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Poland experienced great devastation during World War Two.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, Poland's culture was thriving, and it produced many famous artists, writers, and scientists. One of the most famous is the man at top left, Nicolaus Copernicus. Copernicus was born in 1473 and he is considered one of the greatest astronomers of all time. Copernicus is credited with the modern idea that the planets orbit around the sun.

In the late 18th century, nearby countries and empires became greedy for Poland's land, and Poland was carved up into regions. The country of Poland did not exist on the European map for 125 years, but in a way, this made Poles even more determined to preserve their own language and traditions. Do you understand why? Poland finally got its independence back in 1918. But after World War Two broke out in 1939, Poland was the center of much tragedy. It was caught between two great powers that were trying to expand: Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Nearly a quarter of all Poles died in the war, including more than a million Polish Jews. The center photo shows Warsaw, nearly destroyed toward the end of the war. After the war, Poland was under Soviet rule. Gradually, an independence movement grew, led by a trade union known as "Solidarity." A trade union is a group that works for workers' rights. The Solidarity movement grew, and in 1990, its leader, Lech Walesa, shown in the bottom photo, won the presidency. Do you think Poland's history has made its people stronger?

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