The Second World War began with Germany's attack on Poland on September 1, 1939. Hitler used a propaganda lie as a pretext to invade foreign territory. Is this history repeating itself today?
On the evening of August 31, 1939, SS soldiers took over the German radio station in Gliwice, Upper Silesia (today Gliwice in Poland). They broadcast a message in Polish calling for armed action against National Socialist Germany. The aim is to spread the delusion that Polish soldiers attacked and seized the radio station. For added believability, the SS soldiers leave the corpse of a Polish civilian, previously killed for this very purpose, on the spot. The fake invasion is part of a series of similar stagings of border provocations. Hitler needs a reason to start a war to take over Poland – in his racist ideology he dreams of providing new “living spaces“ for the Germans in the East.
The beginning of World War II: Hitler's speech in the Reichstag
Less than 24 hours later, on the morning of September 1, 1939, the Wehrmacht invaded Poland without declaring war. On the same day, Hitler gives a speech in the Reichstag, which is broadcast live on the radio. "Tonight, Poland fired regular troops on our own territory for the first time. Since 5:45 this morning we have been returning fire. From now on, bombs will be answered with bombs! The one using poison gas will be attacked with poison gas. He who does not follow the rules of humane warfare cannot expect us to follow them. I will wage this struggle, no matter against whom, until the security of the Reich and its rights are guaranteed."
The Ministry of Propaganda of Nazi Germany issues an instruction not to use the word “war” in newspaper headlines. In accordance with the speech of the “Fuhrer“ to say: “Germany strikes back”. A lie becomes the pretext for the attack that starts World War II. And the attacker presents himself as a victim.
The staged attack on the radio station in Gleiwitz served three purposes, historian Matthias Oppermann told DV: “First of all, the German population, which was by no means excited by the war, had to be convinced that Poland was provoked, which is why it is inevitable. Secondly, countries such as Great Britain and France had to be convinced of the same. And in third place – it is about historical positioning. Hitler was looking for a propaganda excuse to attack Poland, but he did not care about its credibility, since history is written by the victors.
France and Great Britain, who are allies of Poland, see through Hitler's maneuvers. Two days after the invasion they declared war on Germany. But they never provide military aid to Poland – a combination of military caution, political vacillation and strategic lapses.
The invasion of the Red Army and the occupation of Poland
The Wehrmacht advanced in Poland quickly and brutally. It has a large amount of tanks and planes. “The Poles charged against the machine guns with cavalrymen. One such cavalry charge even overran our first line. But then they ran into the tanks and that, of course, was the end," said former Wehrmacht soldier Albert Zefraneck. On September 17, the Red Army invaded Poland. Hitler and the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin concluded immediately before the war the so-called Non-Aggression Pact, which provided for the partition of Poland. The pact did not stop Hitler from later attacking the Soviet Union.
Four weeks after the invasion of Poland, Warsaw surrendered. The Nazis celebrate the success of their blitzkrieg. The invasion and German occupation resulted in the deaths of more than five million Polish citizens, most of them civilians. In the concentration camps built by the Nazis, the slaughter of Jews and many other people from all over Europe began. Half of the murdered Jews were Polish citizens. This attack on Poland burdens German-Polish relations to this day.
Implications of the attack for today's politics
Atrocities during the Second World War and the Holocaust reflect the foreign and defense policy of the Federal Republic to this day. It is for this fact that the provision of military aid to Russia-attacked Ukraine is so intensely debated. The idea that German tanks could once again fight on foreign soil repels many Germans.
Again, in the same context, Germany's attitude towards the “Nord Stream-2” gas pipeline, passing from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea, should be placed. Historian Matthias Oppermann notes: “When considering the situation today, one should not forget that the pact between Hitler and Stalin was a prerequisite for Hitler's attack on Poland. Therefore, I believe that politically, morally and psychologically, Germany is obliged not to differentiate between its own security interests and those of Poland. And if a Polish government issues warnings against Russia, it knows why. That is why it was a big mistake of German foreign policy to support the Nord Stream 2 project.
Comparisons with the Russian attack on Ukraine
The crimes of Nazi Germany cannot be compared to anything else. But some connections can be made between then and now – with the Russian attack on Ukraine. For example, a strong propaganda preparation was undertaken for both attacks. In addition, state propaganda cements the narrative that “Russia is actually threatened and must defend itself against fascism,” conflict researcher Matthias Dembinski told DV. “The idea was created that Russia was waging a defensive battle against the West, which supported the fascist forces in Ukraine and wanted to destroy Russia.“
Historical experience could play a large role in orientation in the present. “The most important lesson is that liberal democracies should not believe they can dissuade a tyrant who is at the head of a war-seeking regime,” says Matthias Oppermann. “They could not achieve this either through political, territorial or economic concessions. Attempts at pacification lead to nothing - only decisive deterrence and the readiness to use military means as a last resort.“