The excuse given by Germany for the invasion of Poland at the beginning of World War II was that the Poles had committed an act of aggression against them, when in fact, the claim was completely false. Early on the morning of September 1, 1939, German soldiers, dressed as Polish Infantry soldiers, attacked a radio station on the German side of the Polish border. This was the fabricated “act of aggression” that Hitler then used to justify his invasion of Poland.
At 8:00 that morning, German forces begin crossing the Polish border. The Polish army was not only outnumbered, but not prepared for the new German tactic called “Blitzkrieg.” This term, which translates as “lightning war,” was a tactic that relied heavily on the fast-moving independent Panzer tank divisions, that passed in between enemy strongholds, disrupted supply lines, and spread confusion and chaos.
There were three primary factors in the rapid German victories in the Polish invasion: the Blitzkrieg tactic, the German Army’s greater numbers, and inferior Polish Military technology. To give you an idea of the difference between sizes of the two armies and their technical advantages: the German Army had 1.5 million soldiers, 2,400 tanks, and 2,500 aircraft; whereas the Polish Army had only 500,000 troops, 880 tanks, 11 brigades of traditional horse cavalry, and 600 aircraft. Clearly the Germans had the advantage.
On September 3, Britain and France declared war on Germany, but by then, Poland was well within Germany’s grasp. The attack against Poland was carried out from four different sides. Two came from German-controlled Czech. One, from Germany, and the fourth one from East Prussia (the part of Germany on the Northeast border of Poland). The first two arms formed a pincer movement as they met at the Polish capital of Warsaw, by September 8th. By the 17th of September, the two others met at Brest-Litovsk. That same day, Soviet forces crossed the Eastern border of Poland. On September 27th, Warsaw surrendered, and the next day, the Nazis and Soviets divided up Poland. The Russians got slightly over half of the Polish territory and the Germans took the rest. At this time, Germany began setting their tone for the war and rounding up Jewish people or people that were deemed enemies of the State.
Although the invasion seemed like a quick response to “aggression” by a powerful and well organized Germany, it was actually the result of years of planning. The seeds of which began with violations of the Treaty of Versailles and then lead to greater aggression with weapons testing in the Spanish Civil War, and negotiations with Germany’s neighbor countries (such as the Anschluss of Austria, the Munich Agreement and the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) to allow for a quick and decisive victory over Poland. This created the impression that Fascist Germany was an unstoppable force and that other countries should join them or prepare to be defeated.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bpYpbiIZDGw
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xddrunwT7w8
At 8:00 that morning, German forces begin crossing the Polish border. The Polish army was not only outnumbered, but not prepared for the new German tactic called “Blitzkrieg.” This term, which translates as “lightning war,” was a tactic that relied heavily on the fast-moving independent Panzer tank divisions, that passed in between enemy strongholds, disrupted supply lines, and spread confusion and chaos.
There were three primary factors in the rapid German victories in the Polish invasion: the Blitzkrieg tactic, the German Army’s greater numbers, and inferior Polish Military technology. To give you an idea of the difference between sizes of the two armies and their technical advantages: the German Army had 1.5 million soldiers, 2,400 tanks, and 2,500 aircraft; whereas the Polish Army had only 500,000 troops, 880 tanks, 11 brigades of traditional horse cavalry, and 600 aircraft. Clearly the Germans had the advantage.
On September 3, Britain and France declared war on Germany, but by then, Poland was well within Germany’s grasp. The attack against Poland was carried out from four different sides. Two came from German-controlled Czech. One, from Germany, and the fourth one from East Prussia (the part of Germany on the Northeast border of Poland). The first two arms formed a pincer movement as they met at the Polish capital of Warsaw, by September 8th. By the 17th of September, the two others met at Brest-Litovsk. That same day, Soviet forces crossed the Eastern border of Poland. On September 27th, Warsaw surrendered, and the next day, the Nazis and Soviets divided up Poland. The Russians got slightly over half of the Polish territory and the Germans took the rest. At this time, Germany began setting their tone for the war and rounding up Jewish people or people that were deemed enemies of the State.
Although the invasion seemed like a quick response to “aggression” by a powerful and well organized Germany, it was actually the result of years of planning. The seeds of which began with violations of the Treaty of Versailles and then lead to greater aggression with weapons testing in the Spanish Civil War, and negotiations with Germany’s neighbor countries (such as the Anschluss of Austria, the Munich Agreement and the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) to allow for a quick and decisive victory over Poland. This created the impression that Fascist Germany was an unstoppable force and that other countries should join them or prepare to be defeated.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bpYpbiIZDGw
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xddrunwT7w8