
Poland
is an ancient nation that was conceived around the middle of
the 10th century.
Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. During the following
century, the strengthening of the gentry and internal disorders
weakened the nation, until an agreement in 1772 between Russia,
Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland. Poland regained its independence
in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World
War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war, but
its government was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor
turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union "Solidarity" that
over time became a political force and by 1990 had swept parliamentary
elections and the presidency. A "shock therapy" program
during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy
into one of the most robust in Central Europe, but Poland currently
suffers low GDP growth and high unemployment. Solidarity suffered
a major defeat in the 2001 parliamentary elections when it failed
to elect a single deputy to the lower house of Parliament, and
the new leaders of the Solidarity Trade Union subsequently pledged
to reduce the Trade Union's political role. Poland joined NATO
in 1999 and is scheduled to accede to the European Union along
with nine other states on 1004.. LOCATION:
Central Europe, east of Germany CLIMATE: Temperate
with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation;
mild summers with frequent
showers and thundershowers BORDERS:
Belarus 407 km, Czech Republic
658 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast)
206 km, Slovakia 444 km, Ukraine 526 km