WWII: Two Days After Poland Invasion

Two days after Germany launched its blitzkrieg against Poland in 1939, the world stood on the precipice of a global conflict. This initial invasion, codenamed Operation Fall Weiss, began on September 1st, 1939. It was a swift and brutal demonstration of Germany's new mechanized warfare tactics, aiming to quickly subdue Poland and redraw the map of Europe. The speed and ferocity of the German advance caught many by surprise, including Poland's military, which was still largely equipped for World War I-style trench warfare. German tanks, motorized infantry, and close air support from the Luftwaffe worked in concert to shatter Polish defenses, encircling and destroying units with unprecedented efficiency. This rapid escalation set the stage for the momentous decisions that followed, decisions that would plunge the world into its deadliest conflict.

The World Reacts: Declarations of War

In the immediate aftermath of Germany's unprovoked attack on Poland, the international community was faced with a stark reality. The aggression could not be ignored. Two days later, on September 3rd, 1939, France and Britain, honoring their commitments to Poland, declared war on Germany. This declaration was not a mere formality; it signaled the official start of World War II in Europe. The appeasement policies that had characterized the preceding years, an attempt to satisfy Hitler's demands in the hope of avoiding war, had finally collapsed. The invasion of Poland proved to be the final straw, demonstrating that Hitler's ambitions extended far beyond regaining territories lost after World War I. France and Britain, though militarily unprepared for an immediate large-scale offensive, felt they had no other choice but to confront German expansionism directly. The declaration of war, however, was not immediately followed by significant military action on the Western Front. This period, often referred to as the "Phoney War" or "Sitzkrieg," saw a relative lull in major combat operations between Germany and the Western Allies, allowing both sides to mobilize and prepare for what they knew would be a long and devastating struggle. Nevertheless, the die was cast, and the world was irrevocably on a path to war.

The "Phoney War" and Strategic Stalemate

Following the declarations of war by France and Britain on September 3rd, 1939, a peculiar phase known as the "Phoney War" (or "Sitzkrieg" in German) began. While technically at war with Germany, the Western Allies did not launch a major offensive against the German homeland. Several factors contributed to this strategic stalemate. Firstly, the devastation of Poland was happening so rapidly that any immediate large-scale offensive from the West would have had minimal impact on the ongoing Polish campaign. German forces were heavily concentrated on the Eastern Front, fighting Poland. Secondly, France and Britain were still mobilizing their forces and were not fully prepared for a full-scale invasion of Germany. Their military strategies and resources were not yet aligned for such an undertaking. The Maginot Line, a formidable French defensive fortification, encouraged a defensive posture, while the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was being deployed to France but was not yet at full strength. The German military, too, was largely focused on the Eastern campaign and was not anticipating a major assault from the West at that moment. This period of inaction, lasting for several months, allowed Germany to consolidate its gains in Poland and prepare for future campaigns, while the Allies engaged in limited skirmishes and reconnaissance, but no decisive battles. It was a period of anticipation, marked by propaganda and a sense of uneasy calm, a stark contrast to the brutal fighting that would soon erupt across Europe.

The Wider Implications and International Response

The events of September 1939 had far-reaching implications beyond the immediate conflict in Poland and the declarations of war by France and Britain. The invasion marked a critical turning point, signaling the failure of international diplomacy to contain Nazi Germany's aggressive expansionist policies. The Soviet Union, under a secret pact with Germany (the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact), invaded eastern Poland on September 17th, further dismembering the country and demonstrating the cynical realpolitik at play. This pact, which included a non-aggression clause and secret protocols dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence, shocked many and revealed the opportunistic nature of the major powers involved. The United States, under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, officially maintained a policy of neutrality but was increasingly concerned about the escalating conflict. While the US was not yet ready to enter the war, the events in Europe began to shift public and political opinion, laying the groundwork for future American involvement. Other nations watched with apprehension, recognizing that the conflict in Europe had the potential to spread and engulf the globe. The League of Nations, already weakened, proved largely ineffective in preventing or intervening in the aggression. The world was entering a new and dangerous era, where the established international order was being challenged by totalitarian regimes, and the path to global war was becoming increasingly clear. The fall of Poland was not just the end of a nation but a harbinger of the widespread destruction and profound geopolitical shifts that would define the next six years of global conflict.

Looking Ahead: The Long Road to Global War

Two days after Germany's blitzkrieg against Poland, the world was irrevocably changed. The declarations of war by France and Britain marked the formal beginning of World War II in Europe, but the actual fighting on the Western Front would be delayed. The subsequent "Phoney War" created a deceptive lull, allowing Germany to further solidify its control over Poland and prepare for future offensives. The United States, though neutral, was watching closely, with sentiments gradually shifting towards intervention as the scale of Nazi aggression became undeniable. The Soviet Union's participation in carving up Poland further illustrated the grim realities of international power dynamics. The invasion of Poland was not an isolated incident; it was the culmination of years of aggressive expansionism by Nazi Germany, fueled by nationalist ideology and a desire to overturn the post-World War I settlement. The failure of appeasement and the hesitant response from the Allied powers in the initial stages highlighted the immense challenges that lay ahead. The ensuing years would witness unparalleled devastation, the Holocaust, and a reshaping of the global political landscape. The initial days of September 1939 were not just the end of Poland's sovereignty but the start of a global conflagration that would test humanity to its core and redefine the course of history. The bravery of those who resisted, the strategic miscalculations, and the diplomatic failures all contributed to the long, arduous road to global war.

External Links:

• For more information on the early days of World War II, visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
• Learn about the history of the blitzkrieg at the Imperial War Museums.