Republic of Poland

State · 1953–2026 CE · at its largest around 1969 CE

Poland in the postwar era, a Communist people's republic under Soviet influence until the Solidarity movement helped bring about free elections in 1989. It then became a democracy and joined NATO and the EU.

On its lands while it lasted

Prague Spring (1968 CE): Alexander Dubcek's liberalising reforms in Czechoslovakia in 1968 were ended in August by an invasion of Warsaw Pact troops.
Solidarity movement (1980 CE): Founded at the Gdańsk shipyard in 1980 under Lech Walesa, Solidarity was the first independent trade union in the Soviet bloc and led Poland's peaceful transition from communism.
Velvet Revolution (1989 CE): Peaceful mass protests in Prague in November–December 1989 ended communist rule in Czechoslovakia; dissident playwright Václav Havel became president.