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Polish People's Republic

Republic of Poland (1944–1952)
Rzeczpospolita Polska
Polish People's Republic (1952–1990)
Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa
Satellite state of the Soviet Union
1944–1989
Flag (1944–80) Coat of arms
Anthem
Mazurek Dąbrowskiego
Poland Is Not Yet Lost
Location of the Polish People's Republic in Europe.
Capital Warsaw
Lublin (1944–45)
Łódź (1945–48)
Languages Polish
Demonym Pole, Polish
Government Unitary Marxist–Leninist one-party socialist state (after 1952)
Head of State
 •  President
1944–1952

Bolesław Bierut (first)
 •  1990 Wojciech Jaruzelski (last)
 •  Chairman of the Council of State
1952–1964


Aleksander Zawadzki (first)
 •  1985–1989 Wojciech Jaruzelski (last)
Prime Minister
 •  1944–1947 Edward Osóbka-Morawski (first)
 •  1990 Tadeusz Mazowiecki (last)
Historical era World War II, Cold War
 •  Provisional government 1944
 •  Workers' Party established 16 - 21 December 1948
 •  Constitution 22 July 1952
 •  Democracy restored 30 December 1989
Area
 •  1990 312,685 km² (120,728 sq mi)
Population
 •  1946 est. 23,930,000 
 •  1990 est. 37,970,155 
     Density 121.4 /km²  (314.5 /sq mi)
Currency Polish złoty
Calling code +48
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Nazi Germany
General Government
Soviet Union
Polish government-in-exile
Third Polish Republic
Today part of  Poland

The Polish People's Republic (Polish: Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa, PRL) covers the history of Poland under Communist control between 1952 and 1990. The name was defined by the Constitution of 1952 which was based on the 1936 Soviet Constitution. Between 1947 and 1952, the name of the Polish state was the Republic of Poland (Rzeczpospolita Polska), in accordance with the temporary Constitution of 1947. At the time of its founding during final stages of World War II, Poland was regarded as a puppet entity set up and controlled by the Soviet Union, and over time, it developed into a satellite state of the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union had much influence over both internal and external affairs, and Red Army forces were stationed in Poland (1945: 500,000; until 1955: 120,000 to 150,000; until 1989: 40,000). In 1945, Soviet generals and advisors formed 80% of the officer cadre of the Polish Armed Forces. The Polish United Workers' Party became the dominant political party, officially making the country a Communist state.

At the Yalta Conference in February 1945, Stalin was able to present his western allies, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, with a fait accompli in Poland. His armed forces were in occupation of the country, and his agents, the communists, were in control of its administration. The USSR was in the process of incorporating the lands in eastern Poland which it had occupied between 1939 and 1941.


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