Poland, September 1939
At dawn on September 1, 1939, the thunder of German tanks and planes shattered the fragile peace.
The Blitzkrieg, or "lightning war," descended on Poland with terrifying speed.
German forces, led by General Heinz Guderian, unleashed waves of armored divisions, supported by relentless air strikes from the Luftwaffe.
Cities like Warsaw, Kraków, and Gdańsk were quickly overwhelmed.
The Polish army, though brave and determined, was ill-prepared for the new style of warfare.
Despite fierce resistance, they were outmatched by Germany's mechanized power.
In the east, the Soviet Union invaded Poland on September 17, following the secret protocols of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, crushing Polish hopes of a two-front defense.
Civilians were caught in the crossfire.
Thousands fled, while others faced brutal occupation.
The world watched in horror as Poland was carved up between two totalitarian regimes.
Within weeks, Warsaw fell.
The Polish government and military went into exile, determined to continue the fight from abroad.
A Polish soldier wrote:
"Though our land is lost, our spirit remains unbroken."
The swift fall of Poland shocked the world.
It was the opening act of a conflict that would engulf continents and change history forever.