September 1st, 1939, the Nazi's invade Poland both land and air under Adolf Hitler's orders. World War II has begun. World War II was the biggest, bloodiest and deadlist war in all of History. It infact involved more 30 countries.
(Adolf Hitler giving a speech to the Reichstag, Kroll Opera House, Berlin, Germany, 1 Sep 1939. Bundesarcheiv)
There's more to why Hitler made these orders, and while it does not justify for the later 6+ million murdered Jews, it however does explain Germany's motives. Understanding this is crucial, this invasion would lay out Germany's plan for World War Two.
Historians remember the invasion of Poland as the official 'kickstart' to the Second War that Europe and practically the World would encounter. But why invade Poland? Why not France, Britain, Austria, Switzerland?
History.com states that "Germany invaded Poland to regain lost territory and ultimately rule their neighbour to the east. The German invasion of Poland was a primer on how Hitler intended to wage war–what would become the “blitzkrieg” strategy,". Blitzkrieg, also known as 'Lightening War', 'Fast War'.
"Germany's blitzkrieg approach was characterized by extensive bombing early on to destroy the enemy’s air capacity, railroads, communication lines and munitions dumps, followed by a massive land invasion with overwhelming numbers of troops, tanks and artillery. After the German forces had plowed their way through, devastating a swath of territory, infantry moved in, picking off any remaining resistance."
(German troops at the Egiertowo crossroads on the road to Danzig during the initial invasion of Poland, 1 Sep 1939. Note the heavy German reliance on horse-drawn transports. United States Library of Congress)
"Once Hitler had a base of operations within the target country, he immediately began setting up “security” forces to annihilate all enemies of his Nazi ideology, whether racial, religious or political. Concentration camps for slave laborers and the extermination of civilians went hand-in-hand with German rule of a conquered nation. For example, within one day of the German invasion of Poland, Hitler was already setting up SS “Death’s Head” regiments to terrorize the populace," says History.com
"The Polish army made several severe strategic miscalculations early on. Although 1 million strong, the Polish forces were severely under-equipped and attempted to take the Germans head-on, rather than falling back to more natural defensive positions," says History.com. Perhaps what they are saying is that Poland could have had a fighting chance if they had held the more natural position. But that in itself was even slim, only 1/3rd of Polish forces were mobilized as of Sept. 1, 1939. Had Germany faced the entire bulk of the Polish forces where they were all mobilized instead, the war could conceivably have lasted until winter in 1939.
War could have also been shortened if France and England used the extra time the Polish forces could buy them to attack Germany in the West. Germany had virtually no forces in western Germany at the time of invading Poland - they were all focused on the invasion of Poland. Or, if the Soviet Union had just waited until Germany victory was certain before invading Poland. Had the UK and France made concrete efforts towards invading Germany in 1939, the USSR likely would not have committed their forces, the war wouldn't have been as distraught as it was and the length of World War II would be greatly shortened.
Many ask, well why didn't the Allies just help Poland instead of sitting there and watching? To summarize it, they completely miscalculated both Germany's and Poland's strategies and their respective abilities to help them. Had this been done, the fate of Poland wouldn't have been known as it is today.
"The outmoded thinking of the Polish commanders coupled with the antiquated state of its military were simply no match for the overwhelming and modern-mechanized German forces. And, of course, any hope the Poles might have had of a Soviet counter-response was dashed with the signing of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Nonaggression Pact.
(BBC)
Some may ask, what business was this of Russia's? They had to come to the aid of its “blood brothers,” the Ukrainians and Byelorussians, who were trapped in territory that had been illegally annexed by Poland. While they didn't necessarily do the help they really wanted to, they could have simply done better if they had come earlier as stated.
(The Guardian)
I sit in one of the dives On Fifty-second Street Uncertain and afraid As the clever hopes expire Of a low dishonest decade: Waves of anger and fear Circulate over the bright And darkened lands of the earth, Obsessing our private lives; The unmentionable odour of death Offends the September night.
Accurate scholarship can Unearth the whole offence From Luther until now That has driven a culture mad, Find what occurred at Linz, What huge imago made A psychopathic god: I and the public know What all schoolchildren learn, Those to whom evil is done Do evil in return.
-September 1, 1939 by W. H. Auden
This poem is a great summary of how dishonesty and manipulation of government can lead to war. Though this is only an intercept of this poem, it's entirety discusses also the consequences that come with this.
Sadly, by the end of this invasion and conquest of Poland over 70,000 Polish soldiers were killed and more than 130,000 were wounded. Over 1.5 million Polish soldiers marched to this line defending it's border with Nazi Germany.
(United States Holocaust Museum)
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