Since antiquity there have been direct and indirect contact between Greece and Poland. Historic Greek cities in present-day Ukraine had contacts with the people of Poland.[2] During the Middle Ages Polish authors, politicians and philosophers were influenced by Greek literature, democracy and sense of freedom.[3] Greeks, many of whom were merchants, lived in Poland since the Late Middle Ages (see Greeks in Poland).
Since the 19th century both nations often shared a similar fate, and their history has sometimes intertwined. In the 19th century both were under the rule of foreign powers. Greece was ruled by the Ottoman Empire, and Poland was partitioned between Austria, Prussia (afterwards Germany) and Russia. Greece eventually regained independence during the Greek War of Independence in the 1820s, in which Polish volunteers also fought on the side of the Greeks, including the Battle of Peta[4] and the defense of Missolonghi.[5] Several Polish 19th-century uprisings remained unsuccessful, and Poland regained independence only after World War I in 1918. In 1919 both countries officially established diplomatic relations. Both nations exchanged ambassadors in 1922.[6] Several agreements were signed between Greece and Poland in the interbellum, including a trade and navigation treaty in 1930,[7] and a friendship and conciliation treay in 1932.[8] In 1937–1939, both ethnic Poles and Greeks in the Soviet Union were subjected to genocidal campaigns carried out by the NKVD, known as the Polish Operation and the Greek Operation respectively.
During the German-Soviet invasion of Poland, which started World War II in 1939, Greece declared neutrality.[9] Despite this, some of the escape routes of Poles who fled from occupied Poland to Hungary and Romania led through Greece.[10] The Poles were then transported from Greek ports, aboard Polish, Greek and other ships, to Polish-alliedFrance, where the Polish Army was reconstituted to continue the fight against Germany.[10] Eventually, Greece, fearing Germany, refused to further allow Poles to evacuate aboard Greek ships, and difficulties arose, causing the escape route to be diverted to Bulgaria.[11] By 1941 there were between 100 and 194 Polish refugees, among them Polish Jews, in Greece.[9] In 1940–1941 the Polish Embassy in Athens and the Polish government-in-exile tried to evacuate the refugees from Greece, including Polish Jews to British Palestine, but Polish- and Greek-allied Britain did not agree.[9] Greece was eventually invaded as well, by Germany and Italy in 1941, and the Polish Embassy was closed.[9]Jerzy Iwanow-Szajnowicz, a native of Poland who worked for Polish and British intelligence in occupied Greece, became a hero of the Greek resistance, commemorated with a monument in Thessaloniki.[12] Greek prisoners of war were held by the Germans, alongside Polish and other Allied POWs, in the Stalag Luft III and Stalag VIII-BPOW camps,[13] and six Poles and one Greek were among the victims of the German-perpetrated Stalag Luft III murders.
A new friendship and cooperation treaty was signed in 1998.[18]
In 1981, Greece joined the European Union. Poland joined the union in 2004. Since Polish ascension into the union, over 20,000 Poles have migrated to Greece for employment, however, since the Greek government-debt crisis beginning in 2009, many Poles have returned and many Greeks have migrated to Poland in search of employment.[19]
A Polish military contingent participated in a NATO mission to assist Greece in ensuring security during the 2004 Summer Olympics.[20]
In August 2021, Poland sent a group of 143 firefighters and 46 vehicles to Greece to help extinguish the 2021 Greece wildfires.[22] During the operation, Polish firefighters saved the town of Vilia from the fire.[22]
In July 2023, Poland sent 149 firefighters and 49 vehicles to help extinguish the 2023 Greece wildfires,[23] and even have secured Athens from any wildfire that might reach it.[24]
1 2 Wróbel, Janusz (2020). "Odbudowa Armii Polskiej u boku sojuszników (1939–1940)". Biuletyn IPN (in Polish). No.1–2 (170–171). IPN. p.104. ISSN1641-9561.
↑ Megargee, Geoffrey P.; Overmans, Rüdiger; Vogt, Wolfgang (2022). The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945. Volume IV. Indiana University Press, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. p.446. ISBN978-0-253-06089-1.
