THE HISTORY OF CRACOV
Throughout the 18th century Cracov suffered a series of sieges, foreign occupations and plunders. After Russia, Prussia and Austria invaded and divided Poland between themselves in the 1790s, the last empire took Cracov. In 1655 Poland was invaded by the Swedes and throughout the whole 18th century Cracov suffered a series of sieges, foreign occupations and plunders, what brought the city to its knees. However, Cracov began to develop a reputation as a seat of rebellion against foreign invaders. One of Poland's greatest heroes, Tadeusz Kosciuszko declared the beginning of a national uprising in the Old Town Square (1794). However, by 1795 the city was taken by the Prussians, who promptly confiscated the entire Royal Treasury. After the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, Austria granted autonomy to Galicia, making Polish a language of government and establishing a provincial diet. As this form of Austrian rule was more benevolent than that exercised by Russia and Prussia, Cracov became a Polish national symbol and a centre of culture and art, known frequently as the "Polish Athens" or "Polish Mecca" to which Poles would flock to revere the symbols and monuments of Cracov’s (and Poland's) great past. Several important commemorations took place in Cracov during the period from 1866-1914. Until the end of the World War First, the Austrians had full control over Cracov. The inter-war years were a time of great hope. However, it all came to an end in 1939 when the Germans invaded. Cracov became the capital of a new German state. The historic area of Kazimierz, once a flourishing and lively centre of Jewish faith and culture, was reduced to a ghost town. Since the beginning of the war Germans have started to move Jews to Podgorze (Cracov’s district), where in 1941 ghetto was created. The occupation took a heavy toll, particularly on the city's cultural heritage. On one occasion, over 150 professors and other academics of the Jagiellonian University were summoned to a meeting, arrested and dispatched to the concentration camp at Sachsenhausen. Many relics and monuments of national culture were destroyed or looted. Thanks to a manoeuvre by advancing Soviet forces, Cracov escaped complete destruction during the German withdrawal and some historic buildings and works of art were saved. After the war Poland was ruled for many years by the communists. Since the fall of Communism, the city has gone from strength to strength and despite the increased crowds and considerable business growth, the city has maintained its historic charm.

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