Invasion of Poland from the Polish Perspective | Animated History

Summary

The video script narrates the invasion of Poland from a Polish perspective, detailing the country's struggle against overwhelming odds during WWII. It highlights Poland's efforts to secure its sovereignty, the betrayal by allies, and the nation's valiant but ultimately unsuccessful defense. The script also touches on the role of the Polish military, civilian resistance, and the tragic outcome of the invasion, setting the stage for further Polish involvement in the war.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The video script narrates the invasion of Poland from a Polish perspective, highlighting the experiences of a veteran and the broader context of the Second World War.
• 🏰 Poland, having emerged from the Great War, found itself surrounded by hostile neighbors and superpowers, leading to a sense of vulnerability and the need for defensive alliances.
• 🤝 Poland sought security through alliances with France and a non-aggression pact with the USSR, but these diplomatic efforts were ultimately undermined by the aggressive actions of Nazi Germany.
• 🔄 The script describes a series of diplomatic maneuvers by Poland's foreign minister, including securing non-aggression pacts, which were later negated by the resurgence of Germany under Hitler.
• 🗺️ Poland's military strategy, Plan West, was designed to delay the German advance and relied heavily on the support of Britain and France, which did not materialize as expected.
• 🛡️ Despite being poorly equipped and facing overwhelming odds, the Polish military put up a fierce resistance, including notable victories such as the Battle of Mokra.
• 🐎 The Polish cavalry, contrary to outdated perceptions, was a modern force equipped with advanced weaponry and played a significant role in the defense.
• 🚂 Polish armored trains were an unexpected asset, causing significant disruptions to German supply lines and communications.
• 🏙️ Warsaw's civilian population contributed significantly to the city's defense by constructing anti-tank ditches and barricades, turning the city into a fortress.
• 🌍 The invasion of Poland marked the beginning of World War II and was a turning point that led to the eventual collapse of Polish resistance and the establishment of German and Soviet occupation.
• 🏁 The Polish government in exile continued to fight for the restoration of Poland, organizing a resistance movement and contributing to the Allied war effort.

Q & A

What was the situation of the veteran sitting by the fireplace in the suburbs of Warsaw?

The veteran, a former soldier who fought alongside the German Empire in the Great War, was now facing the irony of the same forces coming to destroy his home. Despite his willingness to fight, his maimed condition left him without use to the army, symbolizing the desperation and betrayal Poland felt during the invasion.

What was Poland's geopolitical situation after World War I?

Poland, reestablished after World War I, was a nation surrounded by potential threats. It was the largest among the newly formed countries in Eastern Europe but was overshadowed by the superpowers of Germany to the west and the Soviet Union to the east, both of which had territorial disputes with Poland.

What was the significance of the Non-Aggression Pact between Poland and the USSR in 1932?

The Non-Aggression Pact with the USSR in 1932 was significant as it provided a temporary easing of tensions between Poland and the Soviet Union, a state that had been seething from its loss in the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-1920. It was seen as a move to secure Poland's future as a sovereign state.

Why did Poland's annexation of Zawoja in Czechoslovakia prove to be a strategic error?

Poland's annexation of Zawoja was a strategic error because it was seen as an act of aggression by Britain and France. This move caused these countries to reconsider their support for Poland, leaving it more vulnerable to German demands and eventual invasion.

What was the Polish strategy 'Plan West' and why was it dependent on Britain and France?

Plan West was Poland's military strategy to delay German forces at the frontiers while falling back to a defensive line along major rivers, hoping to hold the line until their allies launched an invasion of Germany. Its success was entirely dependent on Britain and France upholding their guarantees and providing military support, which they did not do effectively.

How was the Polish military equipped and organized at the start of the German invasion?

At the start of the invasion, the Polish military was organized into various units including 26 infantry divisions, eight cavalry brigades, and a small number of armored and motorized units. The soldiers were motivated but poorly equipped with obsolete communication systems and a lack of motorized transport. They had a limited number of modern aircraft and tanks, many of which were outdated by 1939 standards.

What was the role of the Polish cavalry during the invasion?

Contrary to popular misconceptions, the Polish cavalry did not charge into battle with only sabers and lances. They were modern troops equipped with bolt-action rifles, anti-tank rifles, and machine guns. They played a significant role, including destroying at least 50 German tanks and inflicting around 800 casualties at the Battle of Mokra, one of the few Polish victories during the invasion.

Why did the French halt their offensive into Germany despite initial success?

Despite initial success in their offensive into the Saar region of Germany, the French halted their advance and eventually retreated to the Maginot Line. The exact reasons are complex but are tied to a combination of factors including strategic decisions, the broader context of the war, and a reluctance to engage in a full-scale war with Germany.

How did the Polish defenders of Warsaw resist the German siege?

The Polish defenders of Warsaw resisted the German siege through a combination of military tactics and civilian efforts. They had prepared a network of anti-tank ditches and improvised barricades, transforming Warsaw into a fortress. Despite being heavily outnumbered and outgunned, they managed to repel several German attacks and endure a week of constant bombardment.

What was the ultimate fate of Poland after the invasion by Germany and the Soviet Union?

