The German Invasion of Poland

The Road To War Hitler plans a fake attack to start the war “I shall give a propagandist reason for starting the war, no matter whether it is plausible or not. The victor will not be asked, later on, whether he told the truth or not. In … a war, it is not the Right that matters, but Victory.”

The Road To War Hitler wanted Germany to appear as an innocent victim of Polish aggression Took a prisoner from a concentration camp, dressed him in a Polish uniform, taken to town of Gleiwitz, and shot on Aug. 31, 1939 by the Gestapo in a bizarre faked “Polish attack” on the local radio station.

The Polish Invasion Sept. 1, Hitler invades Poland Without a declaration of war 56 German divisions all across 1,250 mile frontier –spread Polish forces very thin Was told to withdraw by Sept. 3 or face war Sept. 3, 11:15 a.m. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announces on national radio they were at war with Germanynational radio

The Blitzkrieg

Germans introduced something new in the history of warfare- the blitzkrieg –Lightning war Based on two key weapons –Tank and airplane German Luftwaffe (air force) destroyed Polish air force while most of it is on the ground

The Blitzkrieg Luftwaffe bombed bridges, roads, railways, and radio stations, and concentrated Polish troops

The Blitzkrieg Once Polish Air Force was annihilated, German tanks, called Panzer units, were to roll in Tanks destroyed: roads, railways, bridges, tunnels, telegraph stations, and airfields

The Blitzkrieg Poles try to stop Nazi panzers with their Cavalry –Marks the end of the era of mounted Calvary

The Blitzkrieg After the tanks were armored cars and motorcycle troops

The Blitzkrieg Finally foot soldiers or infantry sent in Watch historical footage of the invasion of Poland.Watch historical footage

The Blitzkrieg Germans also unleash calculated terror on civilian population –Use dive bombers –Drove terrified civilians out into the roads –Caused mass confusion Hear personal stories of the invasion of Polandpersonal stories

The Blitzkrieg Three SS regiments followed the infantry advance to conduct “police and security” measures behind the German lines –Whole villages burned to the ground

The Allies France was thought to possess the most powerful army in Europe England only had a few divisions of men to spare Allies could not come to Poland’s aid fast enough

Poland’s Defeat Sept. 16, Warsaw was surrounded Sept. 17, Soviet forces invade from East Sept. 28, Germany and U.S.S.R agree to divide Poland into spheres of influence Oct. 5, direct Polish resistance comes to an end

Poland’s Defeat It was not lack of courage, but massively superior German power, that led to the defeat of Poland

Poland’s Defeat Remained under German occupation until January, 1945

The Defeat of Poland In Soviet Union, 1.5 million Poles were transported to labor camps Captured Polish officers shot at secret forest sites

The Defeat of Poland Germans herded Polish Jews into ghettos Were starved and cruelly offered hopes of survival Most were shot or gassed 2,000 concentration camps in Poland

Reactions of Britain and France Shock at the fall of Warsaw Deep sympathy with the fate of the Poles Amazement at speed of German advance Anger at the Soviets at their part in the partition of Poland Shame for not having helped

Reactions of Britain and France Fear that Germany may turn “lightning war” on the West