1. The German Invasion of Poland

2. The Road to War Before 1939, Hitler could achieve goals without war April 3, 1939- Hitler issues directive for attack on Poland –Called Case White

3. 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.”

4. 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.

5. The Polish Invasion Sept. 1, 1939- Hitler invades Poland –Responds to the attack by regular Polish troops on the Gleiwitz transmitter 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

6. The Blitzkrieg

7. 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

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

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

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

11. The Blitzkrieg After the tanks were armored cars and motorcycle troops

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

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

14. The Blitzkrieg Three SS Death’s Head regiments followed the infantry advance to conduct “police and security” measures behind the German lines –Whole villages burned to the ground Rules of War ignored by Germany

15. The Allies France was thought to possess the most powerful army in Europe –Pull back behind their own defensive position, the Maginot Line England only had a few divisions of men to spare Allies could not come to Poland’s aid fast enough

16. Poland’s Defeat Sept. 16, 1939- Warsaw was surrounded Sept. 17, 1939- Soviet forces invade from East Sept. 28, 1939- Germany and U.S.S.R agree to divide Poland into spheres of influence Oct. 5, 1939- direct Polish resistance comes to an end

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

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

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

20. 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

21. 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, who one month earlier had been independent, at their part in the partition of Poland Shame for not having helped

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