Located between the former Soviet Union and Germany Poland has the potential to become a political and economic bridge between the East and the West. It is crucial to European security and stabilization. Yet, the list of reference books on recent Polish history is very short. This book, a companion to the Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966-1945, provides information on Polish political, economic, and cultural history since 1945Written for English-speaking readers, the book includes entries on the most important events and personalities in the past 51 years of Polish history. It covers the entire history of communist Poland, the great changes of 1989, and the main developments during the first seven years of the post-communist era.