Free City of Krakow

Although Warsaw was the capital of both independent and communist Poland, in many ways Krakow has always been the heart of the Polish nation. In the 19th century, it was only the Free State of Krakow that remained self-governing while the rest of Poland was divided between Europe's great Empires. It was in the Cathedral of Krakow that the Kings of Poland were crowned, and it was Krakow that saw Poland's first university. Now, with Warsaw a smoking ruin and Poland no longer a nation but simply a wartorn borderland fought over by bandits and deserters, Krakow is once again the heart of what remains of the Polish nation.

Krakow was the second city of Poland and its intellectual and cultural centre during the 60s and 70s. The city was not a major industrial or military centre and as such was spared the worst of the war. It was not demolished by nuclear munitions like Warsaw or Wroclaw, and it was sufficiently far from the German-Polish border that it was never occupied by NATO ground troops. This is not to say the city did not suffer - it was convulsed by anti-government riots that were put down brutally, it was ravaged by typhus and cholera, and many died of starvation or insufficient heating during the harsh winters of 1984 and 1985. American and West German aircraft bombed the city's industrial eastern suburbs, destroying the Vladimir Lenin steelworks. Krakow lost nearly 80% of its population - but that still leaves more than 80,000 people, making it by the largest settlement in Poland, and possibly the largest in Eastern Europe.

In 1985 almost all Polish and Soviet military forces were withdrawn from the area in order to try to repel the NATO invasion. As command and control broke down, the few remaining local forces tried to raise an improvised citizen's militia out of police forces and civilian volunteers. An impromptu emergency council was formed that, late in 1985, declared Krakow an Open City. Surprisingly, this declaration has been respected - both American and Soviet forces contemplated occupying Krakow during the Czestochowa campaign, but declined to do so as they anticipated that forcibly occupying such a large city would be a major manpower drain in a campaign where both sides were already short on troops.

Since then, Krakow's "open city" status has remained. The city is well-defended enough to keep out all but the largest bands of Marauders, and is recognised by both sides of the NATO/Soviet conflict. Entry to Krakow is strictly controlled but it does not depend on allegiance - it doesn't matter one's nationality or one's allegiance, what matters is how many shells you have to spend and what the powers-that-be in the city think of your presence. It's not unusual to see Soviet and American soldiers in the streets of Krakow bartering, gambling or even just sitting down for a drink. It is one of the few places in Poland where electricity is not a rarity, even if it is restricted to factories, medical facilities and other valuable locations. Food and fresh water are available, albeit at a price, but one does not have to scavenge for them.

Which is not to say Krakow does not have its dangers. Although open violence is frowned upon, espionage, blackmail and the sale of information are rife. Large parts of the city are controlled by armed gangs that the city's defense forces turn a blind eye to as long as they stay in their neighbourhoods. And once you leave the city's medieval walls, all bets are off. But Krakow is the only place in Poland, possibly one of the only places in the whole of Europe, that even vaguely resembles a pre-war city. For many, it represents hope, or at least an assurance of a standard of living that doesn't require them to scrape and scramble and fight just to have enough to eat or drink. But getting there is one thing, and getting in is another...