Poland

Global armed conflict from 1939 to 1945, including war in Europe, Asia and the Pacific, mass civilian suffering and major geopolitical change.

Communist-ruled Polish state that emerged during the end of the Second World War and ended with the political transition of 1989.

Independent labor and civic movement in communist Poland that contributed to the political transformation of 1989.

The Great War between the allied Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Teutonic Order, culminating in the Polish–Lithuanian victory at Grunwald.

A war between the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Ottoman Empire, involving Crimean Tatar forces and fought chiefly over Podolia and neighboring Ukrainian territories.

The reign of Casimir III the Great, the last Piast king of Poland, during which the kingdom was consolidated, administratively strengthened, and territorially expanded.

Federative polity joining the Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the Union of Lublin in 1569 until the third partition of 1795, with a shared monarch and parliamentary institutions.

Global geopolitical rivalry and ideological competition centered on the United States and Soviet Union from the postwar era to the breakup of the USSR.

Congress Poland, established in 1815 in personal union with the Russian Empire; its institutions and autonomy were increasingly curtailed following nineteenth-century uprisings, while the territory remained under Russian rule until World War I.

Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939, initiating the European phase of World War II and destabilizing the multiethnic eastern borderlands.

The 1944 armed uprising of the Polish Home Army and Warsaw residents against German occupation, lasting from 1 August until the capitulation on 2 October. Distinct from the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

Polish troops defended Westerplatte against German attacks at the opening of World War II.

A decisive Polish–Lithuanian victory over the Teutonic Order during the Great War; the Teutonic Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen was killed in the battle.

On 11 November 1673, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth forces under John Sobieski defeated an Ottoman army at Khotyn, strengthening the Commonwealth’s position in the ongoing war.

Workers' protests on the Polish Baltic coast were violently suppressed by communist authorities in December 1970.

Soviet security forces murdered Polish prisoners and detainees in mass executions during spring 1940.

A major diplomatic gathering held in Kraków in 1364 during Casimir III's reign, involving rulers and prominent political figures from Central Europe.

King of Poland from 1333 to 1370 and the last ruler of the Piast dynasty on the Polish throne.

Political center of the Commonwealth during the succession and mobilization period preceding the Ottoman invasion.

Nazi German concentration and extermination camp complex to which Jewish prisoners from occupied Poland were deported and murdered.

Polish city and administrative center of the German occupation in which Schindler operated his enamelware factory.

City in Poland.

City in England.

Polish Baltic city and central setting of the December 1970 violence depicted in Black Thursday.

Site of the decisive 15 July 1410 battle between the Polish–Lithuanian coalition and the Teutonic Order.

Strategic fortress in Podolia, besieged and captured by Ottoman forces in 1672.

Fortress on the Dniester and site of the Commonwealth victory over the Ottoman army on 11 November 1673.

A major textile-manufacturing city in the Kingdom of Poland that experienced explosive industrial and demographic growth in the second half of the 19th century.