATO. In 2003, the the United States allot to him the command of a zone of occupation in Iraq. May 1st 2004, it integrates the European Union.

October 23rd 2005, is elected the new president: Lech Kaczyński .

Relations with the European Union

Policy

See also: Political of Poland, List of the presidents of Poland, Prime Ministers of Poland

Poland is a democratic republic. The Prime Minister is the president of the Council of Ministers. Its government is responsible in front of the Lower House. The President, elected official by the universal direct suffrage for 5 years, is the Head of the State. He names the chief of the government and has a right to veto which can be raised by the Lower House only in the majority qualified of the three fifths. The Parliament is composed of two rooms: the Diet - in Polish Sejm made up of 460 seats and the Senate composed of 100 seats.

2006

The May 5th 2006, the Polish government sees the entry in load of several ministers close to the extreme-right-hand side Roman Giertych, directing Ligue of the Polish families (LPR - Liga Polskich Rodzin), is with the head of State education. This last for insisting in the school programs on Christian values of eternal Poland . As for Andrzej Lepper, chief of the Samoobrona (“Self-defense”), it obtains the post of vice-premier minister in charge for Agriculture. The Building industry and Ministries of Labor also fall to the hands from Samoobrona. This cabinet of coalition, negotiated by Jarosław Kaczyński, causes demonstrations organized by the opposition.

2007

October 21st, 2007, at the time of anticipated legislative elections, the liberal party Civic platform (PO) of Donald Tusk, opposition party with Lech Kaczyński and Jarosław Kaczyński, has gained 41% of the voices and distance the Droit conservative party and Justice (Worse) with the capacity for two years, which arrives at the second position with 33% of the votes cast.

A few days later, Donald Tusk announces with the daily newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza that Poland could adopt the Euro about 2012, after analysis on the influence of adhesion to the single currency on the incomes of the Poles.

Donald Tusk is officially designated Prime Minister the next on November 9th, and forms then a coalition government (with 209 deputies out of 460, PO does not have the absolute majority) while being combined with country party center PSL of Waldemar Pawlak.

November 17th, 2007, the new Minister for Defense, Bogdan Klich, announces that Poland “will complete in the 2008” mission of its soldiers in Iraq.

Demography

See also: Demography of Poland

Administrative subdivisions

See also: Voïvodies of Poland

Poland is subdivided in 16 administrative areas called voïvodies or voïévodies ( województwa in the plural and województwo in the singular):

These voïvodies was 49 between 1975 and 1999.

Principal cities

Economy

See also: Economy of Poland

The September 12th 1989, the former leader of Solidarność Tadeusz Mazowiecki form the first noncommunist Polish government since 1948.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance within this government, Leszek Balcerowicz will implement a policy aiming at ensuring the transition from the planned economy towards the market economy. This plan - known under the name of “ therapy of shock ” - allowed the control of the Hyperinflation which ruined the Polish economy and a rapid transition towards an market economy. After a first difficult phase being characterized by strong a Inflation, the Devaluation of the Currency, closings of Undertaken S and a big rise of the Unemployment, this policy allowed the development and the modernization of the Polish economy. It led to the return of the growth as of 1993, to an marked improvement of the Standard of living of the population, allowing an increase in the Consommation, a fall of inflation, a stabilization of the Zloty, an increase in the commercial exchanges and important flows of direct foreign investments.

The December 23rd 1991, after having initiated this policy, Leszek Balcerowicz, having regarded as the father of the economic reforms and the principal architect of the deep change of Poland during the years 1990, with leaving forty years of Communism, leaves its station with the ministry for Finances and is replaced by Karol Lutkowski.

The clearing of the Polish economy due to the “ therapy of shock ” continued until in 1997, with this year an unemployment rate passing under the bar of the 10  %. Since, Poland knows new problems: after having exceeded the threshold of the 20  % in 2004, unemployment rate remains higher than 19  % with the beginning of the year 2005. In 2007, unemployment rate is gone down again at 12%.

