The Republic of Poland and Czechoslovakia established relations early in the interwar period, after both countries gained independence.

Relations between the two countries were nonetheless rather amicable, but became somewhat strained in the aftermath of the rise of the Solidarity movement in Poland in 1980 and 1981, improving again afterwards.

After World War II they broadened to include areas around the cities of Kłodzko and Racibórz, which between 1742 and 1945 had belonged to Prussia and Germany, and earlier at various times were under Polish or Bohemian rule.

Czechoslovak President Edvard Beneš warned that military or even strong political ties with Poland could prove dangerous for Czechoslovakia.

In 1938 Poland pursued its own territorial claims, and gave an ultimatum to the Czechoslovak government, which resulted in the annexation of the Trans-Olza region which in fact had a Polish majority.

[6][7] Poles were among the primary prisoners of German-operated subcamps of the Flossenbürg, Gross-Rosen and Auschwitz concentration camps in occupied Czechoslovakia.

Gomulka, together with Walter Ulbricht, fearful of the possible influence of the Czechoslovak liberalization movement in their own countries, had been some of the most ardent supporters of actions against Czechoslovakia.

From that time, members of the Polish and Czechoslovak opposition increasingly were in touch with each other (see Komitet Obrony Robotników and Charter 77).

Together with Hungary, they founded the Visegrád Group in 1991, and supported the creation of the Central European Free Trade Agreement in 1992.