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Poland was partitioned in the
late 18th century by Russia, Prussia (Germany) and Austria. In the early 19th century a portion of the partitioned lands were re-united and the Kingdom of Poland was established with the Russian emperor as king.
By the mid-19th century a strong nationalist movement had formed within Poland, which culminated in 1831 with the proclamation of an independent Poland and the adoption of red and white as the country’s national colours.
Russia quickly quashed the independence uprising and it wasn’t until the end of the First World
War, in 1918, that Poland could again proclaim independence and adopt the red over white
flag officially on the 1st of August 1919.
Polish independence again ended in 1939 with the invasion of Poland, first by Germany from the west and then by Russia from the east.
Occupation lasted until the end of the Second World War, in 1945, when an independent Polish republic was
restored with the same red over white flag.
The flag remained unchanged with the establishment of the Polish People’s Republic in 1947 and then the Republic of Poland in 1989.
The current design dates from the 20th of March 1956. |
