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 all moved their armies into Poland. This attack was planned after Germany and the Soviet Union made a secret agreement called the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. The fighting began on September 1 and ended on October 6, 1939.

The invasion was very quick and powerful. 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 of the campaign, 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 and difficult 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 to expand Germany's land and power. He tried to be friendly with Poland at first but later demanded parts of Poland, especially an area called the Polish Corridor and the city of Danzig. These areas had many German people living there, and Hitler claimed they wanted to be part of Germany again.

Poland refused Hitler's demands and made alliances with countries like the United Kingdom and France for protection. Hitler then signed a secret agreement with the Soviet Union, which meant neither country would stop the other from attacking Poland. This set the stage for the invasion of Poland, which began in September 1939 and marked the start of 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 a big advantage with more soldiers and better weapons than Poland. They had many tanks, including special fast-moving groups called Panzer divisions, which were designed to break through enemy lines quickly. The German air force, called the Luftwaffe, was also very 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, known as the September Campaign, began on September 1, 1939, when Nazi Germany attacked Poland. This joint attack by Germany, the Slovak Republic, and later the Soviet Union marked the start of World War II. The German plan, called Fall Weiss, involved a large encirclement strategy to surround and defeat Polish forces. Poland’s defences were spread thin, and despite brave efforts, they were overwhelmed by the faster, more mobile German forces.

The German forces invaded from three directions, converging on Warsaw. The Soviet Union later joined the invasion on September 17, further complicating Poland’s situation. Despite some successful resistance, such as the Battle of Bzura, the Polish forces were eventually overwhelmed. The campaign ended on October 6, 1939, with Germany and the Soviet Union dividing Poland between them. The invasion caused significant loss of life and suffering among Polish civilians, as cities like Warsaw faced heavy bombing and occupation forces committed atrocities.

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 in December 1939 that "the German campaign was a masterpiece. Nothing quite like it has been seen in military history". The country was divided between Germany and the Soviet Union. Slovakia gained back those territories taken by Poland in autumn 1938. Lithuania received the city of Vilnius and its environs on 28 October 1939 from the Soviet Union.

The invasion of Poland led Britain and France to declare war on Germany on 3 September. However, they did little to affect the outcome of the fighting. No declaration of war was issued by Britain and France against the Soviet Union. This led many Poles to feel that they had been let down by their Western allies.

Eyewitness accounts

From Lemberg to Bordeaux by Leo Leixner shares his experiences as a reporter during the early battles of World War II, including events in Poland. Leixner wrote about what he saw when Poland faced attacks in 1939.

American journalist Julien Bryan arrived in Warsaw during the German attacks in September 1939. He used both color and black-and-white film to capture images of soldiers, civilians, and damaged buildings. 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 infantry. They successfully delayed the German advance but faced heavy losses from German armored vehicles.

The Polish Air Force was not destroyed quickly at the start of the war. Though fewer in number, Polish pilots kept flying until the second week of the fighting, causing damage to German aircraft.

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