Humpday History Highlight
By Wyatt Earp | September 1, 2009
Yes, I know I am a day early, but today marks an infamous anniversary in the annals of world history. 70 years ago today, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, and World War II had begun.
September 1, 1939 – Germany Invades Poland
On this day in 1939, German forces bombard Poland on land and from the air, as Adolf Hitler seeks to regain lost territory and ultimately rule Poland. World War II had begun.
The German invasion of Poland was a primer on how Hitler intended to wage war–what would become the “blitzkrieg” strategy. This was characterized by extensive bombing early on to destroy the enemy’s air capacity, railroads, communication lines, and munitions dumps, followed by a massive land invasion with overwhelming numbers of troops, tanks, and artillery.
The Polish army made several severe strategic miscalculations early on. Although 1 million strong, the Polish forces were severely under-equipped and attempted to take the Germans head-on with horsed cavaliers in a forward concentration, rather than falling back to more natural defensive positions. And, of course, any hope the Poles might have had of a Soviet counter-response was dashed with the signing of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Nonaggression Pact.
Great Britain would respond with bombing raids over Germany three days later. (H/T – History.com)
Sources estimate the total World War II casualties to be between 50 and 70 million people. That includes military and civilian losses. 50 to 70 million. All because Adolph Hitler thought the World War I Treaty of Versailles slighted and humiliated Germany.
Topics: HHH | 4 Comments »
September 1st, 2009 at 11:51 am
This is a good one to do early. The beginning of the world in flames.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Also the first major war in history where within the militaries, battle deaths exceeded death due to disease
for the first time.
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:28 am
This is my response to the History Channel.
“I cannot believe of all organizations out there the History Channel has relegating itself to the credibility of American Idol. I can tell you that real historians are well aware of the lengths the Nazis went to, to perpetuate this propaganda. If you are going to call yourself “The History Channel”, I suggest you do some actual research from creditable sources, not gullible “Jaywalk All-Stars”. This article should point you in the right
direction. http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/218598/polish-cavalry-versus-german-tanks-diehard-wwii-myth
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:51 am
Admiral – I was watching “The Fatal Attraction of Adolf Hitler” on the Military Channel last night. Really shows you how his cult of personality was formed early on.
Jon – That’s because Paris Hilton wasn’t born yet.