The Polish Experience in World War II: Invasion, Occupation, and Resistance
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The Polish Problem
In the summer of 1939, Poland was unaware of the impending war.
German Invasion
August 31, 1939:
- Provocation of Gleiwitz: Germany staged an attack on its own radio station to blame Poland.
September 1, 1939:
- Germany invaded Poland without a declaration of war.
- Schleswig-Holstein battle: German battleship attacked the port of Gdańsk.
Soviet Invasion
September 17, 1939:
- Soviet Union invaded Poland under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
Poland under German Occupation
- Headquarters in Kraków: Nazis established the General Government.
- Robbery of Art: Masterpieces were stolen.
- Sonderaktion Krakau: Intellectual elites, including professors, were arrested.
Soviet Occupation
- Katyn Massacre: Polish military elites were executed in the Katyn Forest.
- Civilians were deported to Siberia.
Polish Participation in World War II
- Government in Exile: Polish government fled to London.
- Battle of Britain: Polish aviators fought in England.
- Army of Gen. Anders: Polish prisoners in Siberia fought in the Battle of Monte Cassino.
Polish Underground State
- Structure:
- Intellectual resistance: Secret education
- Military resistance: Grey Ranks
- Conspiracy: Attacks on German soldiers
- British MI6 trained an elite intelligence force
- Warsaw Ghetto Uprising: Jewish uprising in 1943, which was crushed.
- Warsaw Uprising: City-wide uprising in 1944.