Poles Steel for Battle, Fearing Russia Will March on Them Next

NYTimes ^ | 3/14/2015 | Rick Lyman

[Cronos]

well, it's not as bad as it was in 1939. In 1939 they had no real market for their western border and their eastern border was too long and besides the Pripet marshes had no "border"

After WWII, Poland was moved west 200 kilometers -- they lost a huge chunk of land in the east (Kresy) which is now the western half of Belarus and much of western Ukraine.

But this gave them a solid western border -- the Oder-Neisse river

On the East now there is a good forest in the east and mountainous regions in the south-east.

[exit82]

Thanks for the info about Poland’s history. That was all new to me.

[Cronos]

No worries. A great place to start is "God's playground" by Norman Davies

Poland emerged in the 10th century, but there were chances that it would have merged with the Czechs or later with the Hungarians (under a common king -- twice) or it would even take over Russia (Moscowy).

But basically their history is one of fierce individualism.

[mac_truck]

Do you live in Poland year round or just part time?

[Cronos]

year round — since 2010 when we moved here