After the World War I Poland regained independence. Poland reappeared in 1918, after one hundred and twenty-three years of political inexistence, but for merely 21 years, as it was the first country to be invaded by Hitler's army in 1939. The Nazi occupation of Poland resulted not only in ruthless destruction and plundering of the whole country, but also in unprecedented atrocities of concentration camps of which Auschwitz is the best known example. Millions of Poles, Jews and people belonging to other nations lost their lives in concentration camps, mass executions and in combat.

After the World War II Poland became dependant on the Soviet Union.

Current Poland results from the redesigning of Central Europe borders after the Yalta and Potsdam agreements at the end of the Second World War,