↑ Kubasiewicz, Izabela (2013). "Emigranci z Grecji w Polsce Ludowej. Wybrane aspekty z życia mniejszości". In Dworaczek, Kamil; Kamiński, Łukasz (eds.). Letnia Szkoła Historii Najnowszej 2012. Referaty (in Polish). Warszawa: IPN. pp.117–118.
Armenia–Poland relations are bilateral relations between Armenia and Poland. Both nations enjoy historically friendly relations, owing to their centuries-long cultural exchange and trade. Both countries are full members of the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the World Trade Organization and the United Nations.
Denmark–Poland relations refers to the bilateral relations between Denmark and Poland. Relations between the two countries date back to the Middle Ages, while modern diplomatic relations were established on 8 September 1919. During the 20th century, relations were turbulent but amicable. The two countries moreover maintained a maritime border dispute until 2018 when it was delineated.
Bulgarian-Polish relations are foreign relations between Bulgaria and Poland. Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO, Bucharest Nine, Three Seas Initiative, OSCE, Council of Europe and World Trade Organization.
Estonia–Poland relations is the official relationship between Estonia and Poland. Both nations enjoy close and friendly relations, and are close allies. Both nations are members of the European Union, NATO, OECD, OSCE, Bucharest Nine, Three Seas Initiative, United Nations, Council of Europe, Council of the Baltic Sea States, HELCOM and World Trade Organization. The two countries became members of the European Union in 2004.
Finland–Poland relations refer to bilateral relations of Finland and Poland. Both countries are members of the European Union, NATO, OECD, OSCE, Council of the Baltic Sea States, HELCOM, Council of Europe and the World Trade Organization. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 March 1919.
Foreign relations exist between Azerbaijan and Poland. The embassy of Poland opened in Azerbaijan on August 23, 2001, and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Poland on August 30, 2004. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Poland–Spain relations are cultural and political relations between Poland and Spain. Both nations are members of NATO, the European Union, OECD, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the United Nations. Spain has given full support to Poland's membership in the European Union and NATO.
Malaysia–Poland relations refers to bilateral foreign relations between Malaysia and Poland. Malaysia has an embassy in Warsaw, and Poland has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur and consulates in Kuching and George Town.
Kazakhstan–Poland relations refer to bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Poland. Relations focus on growing trade and politicial cooperation. Both countries are members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, World Trade Organization and United Nations.
Nigeria–Poland relations are the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Poland. Both nations are members of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization.
Algeria and Poland are members of the Union for the Mediterranean and the United Nations. Both nations established diplomatic relations in 1962.
Ethiopia–Poland relations pertain to the diplomatic connections between Ethiopia and Poland.
Mongolia–Poland relations are bilateral relations between Mongolia and Poland. The countries enjoy good relations, based on growing trade, and political and investment cooperation. Both nations are full members of the OSCE, World Trade Organization and United Nations.
Poland–Tunisia relations are bilateral relations between Poland and Tunisia. Both nations are full members of the World Trade Organization, the Union for the Mediterranean and the United Nations.
Luxembourg–Poland relations are bilateral relations between Luxembourg and Poland. Relations focus on trade and cultural and scientific cooperation. Both nations are full members of the European Union, NATO, OECD, OSCE, Council of Europe, World Trade Organization and United Nations.
Libya–Poland relations are the bilateral relations between Libya and Republic of Poland. The two countries are members of the United Nations.
Poland–Tajikistan relations are bilateral relations between Poland and Tajikistan. Both nations are full members of the OSCE, World Trade Organization and United Nations.
Poland–Uzbekistan relations are bilateral relations between Poland and Uzbekistan. The countries enjoy good relations, based on growing trade, and political and educational cooperation. Both nations are full members of the OSCE and United Nations.
Morocco–Poland relations are bilateral relations between Morocco and Poland. Both nations are full members of the World Trade Organization, the Union for the Mediterranean and the United Nations.
Poland recognized Mali in 1960, shortly after the Malian declaration of independence, and afterwards the countries established bilateral relations. They signed a cultural cooperation agreement in 1961.
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