Polish historical maps

A brief history of Poland

The history of Poland usually dates from the 960s, when the Duke Mieszko I organized the country by conquering coastal areas on the Baltic Sea from the areas around present-day Poznan. Through war, marriage and unions, the country grew in size and strength. Poland reached its greatest importance after the personnel union with Lithuania, when Poland became an electoral kingdom in 1572. Before that, northern Poland and the Baltics had been ruled by the German Order. For genealogists, usually the time before 1550 is hardly interesting.

At various wars that followed, Poland's area decreased until the end of the 18th century, when the country finally, 1793 was divided between Russia, Prussia and Austria-Hungary.

Then Poland did not exist as its own nation for over 120 years. Only In the late 1918 after World War I, Poland returned as a sovereign nation, whose borders were established in peace negotiations in Paris. Then different battles took place with neighboring countries and Poland conquered in the coming years.

During World War II, Poland was occupied by Nazi Germany and some parts in 1940/41 of the Soviet Union. After the 1945, large folk movements took place. Many residents of the old German provinces were forced to move west of the river Oder to give place for the Poles displaced from the old eastern Poland.

For a more penetrating history of Poland please use the link to Wikipedia.