78 Years Ago, Germany’s Invasion of Poland Started World War II

German troops in Poland. 

(Photo Courtesy: PK Hugo J.ger, National Archives, USA)

78 years ago, on this day, a new chapter began in world history when Nazi Germany invaded Poland, marking the beginning the Second World War.

At dawn on 1 September 1939, German troops numbering as many as 1.5 million began their offensive against Poland, ushering in a new phase which would see the persecution, enslavement and mass killing of Jews and Slavs.

The offensive, which was referred to as ‘blitzkrieg’, mobilised not just German troops on land, but also the country’s airforce and its warships.

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The invasion prompted Britain and France to issue ultimatums asking Germany to withdraw from Poland. As this was not paid heed to by the Nazis, the two West European nations eventually announced that they were going to war with Germany. And the World War II – which was to continue for the next six years – officially began.

However, it is said that Poland was not given any substantial assistance either from Britain or France to help them tackle Nazi Germany’s onslaught.

Seventeen days after the Germany launched its offensive, the Soviet Union, on 17 September 1939, too joined the invasion, which sealed the fate of Poland.

Unsurprisingly, the Warsaw garrison conceded defeated on 28 September, and the territory in question was divided between the Soviets and the Germans.

Notably, prior to the invasion of Poland, the Hitler-controlled Germany had annexed Austria in 1938 and then Czechoslovakia in 1939.

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