Polish Partition and Independence

Poland, the phoenix of European countries, appeared extinct on a number of occasions but rose again time. In the 1700s, Polish territory was divided between Prussia, Russia and Austria on different occasions in the years. 1772, 1792 and 1795. In 1807, Napoleon resurrected the country as the Duchy of Warsaw but it only lasted 8 years. This was replaced in 1815 by the Russian dominated Kingdom of Poland. Following an insurrection in 1831, the kingdom was abolished by the Russians. In 1915, the Regency Kingdom of Poland was created by the central powers. After the Treaty of Versailles, Poland was restored again as an independent country. This lasted until 1939 when Nazi Germany invaded Poland followed by the USSR. Following World War 2, Poland regained its independence but as part of the Warsaw Pact. Polish Independence Day is celebrated on 11 November, the day that Marshal Józef Piłsudski assumed control of Poland in 1918.