Invasion of Poland

The invasion of Poland was a big attack that started World War II. It happened in September 1939 when Nazi Germany, the Slovak Republic, and the Soviet Union moved their armies into Poland. This attack followed a secret agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union called the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact.

The fighting began on September 1 and ended on October 6, 1939. German forces attacked from many directions, and Polish soldiers tried to defend their country. The Soviet Union joined the fight later, attacking from the east. Because of this, Poland could not get enough help from its allies, France and the United Kingdom. By the end, Poland was split between Germany and the Soviet Union.

After the invasion, Poland was no longer an independent country. Germany took control of the western part, while the Soviet Union took the eastern areas. Many Polish people who could escape joined forces outside of Poland to keep fighting, and some groups inside the country began to resist the new rulers. This invasion was a very important event because it started a big war that affected the whole world.

Background

Main articles: Causes of World War II and Danzig crisis

In 1933, a group called the National Socialist German Workers' Party, led by Adolf Hitler, took control of Germany. Hitler wanted Germany to grow larger and stronger. He asked for parts of Poland, especially an area called the Polish Corridor and the city of Danzig. Many German people lived there, and Hitler said they wanted to join Germany.

Poland said no to Hitler’s demands. They made friends with countries like the United Kingdom and France for safety. Hitler then made a secret deal with the Soviet Union. This deal meant that neither country would stop the other from attacking Poland. Because of this, Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, which started World War II.

Opposing forces

See also: Opposing forces in the Polish September Campaign, Soviet order of battle for invasion of Poland in 1939, and Slovak invasion of Poland

Germany

See also: German order of battle for the invasion of Poland

Germany had more soldiers and better weapons than Poland. They had many tanks, including fast-moving groups called Panzer divisions, which could break through enemy lines quickly. The German air force, called the Luftwaffe, was strong and had many modern airplanes, including bombers and fighters.

Poland

See also: Polish army order of battle in 1939 and Plan West

Poland became an independent country after World War I and had to build its military from scratch. By 1939, Poland had about a million soldiers, but they did not have as many modern tanks or airplanes as Germany. The Polish Air Force had fewer and older planes, but their pilots were well-trained. Poland also had some modern tanks, like the 7TP, which were better armed than many German tanks at the time. The Polish Navy was small, with a few destroyers and submarines.

Details

The invasion of Poland, called the September Campaign, started on September 1, 1939, when Nazi Germany attacked Poland. This attack by Germany, the Slovak Republic, and later the Soviet Union began World War II. The German plan, named Fall Weiss, aimed to surround and defeat Polish forces. Poland’s defences were thin, and they were overwhelmed by the faster German forces.

German forces attacked from three directions, moving toward Warsaw. The Soviet Union joined the invasion on September 17, making Poland’s situation harder. Although there were some successful resistance battles, like the Battle of Bzura, Polish forces were eventually overwhelmed. The campaign ended on October 6, 1939, with Germany and the Soviet Union dividing Poland. The invasion caused much suffering for Polish civilians, as cities like Warsaw faced heavy bombing and occupation.

Aftermath

See also: Military Administration in Poland, War crimes in occupied Poland during World War II, and Nazi crimes against the Polish nation

American journalist John Gunther wrote that the German campaign was very well planned. The country was split between Germany and the Soviet Union. Slovakia took back some land. Lithuania received the city of Vilnius and its areas on 28 October 1939.

The invasion caused Britain and France to declare war on Germany on 3 September. However, they did not change the fight much. Britain and France did not declare war on the Soviet Union. This made many Poles feel unsupported by their allies.

Eyewitness accounts

From Lemberg to Bordeaux by Leo Leixner tells about his time as a reporter during the early battles of World War II in Poland. Leixner shared what he saw when Poland was attacked in 1939.

American journalist Julien Bryan came to Warsaw during the German attacks in September 1939. He used both color and black-and-white film to take pictures of soldiers, people, and buildings that were damaged. His important photographs and film are kept at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Misconceptions

Polish cavalry units did not fight German tanks with lances and swords, as many people believe. During the Battle of Tuchola Forest on September 1, 1939, the 18th Pomeranian Uhlan Regiment helped protect retreating Polish soldiers. They delayed the German advance but lost many men to German armored vehicles.

The Polish Air Force was not destroyed quickly at the start of the war. Though there were fewer Polish planes, Polish pilots kept flying for two weeks, damaging some German aircraft.

Some think Germany won easily because of a new strategy called Blitzkrieg, but this is not the whole story. The fighting was hard, and Poland caused many German losses before the campaign ended.