Poland is a country located in Central Europe, east of Germany. About 21 years after World War I had ended, a new war began in Europe. This war was called World War II. It started on September 1, 1939 with the Germans’ invasion of Poland in the north, south, and west. The Germans had 2,600 tanks and 2,000 aircrafts. The Polish only had 180 tanks and 420 aircrafts.

When the Germans first started attacking Poland, the Polish people were caught off-guard. Around September 25, 1939, the Russians signed a treaty with the Germans and attacked the east side of Poland. Shortly after that, the Germans had surrounded Warsaw, the capital of Poland. Warsaw surrendered 2 week later. Many of the Polish people fled in boats and ships and some went secretly to France and Britain. Poland fought back and kept the Germans at the Wisla and Bzura Rivers located in Warsaw. The British were trying to get their forces together so they could attack from the west. Poland set up 39 infantry divisions, 3 mountain groups, 2 motorized armored groups, 10 cavalry groups, artillery, engineer, and others.

The Polish army stayed together twice as long as had been expected. They did more damage to the Germans than the British and French forces would do in 1940. The Germans lost 50,000 men, 697 planes, and 993 tanks and armored vehicles during this war.

When the Germans and Soviets had control of Poland, it was divided into 2 parts. The Soviets took the eastern half and the Germans took control of northwest half, while the rest was made into a colony ruled by Hitler’s friend, Hans Frank. The Soviets transported 1.5 million Poles (including women and children) to labor camps in Siberia. Thousands of Polish officers were secretly shot by the Soviets. The idea was to eliminate the Polish race, just like the Nazis had tried to do with the Jews.

The Polish Jews were all put into ghettos where they were starved, shot, or gassed. In the end, they were taken to extermination camps. Over 4 million people were put to death. 2,000 concentration camps were built in Poland, and these became major sites for killing people. Many non-Jewish Poles were taken to Germany and used as slaves, or they were just killed.

After World War II, Poland took back control. The Germans no longer had control of Poland, but Poland was still led by Russian Communism. Some of the people that fought under German or Russian command were not allowed to return home to Poland. For 45 years, Poland was exposed to terror and murder. Over 8 million people were killed or executed during the time Poland was controlled by the Germans and Soviets.

Bibliography

Microsoft Corporation. "Poland." Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia ’99.

Poland’s Holocaust. A Family Chronicle of Soviet and Nazi Terror. <http://www.polandsholocaust.com/intor.html Last visited: 2 Feb. 2002.