Without the persistence and resistance of its population, Poland as a country would probably have vanished from the political map long ago. And so it is no accident that Republic of Poland became a pioneer for the democratisation of the former Eastern Bloc in the eighties.

Once a European Power, the country was divided among its powerful neighbours Russia, Austria and Prussia at the end of the 18th century. After the Third Partition in 1795 it was completely ruled by foreign powers. After the end of World War I in 1918 Poland was restored as a republic once more only to be occupied again by the German troops in 1939. During the Nazi-rule more than 6 million people were killed among them nearly the entire Jewish population of almost 3 million.

After the war, Poland was re-established as an independent country in which the rivers Oder and Neisse formed the Western border. The country was now in the Soviet influence sphere but the population did not give in to their fate. The historical city centres of Warsaw and Gdansk - completely destroyed in the war - were rebuild in all details after old plans due to pressure of the population and under great sacrifices. In 1956 and 1970 there was unrest among the workers that got put down violently. On the Gdansk ship yards the Union Solidarnosc  - illegal at first - was founded in 1980. The leader, Lech Walesa, was awarded the peace Nobel Prize in 1983 and went on to become the first freely elected President in 1990.

Polish identity and culture is based on a deep-rooted Catholicism - 94 per cent are Catholics. Dances like Polonaise and Mazurka were made famous by the works of Polish composer Frederick Chopin. The science fiction author Stanislaw Lem, the film directors Krzystof Kieslowski or Roman Polanski are famous contemporary Polish artists.