How Germany’s Blitzkrieg Crushed Poland and Sparked World War II
France’s declaration of war on Germany following the invasion of Poland marked the beginning of the Second World War. Despite their initial response, Britain and France's actions remained limited. Meanwhile, Germany's swift victory reshaped Europe’s borders and set the stage for further aggression.
On September 1, 1939, Germany's forces launched a rapid assault on Poland. The Polish government had delayed full mobilisation to avoid provoking Berlin, leaving its army unprepared. By September 17, the Red Army invaded from the east, splitting the country and accelerating its collapse. Warsaw fell on September 27 after relentless bombing, though Poland never formally surrendered.
The invasion of Poland demonstrated Germany's military strength and set off a chain of events that defined the early war. The lack of a strong Allied response allowed Hitler to consolidate power in Eastern Europe. These developments paved the way for further campaigns, including the eventual assault on France and the Soviet Union.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
