Poland under the Cannon.

POLISH politics & government; PUBLIC opinion; INTERNATIONAL conflict; ETHNIC groups; POLITICAL autonomy; ARMED Forces; INTERNATIONAL relations

POLANDReport Available; SOVIET Union

The article focuses on the political conditions in Poland as of October 1981. To the west, Poland is views as a country in panic, suffering from pressures from the Soviet Union. The conflict between Poland and the Soviet Union dates back to the 1794, when Poland was struggling for its independence. Prior to 1939, Poland was made up of a number of ethnic groups, which mostly remained neutral during the times of war. A present, the Soviet Union seemed to be reluctant to invade Poland, possibly because of the isolation of Soviet forces from the local population.