Germany Invades Poland: September 1939: In Images

This is how WW2 started. On September 1, 1939, German soldiers removed the barrier on the German-Polish border




This is how American cartoonist Herb Block saw the invasion of Poland, Germany signed the Non-Aggression Pact with Russia in August 1939 which paved the way for the dismemberment of Poland.

Wehrmacht soldiers break the border post on the German-Polish border


German soldiers march into Poland
A Luftwaffe bomber pilot readies to fire upon a Polish military column

German bombers fly over Polish skies
A German bomber bombs Warsaw

A Portuguese cartoon saw the invasion thus
This is what German bombardment did to Warsaw
A forlorn Polish boy sits in the ruins of his house in Warsaw
Dead Polish soldiers
Dead defenders of Warsaw
Bombed Polish air defences
 A bombed out Polish airfield and a Polish airplane

 Commander of the Luftwaffe Hermann Goering with the pilots on the front line
A Polish girl weeps besides the body of her sister who was killed in the German bombing
German battleship Schleswig-Holstein "fires a volley at the fort in Gdynia
German soldiers search houses in Warsaw
Men of the Wehrmacht in action on the streets of Warsaw
Hitler waits impatiently on the outskirts of the Polish capital
German soldiers move forward
Polish artillery waits for the German blitzkrieg
Horses against tanks! Polish cavalry counter-attacks
Surrendered Polish defenders at Gdansk
Captive Polish soldiers after the surrender of Westerplatte
The Polish soldiers surrender
A Polish tank destroyed; near it lies a dead Polish soldier
Piles of weapons of surrendered Polish soldiers in the main square of Warsaw
Hitler takes a parade in a conquered Warsaw
German soldiers salute Hitler in Warsaw


This is how British cartoonist David Low saw the dismemberment of Poland by Germany and Russia


This cartoon by David Low turned out to be prophetic
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Points To Ponder

WHY WAS THE FIGHTING ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT SO FIERCE DURING WW2?

It is difficult to distinguish between the quality of both the German and Russian soldiers. Both were motivated by their love for their motherland. But there were others factors that drove the two sides to such desperate fighting.

One, both sides knew that this was a no-holds bar war. Not fighting was thus not an option.

Second, both Hitler and Stalin had squads that killed any deserter. Turning away from fighting was just not possible.

Thus was seen some of the most bitter, brutal and desperate fighting on the WW2 eastern (Russian) Front.
"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
-- George Santayana


Quotes....

"Be polite; write diplomatically; even in a declaration of war one observes the rules of politeness."
--Otto von Bismarck

"When the enemy advances, withdraw; when he stops, harass; when he tires, strike; when he retreats, pursue.'
--Mao Zedong

Quotes....

"The main thing is to make history, not to write it."
--Otto von Bismarck

"When you have to kill a man it costs nothing to be polite."
--Winston Churchill

Quotes....

"In time of war the loudest patriots are the greatest profiteers."
--August Bebel

"God is not on the side of the big battalions, but on the side of those who shoot best."
--Voltaire

Quotes about War....

"Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war."
---Otto von Bismarck

Quotes....

"Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."
--Hermann Goering

Quotes....

"To conquer the enemy without resorting to war is the most desirable. The highest form of generalship is to conquer the enemy by strategy."
--Tzu Sun

"All men are brothers, like the seas throughout the world; So why do winds and waves clash so fiercely everywhere?"
--Emperor Hirohito