9781422278048

POLAND AT A GLANCE

Flag of Poland Poland’s position in Europe goes a long way to explain its complex and varied

dates back to the thirteenth century. The flag, using red and white, was first used in 1919. Since 1989, when anti-Communists took over, it has been a popular notion that the colors stand for peace (white) and socialism (red).

history. With constant invasions from neighboring countries, it has been partitioned several times and re-founded twice in this century. Poland was the first satellite country of the Soviet Union to bring down its Communist regime, which encouraged many other Eastern European countries to follow suit. The colors of the flag derive from those of the Polish coat of arms (a white eagle on a red field), which

ABOVE: The Jewish quarter of Kraków is full of bars, restaurants, and cafés. 8