Emma's+European+Nation+Profile

=__Poland__= toc Poland is a country that is about the same size as the state of Arizona. It is rich in many fields including art, literature, and music. They also have a great varitey of food. Since Poland borders The Baltic Sea, water sports are often practiced during the summer and winter months. Poland is located on the western side of Europe. It Borders Russia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine,Solvakia, The Czech Republic, and Germany. Poland is divided up into 18 regions. These are Pobrzeza Poludniowobaltyckie, Pobrzeza Wschodniobaltckie, Pojezierza Poludniowobaltyckie, Pojezierza Wschodniobaltckie, Wysoczyzny Podlasko-Bialoruskie, Polesie, Wyzyna Wolynsko-Podolska, Niziny Sasko-Luzyckie, Niziny Srodkowopolskie, Sudety i Przedgorze Sudeckie, Wyzyna Slasko-Krakowska, Wyzyna Malopolska, Wyzyna Lubelsko-Lwowska, Polnocne Podkarpacie, Zewnetrzne Karpaty Zachodine, Centralne Karpaty Zachodine, Wschodnie Podkarpacie, Beskidy Wschodnie. Poland is a very diverse but enjoyable country.

History
Poland has a very long history but this topic is only on World War II. Poland's involment in World War II is a very complicated, long history.Poland was the mass killing ground for all jews, gentiles, disabled, and many others by the use of concentration camps by the Nazis. 15% of Poland's population was lost because of this. Many people from all over conquered Europe were sent to Poland to be killed. The Nazis invaded Warsaw, the capitol city of Poland, on September 1st, 1939. The Nazis did not leave Poland until 1945, the year the war ended. Poland's capitol city, Warsaw, was left in ruins after the Soviet Union tried to fight the Germans in 1944. The Soviets expelled the rest of the German forces in 1945, just a few weeks before the war ended. Poland had a huge involvement in World War II for both sides of the war.

World War II was an intense time for Poland and for those who wanted to conquer it. Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler made an agreement for who would get Poland. The Soviet Union would get the east side and Germany would get the west. Until 1941, The Soviets and the Germans kept good relationships, but when Germany invaded the eastern side of Poland, the bond was broken and Poland became a battle ground between the two forces. Poland had a secret army, which fought on the Soviet side. Poland's secret army was the only one who fought against the Germans from the day they were invaded to the time they were freed. This army is known as the best underground army of its time. Poland was the main battle feild for World War II.

Food
Poland may not be as famous as France, Italy, or Greece but the Polish food served is incredibly delicous. Pierogi is a famous Polish dish. It is a pie-like crust filled with cheese, potatoes, onions, cabbage, mushrooms, and meat. They are prepared by boiling or frying and served steaming hot. Zrazy is a very hearty meat and veggie dish accompanied by cucumber salad. It is bacon, breadcrumbs, mushrooms, and cucumber rolled inside a seasoned slice of meat. It is prepared by being fried or grilled to allow all of the flavors to mingle. Polish food is very good and delicous.

Polish food has a very diverse history during the Middle Ages. Polish food during the Middle Ages consisted mostly of agricultural meats. Most meats were agricultural but some were that of wild animals. Spices and seasoning were often added to most foods. Groats were often used in cooking as well. They also had an abuntant use of spices, as well as groats, these included pepper, nutmeg, and juniper. Spices were added because they did not cost much.The Middle Ages was a time of great food for Poland.

The Arts
Poland is very famous for its literature. Some of the most famous Polish poets from the 16th century are Mikolaj Rej and Jan Kochanowski. They are famous for their poems and prose. Adam Mickiewicz wrote a very famous work called //"Pan Tadeusz."// Adam wrote this poem in 1834, it is about a young man during the Napoleonic wars. Juliusz Slowacki, Zygmunt Krasinski, Cyprain Norwid, and Henryk Sienkiewicz are famous authors from the later 1800s. Henryk Sienkiewicz wrote a novel called //"Quo Vadis?"// Soon afterwards, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Poland was and still is very famous for its Literature.

Poland is very famous for its work in art as well. Unlike France, Germany, and other countries famous for paintings, Poland is most famous for its folk art. Folk art is a genre of art of unknown origin that reflects traditional values of a society. Poland has many different types of folk art. One type is Wycinanki. This is when paper is dyed, then cut, punched, ripped, or torn then glued together to make great art pieces. Weaving is still done like in acient times but it used with modern materials and in a more modern way. When people weave they use flax, wool, Linen, mixed cotton, and woolen materails. Szopka, or "Krakow Christmas Cribs" is onther type of folk art. Many people make these and compete in the Krakow Christmas Crib competition every year.