1939 Poland Invaded by Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, WW II
(Link to Video: World War II V5)
The Second Polish Republic ended abruptly in 1939 when Nazi Germany invaded Poland from the west on September 1, followed on September 17 by an invasion from the east by Soviet Russia.
Poland was again torn apart as German and Soviet troops met in Warsaw, each taking a half of Poland. As the war continued, Polish soldiers, patriots, and citizens would demonstrate heroic efforts in the attempt to free their divided nation from tyranny.
Those Poles who could, escaped, many reaching the west to continue the war as the Free Polish Forces. Among them were many pilots, who were welcomed into the British Royal Air Force. The Polish fighter group No. 303, named the “Kosciuszko” squadron for the Polish hero Tadeusz Kościuszko, claimed 126 kills, the highest of any Allied squadron engaged in the Battle of Britain.
A remarkable and long-overlooked contribution by the Poles was the pre-war deciphering of many of Germany’s “unbreakable” Enigma codes.
