Blitzkrieg - the German Invasion of Poland

The Invasion of Poland effectively began the Second World War. German mechanized and airborne components poured over the border in well-coordinated fast-moving land offensives and accurate air attacks in what became known as the "Lightning War" or Blitzkrieg. The Poles put up a valiant defense of their country but they - and soon the whole of Europe - would prove no match for the might of the Nazi war machine. To add insult to injury, the Soviet Red Army assaulted the sovereign nation from the East, effectively dividing the land in two - ripe for the spoils of war.

Polish army forces proved simply outmatched by the German Panzer mechanized units and, though finding some limited success through the air, the Polish Air Force became quickly outnumbered against the German Luftwaffe.

In the end, Poland would be just one of many nations to fall to Adolph Hitler.