September 1st, 1939: Hitler's Attack on the World | Free Documentary History

September 1st, 1939: Hitler's Attack on the World | History Documentary

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In the early morning of September 1, 1939, the SMS Schleswig-Holstein opens fire on the Westerplatte peninsula near Danzig. Almost simultaneously, the German Luftwaffe attacks the small town of Wieluń, southwest of Łódź. With Germany’s invasion of Poland, World War II began.

From the outset, the conflict is waged with great brutality, claiming thousands of civilian lives. Although the Wehrmacht defeated its neighbor within weeks, the campaign did not go as smoothly as expected—the Polish forces put up fierce resistance.

This documentary takes an in-depth look at various aspects of the invasion and highlights its impact on the course of the war.