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German–Polish relations have a long and complicated history.〔(German-Polish Relations: A History Of Betrayals )〕 From the 10th century on, the Piast Kingdom of Poland established under Duke Mieszko I had close and chequered relations with the Holy Roman Empire, which were however overshadowed by the centuries-long Polish–Teutonic Wars, as a result of which, the Teutonic Duchy of Prussia became a fief of the Kingdom of Poland. Prussia retained a certain level of autonomy under Polish rule. Later, the Kingdom of Prussia rose and eventually became one of the partitioners of Poland. In 1918, Poland regained its place on the map. After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles deprived Germany of its territories in West Prussia, East Upper Silesia and Danzig and transferred them to Poland. It was seen as a great injustice in the Weimar Republic, leading to the Nazi takeover of power in 1933. In 1939, Poland was invaded by Germany, thus starting the deadliest conflict in human history. The Third Reich established concentration camps in German occupied Poland, the biggest located in Auschwitz. Poland suffered many casualties and a vast destruction during the war. After World War II, Germany lost its former eastern territories to Poland and the Soviet Union. In 1945-1950, a series of expulsions happened, in which up to 16 million ethnic Germans were forced to leave their homes and resettle in post-war Germany. It was the largest forced movement of any population in history. The Cold War saw good relations between the communist states of People's Republic of Poland and the German Democratic Republic. The Polish-West German relations remained bad, although it improved after Chancellor Willy Brandt launched the Ostpolitik. In 1990, Germany was reunified and it confirmed the Polish-German border on the Oder-Neisse line in a treaty. Both states are now European Union allies and partners. == Overview == A medieval legend about a Polish Princess Wanda shows the German-Polish enmity. In the legend, Princess Wanda rejected to marry Knight Rüdiger, a German ruler. After that, he declared a war on Poland. Wanda rode into battle, struck Rüdiger down with her sword and then drowned herself in the Vistula, in order to spare Poland further fighting.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Germany–Poland relations」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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