Some figures

  • GDP: 512.900.000 PLN (2005)

    • growth 2006: 5,8  %
    • average annual growth 1990 -2006: 4,73  %
    • distribution by sectors in 2003:
      • agriculture-forest: 3  %
      • construction: 7  %
      • transport: 7  %
      • industry: 22  %
      • trade and services: 56  %
      • others: 5  %
  • Rate of inflation: 0,4  % (03/2006)
  • Returned per capita: 15.200$ (2006), Warsaw - 37.000$ (2005)
  • Unemployment rate: 14,9  % (November 2006), Warsaw - 5,7  % (November 2005),
  • Foreign trade (2004): 92.720.000 000 $ of exports and 95.670.000 000 $ of imports.

The first business partner of Poland is Germany. France is the second customer and the fourth supplier of the country. The other principal partners are Italy, Russia, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, China, the Netherlands.

  • Debt publique/PIB: 51,6  % (2003)
  • Interest rate with: 6,5  % (February 16th 2005)
  • Foreign exchange rate of the Złoty: 1 € = 3,9265 PLN; 1 $ = 3,2071 PLN (April 18th 2006)

Minorities

Attention, these figures are very discussed.

  • German (from 147.000 to 500.000)

  • Belorusse (from 48.700 to 200.000)
  • Czech (from 2.000 to 3.000)
  • Lithuanian (from 5.800 to 25.000)
  • Ukrainian and Ruthènes (included Lemkos from 5.800 to 7.000), (from 39.000 to 300.000)
  • Armenian (from 300 to 15.000)
  • Tziganes (from 12.800 to 60.000)
  • Russian (from 3.800 to 15.000)
  • Slovak (from 2.000 to 25.000)
  • Tatars (from 490 to 5.000)
  • Jewish (from 1.100 to 10.000)
  • Karaïmes or Karaïtes (from 50 to 80.000)

  • Cachoubes (particularly dubious enumeration, going from 5.000 speaking the language like to 100.000 people, even 300.000, Cachoubes generally declaring itself as Poles)

  • Silesian (as Cachoubes they are generally declared as a Pole, their full number is approximately 1.500.000)
  • Greek and Macedonians (from 2.000 to 4.500) (national minority recognized under the Communist regime, they are not it any more in current Poland because it is about a minority resulting from immigration, refugees of the Greek Civil war of 1946 - 1949, in which the slavophones ended up requiring a distinct recognition as Macedonians)

There are approximately 400.000 foreign nationals in Poland, mainly originating in other countries of Eastern Europe (Russia, Bielorussia, Ukraine…) but also of the Far East (China and Vietnam). The community Vietnamese counts approximately 60.000 people (3rd in Europe after France and Germany). Since 2000,71.711 Germans settled in Poland.

The Polish Diaspora (Polonia) account 20 million people of Polish origin.

Culture

Popular culture

August 1st
  • Andrzej Chyra
  • Magdalena Cielecka
  • Małgorzata Kożuchowska
  • Artur Żmijewski
  • Edyta Górniak
  • Natalia Kukulska
  • Liroy
  • Anna Mucha
  • Myslovitz
  • Peya
  • Ryszard Riedel
  • Leopold Staff
  • Maciej Stuhr
  • Jerzy Stuhr
  • Marek Kondrat
  • Vavamuffin
  • Rafał Wojaczek

Polish theater

Director

Polish folklore

Often reduced wrongly with the simple services of the ballets Slask and Mazowsze by most of the polonity, the Folklore Polish remainder however practiced assiduously by a great number of Poles of all ages and all social classes.

This is partly due to the will and the exceptional work of safeguarding of this folklore. Craftsman of this safeguarding: Oskar Kolberg which traversed Poland at the 19th century in order to index the maximum of melodies, poems and dances, area by area. This research task is available besides in its masterpiece of more than 50 volumes: LUD (people).

Thus, of many groups created for themselves and assert still today their areas of origin, tinted typical melodies and of very particular steps of dance from one area to another. Let us note nevertheless that there exist 5 Danse S main roads popularized for the majority by Chopin: the Krakowiak (dance of Cracow), the Oberek , the Polish , the Mazur and the Kujawiak .

The example more striking this safeguarding of the folk traditions remains the area of Podhale close to Zakopane; this mountainous region preserves its traditions in the daily life and the behaviors but especially continuous to preserve its music thanks to the tourist development and with the Karczma (tavern where one can listen to mountain music).

Lastly, since the years 1960 and appearance of the polonia (polonity: together people of Polish origin in the world), of many foreign groups of Polish folklore appeared in order to perpetuate the traditions.

Polish kitchen

Famous Poles

Festivals and bank holidays

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