Germany attacks Poland World War II begins

World War II began on Sept. 1, 1939 when Germany, without notice of war, attacked Poland. The Germans used a technique called blitzkrieg (lightning war) and with it the Germans crushed the Polish defenses.  Five German armies with 1.5 million men, 2,000 tanks, and 1,900 modern aircraft faced fewer than a million Polish troops with less than 500 aircraft and a small number of armored vehicles.  Also, German planning and understanding of the importance of modern tactical airpower gave Germany multiple advantages.

Within five days, German forces occupied all of the frontier zones.  All the Polish air forces were destroyed and the Polish army was scattered.  By September 17, the war was basically over.  After a devastating air attack, Warsaw, capital of Poland, surrendered on September 27.  ­This was the start of the war that Adolf Hitler had wanted.

The German invasion provoked a global conflict.  On September 3, Britain and France declared war on Germany when they couldn’t negotiate a German withdrawal from Poland.  In Britain and France, the people had braced themselves for war.  There was little appetite for war, but a strong wave of anti-Germany helped people understand that Adolf Hitler would only stop if he was faced by force.

Almost instantly, the British and French empires (not including Ireland) joined the battle, turning it into a worldwide war.  World War II was fought not only in Europe, but across the entire world.  Canada declared war on Germany on September 10, 1939.