1 Sept 1939

Germany Invades Poland

World War II began with Hitler's invasion of the country of Poland. Codenamed Fall Weiß (Case White) and planned by Chief of the General Staff Franz Halder, the operation saw invading forces coming from three directions: Germany proper in the west, East Prussia in the north, and the recently occupied Czechoslovakia in the south.

Army Group South was commanded by General Rundstedt and consisted of the 8th, 10th, and 14th Armies. They were supported by the Luftwaffe's 4th Air Fleet and invaded from the west and south.

Army Group North was commanded by General von Bock and consisted of the 3rd and 4th Armies. They were supported by the Luftwaffe's 1st Air Fleet and invaded from the north, out of East Prussia.

Hostilities commenced at 0440 when the Luftwaffe began bombing Wieluń, a town on the Baltic, just downriver from Danzig. The bombing is often decried as a terror bombing, since the military importance of the bombing is now disputed. The attack resulted in 1300 civilian casualties. Poor weather conditions throughout the region may have contributed to the collateral damage.

In the afternoon Luftwaffe directed their efforts against a nearby Polish cavalry division (possibly the original intended target of the early morning bombings), resulting in heavy Polish casualties and 4 downed Junkers.

Wieluń was captured by the Army later in the day.