Polish campaign
1939 · Warsaw and all of Poland · World · Modern
The Germans launched a blitzkrieg with armored forces supported by air power and destroyed the main Polish defensive lines within weeks. On September 17 the Soviet army attacked from the east as well; caught between two fronts, Poland was entirely overrun by early October.
Belligerents
Germany
- Commanders
- Walther von Brauchitsch, Gerd von Rundstedt
- Strength
- About 1.5 million
Poland (and later the Soviet eastern front)
- Commanders
- Edward Rydz-Śmigły
- Strength
- About 1 million
Background
Using the Danzig Corridor issue as a pretext, Germany brazenly invaded Poland after secretly signing a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union that divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence.
Course of the battle
- Blitzkrieg beginsIn the early hours of September 1, German armored forces and dive bombers launched a simultaneous surprise attack and quickly broke through the Polish border defenses.
- Attack from both sidesOn September 17 the Soviet army attacked from the east under the secret agreement, and the Polish army, caught between two fronts, fell into total collapse.
- Warsaw fallsAfter weeks of siege and bombing, Warsaw surrendered on September 28, and organized Polish resistance essentially came to an end.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 1939 |
|---|---|
| Place | Warsaw and all of Poland |
| Result | The Germans launched a blitzkrieg with armored forces supported by air power and destroyed the main Polish defensive lines within weeks. On September 17 the Soviet army attacked from the east as well; caught between two fronts, Poland was entirely overrun by early October. |
| Winner | Germany (supported by the Soviets in the east) |
| Casualties | Polish losses exceeded 60,000 killed, with hundreds of thousands captured or missing; German casualties were about 16,000. |
| Territorial change | Poland was partitioned by Germany and the Soviet Union under their secret agreement, and the state ceased to exist; a government in exile moved to London. |
Impact
The Polish campaign was the first real test of Germany's "blitzkrieg" tactical system. Britain and France promptly declared war on Germany, marking the formal outbreak of World War II in Europe.
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