The invasion of Poland began on 1 September 1939, when German forces attacked from the north, west and south, and it was the start of the Second World War in Europe. Britain and France, who had guaranteed Polish independence, declared war on Germany two days later, but gave little direct help. On 17 September the Soviet Union invaded from the east, in accordance with a secret protocol of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact signed with Germany the previous month, and a small Slovak force also took part on the German side. Warsaw surrendered at the end of September, and the last organised Polish units laid down their arms in early October. Poland was divided between Germany and the Soviet Union and endured a brutal occupation. A Polish government in exile continued the fight from abroad.
Before and after
- 2 July 1939Founding of Hewlett-Packard
- 9 August 1939Birth of Romano Prodi
- 23 August 1939Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact
- 31 August 1939Gleiwitz incident
- from 1 September 1939 to 6 October 19391939 Invasion of Poland
- from 1 September 1939 to 2 September 1945World War II
- from 1 September 1939 to 3 September 1939Battle of Mława
- from 1 September 1939 to 7 September 1939Battle of Westerplatte
- from September 1939 to May 1945Occupation of Poland (1939–1945)
More in Wars, politics & history
- from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918World War I
- 16 May 1916Sykes–Picot Agreement
- from February 1919 to March 1921Polish–Soviet War
- 4 June 1920Treaty of Trianon
- 24 July 1923Treaty of Lausanne
- from 1933 to 1945The Holocaust
The era
This moment belongs to the Modern era (1914 CE to 1945 CE), world wars and a changing world. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.