The map above shows the European countries (in red) that have invaded Poland (in black) at some point in history. As with all maps using modern borders to show historical events, there are of course issues.
For example, Italy is on the map in red as having invaded Poland, when this was in fact the Romans, and not the modern Italian state, that did so.
Similarly, Moldova is shown to have invaded Poland. However, it was the Principality of Moldavia, not the modern state of Moldova that invaded Poland. Moldova did invade Poland as part of the USSR but by this logic all former Soviet States would have to be coloured red, which they are not.
So while you can easily quibble with aspects of the map, the main point is that Poland’s not always has the best luck in European history. To get a better sense of their changing borders have a look at our map: Poland’s Territorial Changes 1635-Present – Life, Death & Rebirth.
To learn more about Polish history have a look at the following books:
- God’s Playground: A History of Poland, Vol. 1: The Origins to 1795 (Volume 1)
- Poland: A History
- The Essential Guide to Being Polish
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scorpio-tiger says
Italy? When?
tanja says
Roman empire 🙂
Tomasz Pluskiewicz says
Oh wow. That’s a stretch, given how Poland didn’t exist at that time. At least not in the current sense
scorpio-tiger says
Hmmm I’m looking at maps of the Roman empire and it sure doesn’t look like they ever got up that way…
tanja says
Hmmm, the article says so…. not me;)
Zoran says
Maybe author thought Holy Roman Empire? 😉
sf. says
They didn’t occupy the terrain as a province, they were raiding it for slaves.
Faaz Noushad says
When Did Slovakia and Czechia invade Poland ?
Dmitry Stefanovich says
There must be other map to accompany this one: countries invaded BY Poland.
Adam Chmielowiec says
Let me know if there is one, I can barely contain my curiosity about this.
Pepa25 says
e.g. Annexations by Poland in 1938 … 😉
Michał Szubryt says
Invided Russia and occupied Kremlin for few years for example… 😉
Michal Rosa says
Przyznajesz się do niewiedzy tak publicznie? Czechosłowacja, 1939
Jerzy K. Sapieha says
Polska najechała Czechosłowację? Po prostu – odebrała swoje Zaolzie.
Warto znać historię swojego państwa.
Michal Rosa says
Warto mieć wiedzę opartą na faktach, a nie przekonania bazujące na ideologii
Charles Bewlay says
Another one showing the countries that the Vikings/Danes invaded would also be very interesting…
Esuna Cetra says
I thought we were quite good friends with the Hungarians. When did that happen?
sf. says
Austrowęgry.
agwart673 says
If Moldova is red as the part of USSR – why not Belarus?
And why not coloured nearly all Balkans states as a part of Ottoman Empire invading Poland?
Storky says
Lithuania != Great Dutchury of Lithuania
Turks_are_mongols says
Turkey has invaded Poland, but it is not a European country.