Warsaw, << WAWR saw >> (pop. 1,860,281), is the capital and largest city of Poland. Its name in Polish is Warszawa. The city is a center of business, culture, and industry. It lies in east-central Poland, on both banks of the Vistula River.
Warsaw has been a capital throughout much of its history. But Prussia, Russia, and Germany have each controlled the city at various times. During World War II (1939-1945), German troops occupied Warsaw. The city was almost completely destroyed during the war, but it was rebuilt with assistance from its new occupiers, the Soviet Union. Since Communist control of Poland ended in 1989, Warsaw has experienced considerable urban growth and redevelopment.
The city.
Warsaw covers 174 square miles (450 square kilometers). The Vistula River divides the city. The left bank section lies west of the river, and the right bank section lies east of it. The center of Warsaw and most of the residential areas are on the left bank.
The city has many high-rise housing developments and office buildings. It has spacious parks, and fine libraries, museums, and theaters. Modern hospitals, schools, and government buildings stand near churches and palaces originally built in the Middle Ages. The huge Palace of Culture and Science, a gift from the Soviet Union in 1954, remains a landmark in the city center. Educational and research institutions include the University of Warsaw and the seat of the Polish Academy of Science. The Column of King Sigismund, built in 1644, honors the king who moved the Polish capital from Krakow, in what is now southern Poland, to Warsaw.
The Poles rebuilt many of Warsaw’s historic buildings damaged in World War II. Rebuilt landmarks include the Cathedral of St. John and the city walls, both dating from the 1300’s. Warsaw’s opera house, also reconstructed after the war, is one of the largest in the world.
Numerous cultural events take place in the capital. Each fall, the Festival of Contemporary Music attracts musicians from throughout Europe. Every five years, pianists from many parts of the world play in Warsaw’s Frederic Chopin International Piano Competition. Chopin is Poland’s most famous composer and pianist.
The people.
Almost all the people of Warsaw are Poles. The great majority are Roman Catholics, and religion plays an important role in their lives. Religious festivals, such as the Corpus Christi procession in May or June, rank as major events.
Economy.
Warsaw is one of the leading cities for business and industry in eastern Europe. It is also one of eastern Europe’s chief railroad hubs. The city’s major industries include food processing and the manufacture of automobiles, electronic equipment, and textiles. Thousands of its citizens work in agencies of the Polish government.
History.
As early as the A.D. 900’s, a small Slavic settlement existed in the area that is now Warsaw. During the late Middle Ages, from the 1200’s to the 1500’s, Warsaw was the home of the dukes of Mazovia. Mazovia entered the Polish kingdom in the 1500’s, and King Sigismund III moved the capital from Krakow to Warsaw in 1596. Swedish forces invaded Poland in the mid-1600’s and destroyed much of Warsaw in 1656. But Warsaw remained the capital of Poland until 1795. That year, Austria, Prussia, and Russia divided Poland among themselves, and Prussia took over Warsaw.
From 1807 to 1813, the city was the capital of the Duchy of Warsaw, a state created by the French emperor Napoleon. After Napoleon’s defeat in eastern Europe, Russia gained control of Warsaw. The Poles rebelled against the Russians in 1830 and 1863, but these uprisings failed. In the late 1800’s, the Russians tightened control over Warsaw. World War I (1914-1918) brought an end to Russian rule. Germany controlled Warsaw from 1915 to 1918, when Poland again became independent.
World War II brought the almost total destruction of Warsaw. In 1939, the Germans captured the city after a three-week siege that caused great damage. Warsaw surrendered to the Germans, but the city became the heart of the Polish underground resistance movement. 
The people of Warsaw suffered greatly during the German occupation. The Nazis staged mass arrests and public executions, forcing many people to flee the city. The Germans confined about 500,000 Jews to a section of the city called the ghetto. Many Jews died of hunger or disease or were executed. After a Jewish revolt in April 1943, the Nazis killed or sent to death camps all of the 60,000 Jews still remaining in the ghetto. See Warsaw ghetto.
By the summer of 1944, Soviet armies had pushed the Germans out of the Soviet Union and had reached the outskirts of Warsaw. On August 1, the people of Warsaw rose against the Germans. The Poles seized large parts of the city, but nearby Soviet troops failed to come to their aid. Massive German counterattacks finally forced the Poles to surrender on October 3. The Germans evacuated all the people from the left bank of the Vistula, then burned and destroyed what remained of Warsaw. About 200,000 Polish residents died in the uprising. On Jan. 17, 1945, Soviet forces entered the city and set up a Polish Communist government.
World War II severely reduced the city’s population. But after the war, the population increased so rapidly that serious housing shortages developed. The government built many housing projects and restricted the flow of new residents into Warsaw.
The period of Communist control came to an end in 1989. In that year, non-Communist candidates were allowed to run for legislative seats, and Poland held its freest elections since World War II. Since that time, Poland and its capital have enjoyed significant economic growth. After joining the European Union in 2004, many young Poles moved abroad in search of higher wages. Many have since returned, however, as a result of the global economic crisis of 2008.
