[Column] Look at the History of Poland

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] What kind of country is Poland that it purchased a large quantity of three types of Korean-made weapons? It felt like a country without shortcomings that produced geniuses who left their mark on history, such as Frederic Chopin, Marie Curie, and Nicolaus Copernicus, which increased my curiosity.

The first food I tasted during my visit to Poland last July was black rye bread. This bread was the first clue to solving my curiosity. When Polish people have relatives visiting, they share this tasteless and hard rye bread together. It symbolizes not forgetting the sorrow and resentment of their ancestors who had to live without a country. This shows how much sorrow and resentment the Polish people have.

Poland is a country made up of a branch of the Slavic people. The name of the Polish nation comes from the old Slavic word polie, meaning plain. During my visit, I understood why the word "plain" is included in the country's name. It was a vast, treeless plain. In times of war, it could easily become a land of misfortune with no obstacles to block invading enemies.

Looking into Poland's history makes this clear. Poland was not found on the European map in the 19th century. In 1795, the country was divided into three parts by the great powers Russia, Austria, and Prussia.

Poland only regained its status as a nation after World War I ended in 1918. It was a "happiness after hardship" achieved after enduring 123 years of losing its name and nation. However, it did not last long. In October 1939, Germany attacked the Polish port city of Gdansk, starting World War II. When Germany advanced into Poland, the Soviet Union, alarmed, began to invade the eastern part of Poland. Within just three weeks, Poland was again divided and occupied by Germany and the Soviet Union. It lost its country again just 20 years after regaining it.

Half of Poland lived under Nazi Germany, and the other half under Soviet oppression, leading to a desperate life for the Polish people. Although the war ended, the suffering of Poles under Soviet-imposed communism never ceased.

The lives of historical figures are intertwined with Poland's history. Frederic Chopin left his hometown Warsaw at the age of twenty in 1830. He could not endure the sorrow of a countryless existence. Chopin eventually returned to his hometown after death. The life of Marie Curie, born in Warsaw in 1867, was also not easy. She escaped Soviet oppression and moved to Paris. Even abroad, being a woman and an immigrant from a countryless land was heartbreaking. Her longing for her homeland is reflected even in scientific terminology. The element she discovered, polonium, is named after her homeland Poland.

Having suffered under Nazi and communist regimes, Poland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1999. With the collapse of the communist bloc, Poland sided with the United States. However, international affairs have been challenging. As the war of invasion in Ukraine prolonged, neighboring Belarus, acting as a sponge for Russia, openly showed pro-Russian tendencies. Having experienced 45 years of communist tyranny, Poland must have relived a terrible nightmare watching Ukraine.

Poland's history is not just someone else's story. Our history is no less difficult. With recent provocations from North Korea increasing anxiety, the urgency of Poland adopting K-defense industry products should remind us to prepare for military acquisitions not through political battles but to avoid repeating historical mistakes.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.