World War II began – specifically, Germany invaded Poland – on September 1, 1939. Two days later both England and France declared war on Germany, but neither committed significant forces to oppose the Nazis, and within a month Poland was occupied and partitioned between Germany and Russia. The latter invaded Poland on September 17. In August, 1939 Germany and Russia had concluded a publicly announced pact as well as a secret agreement to partition Poland between them.
The German campaign was the first substantial application of attack by mechanized armor and aircraft that became known as “Blitzkrieg.” Although Poland had a sizeable army, it was organized and equipped in an antiquated manner, having few mechanized forces. The failure of Britain and France to act promptly may have been decisive. France had a very large army, but it took no significant action until mid-September because of the need to fully prepare, including bringing heavy artillery out of storage.
For some months after the occupation of Poland, a so-called “phony war” prevailed. In October 1939 Hitler made a peace offer, which was quickly rejected, after which he decided to invade France promptly. But, due to the weather and other factors the war on the Western Front did not occur until 1940 – first the occupation of Norway and Denmark in April, then the attack on Holland, Belgium and France in May. Italy entered the war in June, 1940. The invasion of Britain, first scheduled for later in 1940, was postponed when Germany’s attempt to knock out the RAF (“The Battle of Britain”) was unsuccessful.
Following military action in North Africa, East Africa, the Balkan States and Crete, the German forces invaded Russia on June 21, 1941. Less than six months later, but more than two years after start of the war, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaya and Burma.
The event that ultimately resulted in much of the world order as we know it began 70 years ago. Who out there can remember hearing the news about the invasion and partitioning of Poland?
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How soon we forget!
ReplyDeleteDuring the Battle of Britain, Joseph Kennedy, who was then the US Ambassador to England (the "Court of St. James") was sacked but allowed to resign by FDR after Kennedy proclaimed in November 1940 that "Democracy is finished in England [and] it may be [in the US]."
ReplyDeleteJoe Kennedy is the father of President Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and Ted Kennedy. Another son, Edward, was killed in World Wat II.
In fact it looks as if Democracy was over. It has taken a long time to see the results. But the Nazi war criminals came to America to continue their obscene work on human experimentation in varied corporations. The pharmaceutical industry as we know it is the result of Nazi war crime experimentation. they gave us flouridated water, sacharrin, and genetically modified foods.
ReplyDeleteThey also taught American politicians the value of having gun registrations. No need to ban guns, simply register them. Then, when the time comes, you know who has them! Brilliant.
Ukraine was invaded at 4 a.m. local time on June 22, 1941, launching operation Barbarossa.
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