Fun Fact: The Polish Hero Who Fought in the American Revolution

In 1776, Polish military leader Tadeusz Kosciuszko sailed to America to fight in the American Revolutionary War. He decided to do so because he was sympathetic to the American cause and a supporter of human rights. He was promoted to brigadier general before he returned to Europe.

Fun Fact: Poland Puppet of Russia

While it was mainly to protect a lot of modern-day Ukraine, Poland defeated a Soviet Russia (before it became the Soviet Union) in the Polish-Soviet War. Their victory kept the Soviets out of Poland and the majority of Ukraine. However about two decades later, Poland was crippled by the Germans from the West and the…

Fun Fact: The Bear in the Polish Army

Wojtek was a bear found in Iran, and he was adopted into the Polish Army. They trained him in non-combat roles, and he was given the rank of corporal. After the war, he ended up in a zoo in Scotland.

Fun Fact: Great Turkish War

In 1699, the Ottoman Empire was at war with most countries in central and Eastern Europe not allied with them. The Ottomans were defeated, and the Empire saw its first large amounts of lands lost, mostly in Hungary and Poland.