Poland: flag, capital, currency and history

Flag of Poland

Download the flag of Poland as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇵🇱.

History of Poland

The Polish state emerged under the Piast dynasty, and Mieszko I accepted Christianity in 966. Poland later joined Lithuania in a union that became the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1569, a large elective monarchy. Its neighbours partitioned it in three stages between 1772 and 1795, and it vanished from the map for 123 years. Independence was regained in 1918. Germany and the Soviet Union invaded in 1939, and the country suffered heavily in the Second World War. A communist government ruled until negotiations and elections in 1989. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.

Key dates

1. 966Duke Mieszko I accepts Christianity, an event traditionally seen as the baptism of Poland.
2. 1385The Union of Krewo links Poland with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania through marriage.
3. 1569The Union of Lublin creates the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
4. 1795The third partition among Russia, Prussia and Austria ends the Commonwealth.
5. 1918Poland regains independence at the end of the First World War.
6. 1939Germany and the Soviet Union invade, beginning the Second World War in Europe.
7. 1989Round Table talks lead to partly free elections and the end of communist rule.
8. 2004Poland joins the European Union.

A short overview, not a full history. Dates are given for well-documented events only.

Currency of Poland

Poland uses the Polish złoty (PLN, zł). Use our free currency converter to check exchange rates.

Frequently asked questions

Neighbours of Poland

BelarusMinskCzechiaPragueGermanyBerlinLithuaniaVilniusRussiaMoscowSlovakiaBratislavaUkraineKyiv

More countries in Central Europe

AustriaViennaCzechiaPragueHungaryBudapestSlovakiaBratislavaSloveniaLjubljana