Communism in Poland spans from 1945 to 1990. Near the end of World War II, German forces were driven from Poland by the advancing Soviet Red Army, and the Yalta Conference sanctioned the formation of a provisional pro-Communist coalition government which ultimately ignored the Polish government-in-exile; this was a betrayal to Poland by the Allied Powers in order to appease Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. 

     Even before the Red Army entered Poland, the Soviet Union was pursuing a deliberate strategy to eliminate anti-Communist resistance forces in order to ensure that Poland would fall under its sphere of influence. In 1943, the Katyn massacre, which was a massacre of more then 22,000 Polish Commanding Generals and Soldiers, was one of the most horrific way the Soviet Union ensured there would be no defense against their invasion. The Russians blamed the massacre on the Germans so more attention would be brought upon the Nazi front and to lower Polish armed resistance.

     Life In Communist Poland was miserable. People had money, but couldn’t buy anything because shop shelves were empty. The only thing in stores was some cans of Peas and a couple bottles of vinegar. Living during the communist era was an every day struggle to survive. Basic necessities to survive were nowhere to be found and sometimes you went days starving. Life back then is something we don’t realize today. It was hell for anyone who lived in a communist country, and most of the time people don’t realize this.

     Now Poland has its ups and downs, but is a great place to settle down. Getting a job is a lot harder then in the United States, but life in general is great there. The growth of unemployment is growing at an alarming rate, and the economy is not in a great situation; but Poland is now a better place then it was when it was under Soviet rule.