The German attack on Poland 81 years ago launched the deadliest conflict in human history, claiming millions of lives and reshaping Europe forever.
War Begins
On 1 September 1939, at 4:45 AM, German battleship “Schleswig-Holstein” opened fire on Westerplatte, and Germany bombarded Wieluń, marking the beginning of World War II. The war lasted for six years, claimed millions of lives, and changed Europe forever.
The Invasion Begins
In the early hours of 1 September 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland without declaration of war, attacking from land, sea, and air. The first shots of the conflict were fired by the German battleship on Westerplatte, and Wieluń was the first Polish town to be bombed that day.
The Fallout
The invasion led to a devastating war that engulfed nearly the entire world, resulting in millions of casualties and permanently altering the borders and fates of nations. The occupation, Holocaust, and destruction of Warsaw are unforgettable consequences of this war that still shape us today.
