On 1 September 1939, German forces invaded Poland in a coordinated assault that marked the beginning of the Second World War in Europe. The offensive, launched without a formal declaration of war, combined ground, air, and naval attacks in what became known as the first demonstration of “blitzkrieg” tactics.
Prelude to conflict
Tensions between Germany and Poland had escalated throughout the 1930s. Adolf Hitler’s regime demanded the return of territories lost after the First World War and pressed for control of the Free City of Danzig, a semi-autonomous port under League of Nations oversight. Diplomatic attempts to defuse the crisis failed, and Germany signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact with the Soviet Union in August 1939. The agreement secretly divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence, leaving Poland vulnerable to attack from both sides.
The invasion begins
At dawn on 1 September 1939, German troops crossed the Polish border along multiple fronts, supported by heavy aerial bombardment and armoured divisions. The German battleship Schleswig-Holstein fired on the Westerplatte garrison in Gdańsk, while Luftwaffe planes targeted railways, bridges, and military positions. Polish forces, though determined, were quickly outmatched by Germany’s superior numbers and modern weaponry.
Soviet entry and collapse of Poland
On 17 September 1939, Soviet forces invaded from the east, fulfilling their side of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. This two-front assault left Poland unable to mount effective resistance. Warsaw capitulated on 27 September, and by early October organised defence had collapsed. Poland was subsequently partitioned between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
International consequences
The invasion triggered immediate responses from Western powers. On 3 September 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany, honouring their commitments to defend Polish independence. However, neither launched significant military operations to assist Poland directly, a period of inaction often referred to as the “Phoney War”.
Historical legacy
The German invasion of Poland set in motion a global conflict that lasted six years and reshaped the political order. Poland endured brutal occupation, marked by mass deportations, executions, and the systematic persecution of its Jewish population. The campaign also introduced modern warfare strategies that defined the early years of the conflict.
REFH – Newshub, 1 September 2025
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