The Fighting in Europe - 1939

Breaking down a Polish border barrier, September 1, 1939.

World War II officially began with the German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. Per their guarantee of Polish military support, Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later, on September 3rd. Through the German-Soviet Nonagreesion Pact signed a month earlier, the Soviet Union entered Poland from the east on September 17th. Poland, after being squeezed from both sides, was defeated only weeks later following the downfall of Warsaw. Germany and France, however, did liitle to nothing to alleviate the plight of the Poles. They faced off on the French/German border but engaged in little more than local actions and skirmishes. Only at see did the war appear to escalate, with numerous German Uboat attacks on Allied shipping through the end of the year.

The Invasion of Poland - September 1 - October 6, 1939