Events in 1939

January 1, 1939

US Military Preparation for WWII

President Roosevelt initiated comprehensive military preparation starting in 1939, implementing the first peacetime draft through the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, establishing training camps nationwide, and transforming millions of civilians into soldiers.

September 1, 1939

German Attack on Poland

On September 1, 1939, at 4:45 AM, German forces attacked Poland, initiating World War II. The attack began with the bombardment of Westerplatte by the battleship Schleswig-Holstein and air raids on Polish cities. The September Campaign lasted 35 days and ended in Poland's defeat, despite Polish soldiers' heroic defense against overwhelming German forces.

September 1, 1939

World War II

World War II was the largest armed conflict in human history, which began on September 1, 1939, with Nazi Germany's attack on Poland. The conflict quickly spread worldwide, involving most nations and claiming millions of lives. The war ended in 1945, fundamentally changing the world order.

September 1, 1939

September Campaign

The September Campaign began on September 1, 1939, with Germany's attack on Poland, and on September 17, the Soviet Union joined the invasion. Despite heroic defense, including the symbolic defense of Westerplatte, the military superiority of the aggressors led to Poland's defeat. The campaign ended on October 6, 1939, with the capitulation of the last regular units at Kock.

September 1, 1939

Defense of Westerplatte

The Defense of Westerplatte was a heroic seven-day battle of 182 Polish soldiers against overwhelming German forces, which began on September 1, 1939, at 4:45 AM with an attack from the battleship Schleswig-Holstein. Despite the planned 12-hour defense, Polish soldiers under the command of Major Henryk Sucharski defended the peninsula for seven days, becoming a symbol of Polish resistance and marking the beginning of World War II.

September 3, 1939

Bloody Sunday in Bydgoszcz

Bloody Sunday in Bydgoszcz was a tragic event from the beginning of World War II, during which German soldiers carried out mass murders of civilians. On September 3, 1939, just two days after the German invasion of Poland, between 300 and 1,200 people were murdered in Bydgoszcz, including members of Polish intelligentsia and the Jewish community. This event was one of the first acts of Nazi terror against civilians during World War II.

September 9, 1939

Battle of Bzura

The Battle of Bzura, lasting from September 9 to 22, 1939, was the largest armed clash of the September Campaign. In this battle, the Polish armies 'Poznań' and 'Pomorze' under the command of Gen. Tadeusz Kutrzeba and Gen. Władysław Bortnowski made a desperate attempt to stop the German advance on Warsaw.

September 17, 1939

Soviet Invasion of Poland

On September 17, 1939, the Soviet Union, breaking existing international treaties, launched a military invasion of Poland. The attack was the implementation of the secret protocol of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact and occurred when Poland was fighting a desperate battle against Nazi Germany. About 600,000 Red Army soldiers, supported by 4,700 tanks and 3,300 aircraft, crossed Poland's eastern border, beginning a period of Soviet occupation and mass repression against civilians.

September 17, 1939

Soviet occupation of eastern Poland

The Soviet occupation of eastern territories of the Second Polish Republic began on September 17, 1939, when the Red Army crossed Poland's borders. This event was a direct consequence of the secret protocol of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The invasion led to mass deportations, repressions, and fundamental territorial and demographic changes in Poland.

September 17, 1939

Red Army Invasion of Poland

On September 17, 1939, the Red Army began its invasion of Poland, implementing the secret provisions of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The attack was launched without a declaration of war while the Polish army was fighting the Germans in the west. The Soviet aggression led to the occupation of eastern Poland, mass deportations of the population, and crimes against Polish officers and intelligentsia.

September 17, 1939

Red Army Invasion of Poland

On September 17, 1939, the Red Army crossed Poland's borders, implementing the secret provisions of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. This event, along with the subsequent Soviet troops' entry in 1944, fundamentally changed Poland's fate, leading to the installation of communist rule and significant territorial changes after World War II.

September 27, 1939

Polish Underground State

The Polish Underground State was established on September 27, 1939, as a secret administrative and military structure in response to the German and Soviet occupation of Poland. It was a unique phenomenon in Europe, encompassing both civilian and military structures that operated in conspiracy throughout World War II.

September 28, 1939

Capitulation of Warsaw

The capitulation of Warsaw on September 28, 1939, ended the heroic 20-day defense of Poland's capital against the German invader. After exhausting combat, facing overwhelming enemy forces, lack of supplies, and a dramatic situation of civilians, the city's defense command decided to surrender. The act of capitulation was signed at 13:15 in Ożarów Mazowiecki.

September 29, 1939

Surrender of Modlin Fortress

The Modlin Fortress, located at the confluence of the Vistula and Narew rivers, was one of the last points of Polish resistance during the September Campaign of 1939. After 19 days of heroic defense led by Gen. Wiktor Thommée, facing depleted supplies and no hope for relief, the fortress surrendered on September 29, 1939. The defense of Modlin became a symbol of Polish soldiers' courage and determination in the face of German aggression.

October 2, 1939

Battle of Kock

The Battle of Kock (October 2-5, 1939) was the last battle of regular Polish Army units during the September Campaign. The Independent Operational Group 'Polesie' under the command of General Franciszek Kleeberg made a heroic stand against superior German forces. Despite the inevitable defeat, the battle became a symbol of Polish soldier's indomitability.

November 6, 1939

Sonderaktion Krakau

Operation Sonderaktion Krakau was a brutal action carried out by Nazi Germany on November 6, 1939, in Kraków, during which 183 academics were arrested, mainly from the Jagiellonian University. This event was part of the occupier's broader plan aimed at destroying Polish intelligentsia and culture. Most of the arrested were sent to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, where 15 professors lost their lives.

November 13, 1939

Establishment of the Union of Armed Struggle

The Union of Armed Struggle (ZWZ) was established on November 13, 1939, by order of Gen. Władysław Sikorski as the main underground organization in occupied Poland. ZWZ was formed to replace the Service for Poland's Victory and operated until its transformation into the Home Army in 1942. This organization became the foundation of the Polish Underground State during World War II.