At dawn on Friday 1 September 1939 the Germans launched their land, sea and air assault on Poland. The world became aware of the awesome power of Hitler's Third Reich and the limitless and ruthless nature of his ambition. The Blitzkrieg (Lightning War), spearheaded by Panzers, took the German forces to the gates of Warsaw in a week. The vital port of Danzig fell, crushed by naval and air bombardment and land assaults. The Polish Air Force out-numbered and out-gunned, were driven from the skies. In a month Warsaw fell, amid great bloodshed, and in six weeks the Poles were defeated. The speed of the German conquest was matched by its brutality. Lives and property meant little to the invaders: civilians and POWs were summarily executed. Jews received particular attention and these atrocities were not just perpetrated by the SS but soldiers of the Wehrmacht. 24 pages of b/w photos
