By early 1939, Adolf Hitler, the dictator of Germany, was determined to invade and occupy Poland. This ambition set the stage for a global conflict, but the immediate trigger involved a series of strategic political moves and escalating tensions. Poland, anticipating German aggression, had secured guarantees of military support from both France and Britain. These alliances were crucial, yet Hitler believed he could circumvent them.
Alt text: Black and white photograph depicting German Wehrmacht soldiers on motorcycles and trucks advancing into Poland in September 1939, marking the beginning of World War II.
To ensure his invasion plan proceeded without significant resistance, Hitler first needed to address the potential threat from the Soviet Union, Poland’s eastern neighbor. Secret negotiations culminated in the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact, signed in Moscow on August 23-24, 1939. This pact, beyond its public declarations, included a secret protocol that shocked Europe. Germany and the Soviet Union agreed to divide Poland, with Germany claiming the western part and the Soviet Union taking control of the eastern two-thirds.
With this cynical agreement in place, Hitler calculated that he could invade Poland without fear of Soviet or British intervention. He initially ordered the invasion to commence on August 26. However, news of a formal treaty of mutual assistance between Great Britain and Poland, signed on August 25, caused him to briefly postpone the attack. Despite this diplomatic development and efforts by western powers to dissuade him, Hitler remained resolute.
Ultimately, at 12:40 pm on August 31, 1939, Hitler issued the final order to initiate hostilities against Poland at 4:45 am the following morning. The invasion began as planned. In direct response to this act of aggression, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany. Britain declared war at 11:00 am on September 3, followed by France at 5:00 pm on the same day. These declarations marked the official beginning of World War II, a conflict that would engulf the world for years to come.
