Central Europe and Northern Eurasia

Poland

Basic Information: Poland Population: 37.95 million Capital: Warsaw Language: Polish Religion: Roman Catholic Type of Government: Democracy

The Flag of Poland Red and white have long been associated with Poland and its coat of arms. White is said to represent the hope for peace. Red still recalls the symbolic reference to socialism.

National Identity and Physical Characteristics National Identity- A sense of what characteristics make up the nation. Most of Poland is covered by the Northern Plain, and at one point thick forests covered most of the flat lands. The trees were cut down to make way for agriculture.

Poland in World War II Today less than 9,000 Jews live in Poland,but before World War II more than 3,000,000 lived in Poland. Poland is where the Nazis built the six extermination centers (or death camps) including the most famous Auschwitz.

The Czech Republic

Former Czechoslovakia Czech and Slovakia used to be the joint country of Czechoslovakia. When they decided to split into two countries they both decided to create separate identities and not use anything from their previous country

The flag of the Czech Republic It is identical to the Czechoslovakian flag ( which was against the prior agreement)

Czech facts Capital: Prague Population: 10.56 million Founded: January 1, 1993 Language: Czech Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy ( the president is the head of state and the prime minister is the head of government) Czech facts

Path to Nationhood The nation of Czechoslovakia was created in 1918 at the end of World War I by the Allies. In the 20 years between the creation of this new multiethnic nation and it being conquered by Hitler and Nazi Germany, it has developed one of the most stable, democratic governments in the region. In the late 1930`s, Hitler used the fact that many Germans lived in northwestern Czechoslovakia as a reason to invade the republic.

After Nazi Control After the Soviet Union defeated the Nazi forces in Czechoslovakia, and with the help of the Russian Government, communists party members were elected to power and Czechoslovakia joined the Soviet Union.

A Peaceful Divorce After the Soviet Union fell apart starting in the early 1980s, Czechoslovakian leaders came together and decided to separate from the Soviet Union in a “velvet revolution” (a revolution without bloodshed). In 1993, the leaders of Czechoslovakia came together and decided to “divorce” the two countries creating the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Slovakia

The Flag of Slovakia The colors stand for Slavic unity and independence and can be seen in the flags of most Slavic nations.

Type of Government: Parliamentary republic Slovakian Facts Capital: Bratislava Population: 5.429 million Founded: January 1, 1993 Language: Slovak Type of Government: Parliamentary republic

Slovakia`s Split Economy Slovakia has a mixed economy relying on both agriculture and manufacturing. Farms: Fruits, Vegetables, and grains are still grown on the Danube River. When the Communist took control in 1948, they set up collective farms (government owned farms). Slovakia is still in the process of returning these to the people. Factories: Most industries started in this region were started by the Communists after World War II.

Hungary

Flag of Hungary The white is said to symbolize Hungary’s rivers, the green its mountains, and the red the blood shed in its many battles.

Parliamentary republic Hungary’s Facts Capital: Budapest Population: 9.8 million Founded: 895 (1000) AD Language: Hungarian Type of Government: Parliamentary republic

Hungary`s Past Hungary started around the year 1000 when the Pope crowned King Stephen. The landscape of Hungary is divided into two parts by the Danube River, the Eastern and the Western halves. The Eastern half consists of broad plains, with fertile soil. This fertile soil earned the region the nickname of the “breadbasket” of Europe.

Hungary`s Western Half is also known as Transdanubia (land across the Danube) It contains large deposits of coal and iron ore. 90% of Hungarians are decedents of the Magyars (a group that settled the area in the 800’s).

Ukraine

The Flag of Ukraine The blue represents peace, the sky above and the country's streams, and yellow represents prosperity and the color of the country's wheat fields.

Type of Government: Republic Ukraine’s Facts Capital: Kiev Population: 45 million Founded: August 24, 1991 Language: Ukrainian Type of Government: Republic

Since Independence Since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine has reaffirmed itself as an independent nation. Ukraine has long been the “breadbasket” of Eastern Europe. Ukraine`s farmers grow wheat, barley, and potatoes. They also have rich, black-earth soil called chernozem which is important for farm productivity .

Modern Russia began around 800 C.E. Modern Day Issues Modern Russia began around 800 C.E. It was located around the modern day capital of Ukraine, where Vikings from the north settled after sailing the regions rivers, trading as they went. In March of 2014, Russia forcibly took Crimea (the area that used to be a part of Russia) from Ukraine. Russia has been in control of Eastern Ukrainian land since then.

This isn’t a full blown war, but almost 10,000 people have died from fighting this battle over the land and who has a right to it Ukraine has since filed a lawsuit with the United Nations to try to force Russia out of Crimea and other Eastern parts of the Ukraine, but nothing has happened as of yet.