
The map above depicts Poland and its territory back in the 17th century, when it was formally called the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, formalized by the signing of the Truce of Deulino (1619). On the left-hand side of the map are the borders of present-day Poland, which was formed after the Second World War.

This map above, meanwhile, shows the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth when measured against the land borders of present-day European countries.
For many years, this European nation experienced plenty of conflicts that caused it to be weakened. Three of its influential neighboring countries – Russia, Austria, and the former Prussia – had a piece of Poland between 1772 and 1795.
After the end of World War I in 1918, Poland became its own country again, but Nazi and Soviet invasions during World War II meant the country faced massive destruction.
Post-World War II, the country moved westward 200 kilometers (124 miles), as new borders are being made to the country during the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences.
The newly-drawn perimeters meant that Poland lost some 179,000 square kilometers (69,000 square miles) in the east, which became Soviet territory. However, Poland did gain 101,000 square kilometers (39,000 square miles) of land in the west that was formerly owned by Germany.
These changes in the border meant that millions of people were being displaced: native Polish people were forced to move westward to the new Polish borders, while the Germans living in newly-owned Polish territory were transferred to remaining German land in the west as well.
Finally, the map below shows all the territories that are or was once owned by Poland, and how many years it became part of Polish territory. The areas marked in red or dark orange are still part of Poland at present.

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