German-Polish relations

German-Polish relations have a long and complicated history. From the 10th century, the Kingdom of Poland had relations with the Holy Roman Empire, which were however soon overshadowed by the Polish-Teutonic wars. Later, the Kingdom of Prussia rose and eventually became one of the partitioners of Poland.

When Poland regained independence in 1918, barely 20 years later, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, and Nazi occupation of Poland was one of the most brutal in the world. After the end of World War II, Polish and German borders shifted, with Poland taking over part of former German territories.

During the Cold War, communist Poland had good relations with East Germany, but had strained relations with West Germany. After the fall of communism, modern Poland and reunited Germany have a good, if occasionally strained due to some minor political issues, relationship. Both countries are members of NATO and the European Union.

References

* [http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,489527,00.html German-Polish relations: A History Of Betrayals] , Spiegel Online, June 18, 2007
* [http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2144598,00.html Timeline: War and Peace in German-Polish Relations] , Deutsche Welle, 23.08.2006
*Kimberly Harris, [http://historyandreconciliation.org/blog/?itemid=28 German-Polish Relations] , IHJR

Further reading

*Jean Ciechanowski, "German-Polish Relations", International Affairs (Royal Institute of International Affairs 1931-1939), Vol. 12, No. 3 (May, 1933), pp. 344-366, [http://www.jstor.org/pss/2603189 JSTOR]
*Harold von Riekhoff, "German-Polish Relations, 1918-1933", Slavic Review, Vol. 31, No. 4 (Dec., 1972), pp. 917-918