Chapter 19, Section 1

Location: Central Europe Area: sq km (194, sq mi.) Northern European Plain: covers most of Poland Border countries: Belarus, Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine Cosat line: 491 km Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land

conceived around the middle of the 10th century 1918 – Poland became independent country (1772 -agreement between Russia, Prusia, Austria – partition of Poland) After World War II. – Soviet Satellite state 1990s “shock therapy“ – transformation of economy 1999 – Poland joined NATO – Poland joins the EU

Population: 38,482,919 (July 2009 est.) Nationality: noun: Pole(s); adjective: Polish Ethnic groups: Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%, Belarusian 0.5% (1990 est.) Religions: Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5% Languages: Polish

Country name: Republic of Poland (Rzeczpospolita Polska ) Government type: Republic Capital: Warsaw Chief of state: President Lech KACZYNSKI (since 23 December 2005) Head of government: Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 16 November 2007)

GDP: $670.7 billion (2008 est.) GDP real growth rate: 5% (2008 est.) GDP in sectors: agriculture: 4.5% industry: 31.2% services: 64.3% (2008 est.) Unemployment rate: 9.8% (2008) Inflation rate: 4.2% (2008 est.) Industries: machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles Agricultural products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork

WORLD WAR I

INDEPENDENT POLAND

WORLD WAR II Under the leadership of Adolph Hitler, Nazi Germany invaded Poland on September 1, Hitler's excuse for the invasion was the need to secure "that intolerable Polish corridor." In response to the invasion of Poland, France and Britain declared war on Germany. World War II had begun. World War II, also, The Second World War, was the global military conflict that took place between 1939 and WWII was the largest and deadliest war in history. conflictwar At last the Germans were on the defensive. With the Soviets advancing from the east and the allies from the west, Hitler's Third Reich collapsed into disarray and, following the Fuhrer's suicide, surrendered on May 8, 1945.

War broke out in Europe on 1 September 1939, with the German invasion of Poland.1 September1939invasion of Poland WESTERPLATTE Schleswig-Holstein

HOLOCAUST

AUSCHWITZ concentration camp The Holocaust is the name applied to the systematic state-sponsored persecution and genocide of the Jews of Europe and North Africa along with other groups during World War II by Nazi Germany and collaborators.persecutiongenocideJewsWorld War IINazi Germanycollaborators Auschwitz is the name loosely used to identify the largest Nazi extermination camp along with two main German concentration camps and sub-camps. The name is derived from the German name for the nearby Polish town of OświęcimNaziextermination campGerman concentration campsPolish Oświęcim

Poland in European Union Polish voters then said yes to the EU in a referendum in June Poland joined the European Union on 1 May May2004

THE GREATEST POLE- JAN PAWEŁ II (JOHN PAUL II) Pope John Paul II, born Karol Józef Wojtyła [1] (May 18, 1920 – April 2, 2005) reigned as pope of the Roman Catholic Church for almost 27 years[1]May April 22005popeRoman Catholic Church

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