1. THE INVASION OF POLAND KATJA AND KELSEY S.

2. SETTING September 1 st ~October 6 th, 1939 In Poland and the Free City of Danzig Germany and the Soviet Union (Sept. 17) v.s. Poland

3. MAP -

4. WHY WAS IT SIGNIFICANT? Ultimately started World War II Germany allied with Soviet Union to invade Poland from all angles Took over the Free City of Danzig, which was protected by the League of Nations Germany regained territory lost of WWI Poland was the first country to actually defend their borders and resist invasion Britain, France and Canada declared war on Germany

5. DESCRIPTION Sept. 1, 1939, German forces invaded Poland from all directions Germans advanced and Polish withdrew from German-Polish border to establish a defense in the east After losing (Polish) in the battle of Bzura, Germans gained an advantage and Polish withdrew to the southeast and prepared for a long defense of the Romanian Bridgehead. They awaited support and relief from France and Britain Sept. 17, 1939, Soviets Red Army invaded Eastern Poland and the Polish government concluded that the Romanian Bridgehead was no longer feasible- Polish troops evacuated to Romania German and Soviet forces gained full control over Poland on Oct 6,1939

6. STRATEGIES AND TACTICS Germany signed a pact with the Soviet Union that stated that they wouldn’t’ fight against one another and that the Soviet Union wouldn’t come to Poland’s defense. After the take over of Poland, they would divide it between the two Germany bombed Poland from the air and sent tanks in afterward to destroy the things left over After Germany seized Poland, they did not divide it with the Soviet Union

7. CANADA’S ROLE Declared war on Germany a week after Britain First declaration of war, showing independence from Britain, as we weren’t obligated to go to war, but chose to With a population of 11 million, we had 1 million soldiers, the 4 th largest air-force, and 3 rd largest naval service fleet in the world by the time the war ended