Invasion of Poland

Germany ended up defeating and taking over Poland on October 6, 1939. Both Great Britain and France knew after Poland was taken over, there was only more trouble to come from Germany. For France, it was only a matter of time before it was taken over, while Britain remained resilient against Germany and it’s forces. This early hesitation from Western Europe, specifically France and Great Britain, was a major reason to account for the Germans’ early success during World War II. However, France and Britain were not the only countries whose lack of initial involvement in the war was significant to Germany’s early success.

World War II was fought between the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and the Allied Powers (Britain, United States, Soviet Union, and France). Although most all countries were involved in some way hence the title “World War II,” the Axis and Allied Powers were the major players on the field. The war began when Germany at the command of Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland on September 1st 1939 as a “defensive action.” However, Britain and France did not buy it hence why they had declared war on Germany two days later as a result. The real reason Germany invaded Poland was because Hitler wanted more Lebensraum (“living space”) for Germans. Hitler believed that he would be able to get away with taking over Poland due to the fact that many counties appeased him when he had taken over Austria and the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. The United States’ decision to stay neutral also played a role in World War II, as they did not come to aid to the countries apart of the League of Nations.

Invasion of Poland, Blitzkrieg - September, 1939 - Germany used series of "lightning campaigns" to conquer Poland. The invasion caused Great Britain and France to declare war on Germany.

Hitler realized that the French and British Leaders were scared of his power and also of war. Hitler needed more living space for the German people and he thought of taking over Poland. Hitler began planning the invasion of Poland. After World War I, Poland's army was relatively weak and ill-equipped compared to Germany. To aid in its defense, Poland had formed military alliances with Great Britain and France. Massing their armies along the Polish border, the Germans staged a fake Polish attack on August 31, 1939. Using this as a pretext for war, German forces flooded across the border the next day. On September 3, Great Britain and France issued a warning to Germany to end the fighting. When no reply was received, both nations declared war. Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia and Poland before World War 2 but then from 1939 and June 1941 the German army invaded and occupied many countries like Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg,France, Denmark,Yugoslavia, Greece, Norway and Western Poland. In Source C (The cartoon from October 1938 by Low) shows a picture of Hitler as Santa popping every European country into his sack which means Germany over all and also Hitler realized that nobody could stop

PEARL HARBOUR INTRODUCTION: As World War 1 came to an end and the war was nearly over, Germany suffered greatly and lost major industries and land. This humiliation gave rise to a great rising power led by it's dictators. The invasion of European lands by Hitler who was opposing the treaty invaded Poland in 1939. The Allies issued an ultimatum that Hitler remove his troops under the threat of war.

Its 4:45am and the sound of gunfire fills the air as 1.5 million Germans flood the streets of Poland. Led by Adolf Hitler on September 1st, 1939, this marked the start of World War Two. Hitler claimed the invasion was a defensive strategy, but Britain and France were not convinced. A few days later, the two countries declared war on Germany and started a major conflict. As tensions continued to rise and more countries joined the fight, the United States prepared itself for war.

By the summer of 1943, the German army was retreating to Poland. The city of Lublin fell, and Warsaw fell afterwards. Unfortunately, the Poles discovered that their “liberation” only meant that the Nazis were replaced by the Soviets.

The occupation of Poland took place from September 1939 to January 1945 (USHMM.com). During this time, almost all polish people were segregated from the normal life they used to possess, especially the Polish Jews. These people had to endure many struggles, including being thrown into Ghettos, being sent to Concentration Camps, and a lot of times, death. During 1941, Germany took over the part of Poland that Russia had originally claimed, now making all of Poland, German (USHMM.com). The lives of the Polish Jews made their way in a downward spiral, that would begin with the

The start of WWII began with the invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, as polish defenses along the border were not strong enough to prevent the Nazi invasion. Soon after, the Germans made their way to the Polish capital, Warsaw, which would later turn into one of the most infamous ghettos for the people targeted by Nazi soldiers (USHMM). Only two months after the German invasion of Poland, 2 Polish women were ordered a death sentence for tearing down Nazi Placards. Three million Polish Jews lived in Poland before the war; less than 100,000 would survive. Poland represents the biggest number of people to rescue Jews, around 450,000. Previously, Jews had lived in Poland almost peacefully for over 800 years, with a stable economy and other groups being tolerant towards them, until the Partitions of Poland being implemented in 1772, allowing the Russian Empire to legally persecute and discriminate against Polish Jews. Although Jews were the primary target for the Germans, many other groups were targeted and discriminated against, such as the Roma Gypsies, Jehovah's witnesses, homosexuals, Christians, the disabled, and blacks. In the spring of 1995, Poland was liberated when the Allied troops invaded and freed the people under the Nazi regime.

War I Germany wanted a powerful leader who could bring them to a strong victory.

With little preparation, the Polish quickly had their land taken right before their eyes by the Nazis. “As they marched into the towns of Poland, Germans preyed on the Jews they encountered, subjecting them to humiliation and beatings,” (The Outbreak of WWII). Adding not only humiliation, but terror as well, the Germans would shear the beards of the Orthodox and organize public hangings (The Outbreak of WWII). Due to little to no preparation at all the Polish rebellion lasted for about two months, but the Germans ended up overpowering and 200,000 Poles were killed (“Polish Victims”). “Within three weeks the Germans had defeated Poland and divided it into three regions: the western and northern provinces of the former Polish state,” (The Outbreak of WWII). Hitler achieved his goal and became one step closer to world domination. The Nazis were PREDOMINANT compared to the Polish in this situation. The Poles and their land were gone the minute the Nazis stepped on the Polish territory. The Polish army was never going to be big enough to defeat the Nazi’s. They were simply not strong enough nor were they mean

Jasmyne Cartagena Task 5 Western Governors University Fascism Benito Mussolini Adolf Hitler Invasion of Poland Fascism Fascism is a type of government system where a man is the sole ruler. They are against democracy and rule through aggression, force and authority. Fascist leaders portray themselves as powerful and believe in violence as political expression. This led to genocide being viewed as rational. Fascist leaders such as Mussolini and Hitler came into power and ruled violently.

Hitler wanted to take Poland. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. A few days later

In the early hours of the 1st September 1939 German forces invaded Poland. 21 years after the end of World War I, the world had to face the beginning of another world war that should last 6 years. World War II was one of the most disastrous events in human history causing approximately 60 million deaths and destruction almost all over the globe (msn Encarta 2008). Winston Churchill wrote in the preface of his book about World War II (The Gathering Storm):

Hitler wanted the land of the Polish Corridor back to Germany because it had cut Germany in two and many German people lived there. But Poland refused to give back the lands because it would mean that they would lose the only access they had to the sea. Hitler invaded Poland so he could have back that land and to expand its territories. More land meant more men in the army and more space to oppose the USSR.