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Close Combat
Let Loose the Dogs of War: World War II Begins
On August 23, 1939 Germany and the Soviet Union sign a nonaggression pact that
secretly divides Poland, Lithuania, Finland, Estonia, and Latvia between them.
Neither side announces the pact’s existence for almost a month.
World War II begins at 0445 hours on September 1, 1939 when 53 German
divisions smash into Poland from the west. The attacking Germans introduce a
new word to the world vocabulary: blitzkrieg—a “lightning war” of movement,
using an overwhelming combination of armor, air power, and mobile infantry. By
September 8, the German Tenth Army is fighting in the suburbs of Warsaw.
The Poles refuse a demand for their surrender on September 16. The next day,
Soviet forces attack from the east, knifing through Polish units pared of troops to
fight the Germans. By October 3 Polish resistance is crushed. About 900,000
Polish soldiers are taken prisoner; the number killed, wounded, or missing in
action is unknown. The Germans report only 40,000 casualties, the Soviets
far fewer.
Germany’s blitzkrieg tactics prove devastatingly effective. While tanks play a
leading role in the conquest of Poland, official reports give more credit to
traditional infantry forces.
German armor on the
road into Poland