Invasion of Poland

The Invasion of Poland was the first battle of World War II. On September 1, 1939, the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany invaded Western Poland. On September 17, the Red Army of the Soviet Union invaded Eastern Poland. By October 6, Poland had surrendered to both superpowers. Britain and France declared war on Germany, officially beginning World War II.

Engagements

 * Battle of Wizna: From September 7-10, an army of 42,000 Germans and 350 tanks besieged the village of Wizna, which was guarded by only 350 Polish soldiers. Despite the impossible odds, the Polish soldiers managed to hold out for three solid days before finally being defeated. This last stand is known as Poland's Thermopylae and was immortalized by the Sabaton song "40:1".