After the invasion by Germany and the subsequent Soviet invasion, Poland was partitioned between the two powers according to the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. The Polish government went into exile and continued the fight from abroad, organizing a resistance movement within the occupied country. Despite the devastating loss, the fight for Poland continued throughout World War II.

How did the Polish military's situation change after the Soviet Union's invasion?

The Soviet Union's invasion complicated the Polish military's situation drastically. With the leadership fleeing to Romania and the remaining forces unsure how to react to the dual invasion, the Polish resistance crumbled. Some units continued to fight, but they could not withstand the combined might of Germany and the Soviet Union, leading to the eventual fall of Poland.

Outlines

00:00

🏡 The Polish Veteran's Struggle

The script opens with a poignant scene of a war veteran in Warsaw's suburbs, reflecting on his inability to fight due to his injuries, despite his willingness to defend his home. The video's theme is introduced as 'The Invasion of Poland', focusing on the Polish perspective of the Second World War's onset. The narrator, Griffin Johnson, sets the stage by discussing Poland's geopolitical challenges post-WWI, its alliances with France, and the non-aggression pacts with the USSR and Germany. The narrative then shifts to the rise of Hitler's Germany and the strategic blunders by Poland that led to its isolation, culminating in the need for a reworked defense plan against Germany.

05:01

🚩 Poland's Military Readiness and Strategy

This paragraph delves into the specifics of Poland's military situation in 1939. Despite the UK and France's insistence on no provocation, Poland's military, under Marshall Ritz Schmuckel, attempted to mobilize. The strategy, Plan West, aimed to delay the German forces while retreating to a defensive line along major rivers, hoping for allied support. The paragraph outlines the structure of the Polish forces, their equipment, including tanks and aircraft, and the challenges they faced, such as outdated communication systems and a lack of motorized transport. It contrasts the Polish military's capabilities with Germany's, highlighting the imbalance.

10:02

💥 The German Invasion and Polish Resistance

The script recounts the German invasion's commencement and the Polish military's disarray. Despite the initial success of the Polish cavalry and armored trains, the rapid German advance and the false flag operations led to a swift collapse of Polish defenses. The UK and France's eventual declaration of war on Germany brought a glimmer of hope to the Polish, but the lack of substantial military support and the French halting their advance dashed Polish expectations. The narrative highlights the Polish resistance, particularly in Warsaw, where civilian efforts bolstered the city's defenses, but also the city's eventual siege and the Polish struggle against overwhelming odds.

15:02

🏰 Warsaw's Defense and the Soviet Betrayal

This section narrates the defense of Warsaw, detailing the city's transformation into a fortress by civilian volunteers and the Polish defenders' resilience against German attacks. It describes the innovative tactics used by the Polish, such as setting fire to streets and hurling burning mattresses, to counter the German tanks. However, the situation took a tragic turn with the Soviet invasion, which波兰 initially welcomed but soon realized was an additional threat rather than aid. The paragraph captures the despair as Polish leadership fled, leaving the forces disoriented and the country's defense in shambles.

20:03

🏹 The Aftermath and Continued Polish Resistance

The final paragraph summarizes the aftermath of the invasion, with Warsaw's surrender after three weeks of resistance and the high cost in terms of casualties. It highlights the Polish government's decision to continue the fight from exile and the formation of a resistance movement, which would later lead to the Warsaw Uprising. The paragraph encapsulates the Polish spirit's resilience and the determination to fight for the restoration of Poland, despite the betrayal by allies and the overwhelming odds.

Keywords

💡Invasion of Poland

The invasion of Poland refers to the military campaign initiated by Germany and the Soviet Union in September 1939, which marked the beginning of World War II. In the video's context, it's the central event that sets the stage for the Polish perspective of the war, detailing the country's struggle against overwhelming odds.

💡Maimed Soldiers

Maimed soldiers are those who have suffered severe physical injuries, often resulting in disability, during combat. The script mentions them to illustrate the plight of veterans who, despite their service, are deemed unfit for further military service, highlighting the harsh realities of war and its aftermath.

💡Non-Aggression Pact

A non-aggression pact is a treaty between two or more parties where they agree not to use military force against each other. The script refers to the pacts Poland secured with Germany and the USSR, which were ultimately broken, leading to the invasion and highlighting the theme of betrayal.

💡Polish Perspective

The Polish perspective refers to the viewpoint or experience of the Polish people during the events of World War II. The video aims to cover the 'rarely covered story' from this perspective, emphasizing the personal and national struggles of the Polish people during the invasion.

💡Calamity and Betrayal

Calamity and betrayal are central themes of the video, referring to the disastrous consequences and the broken promises that Poland faced. Calamity captures the devastation of war, while betrayal underscores the abandonment by allies, which are key aspects of the Polish experience during the invasion.

💡Defensive Alliance

A defensive alliance is a military agreement where countries commit to protecting each other from external threats. The script mentions Poland's alliance with France, which was seen as insufficient to deter aggression, illustrating the complex geopolitical dynamics of the era.

💡False Flag Attacks

False flag attacks are covert operations designed to deceive by appearing as though they are carried out by entities, groups, or nations other than those who actually executed them. The script describes how Germany used this tactic to justify its invasion, which is a critical example of the manipulation and deceit leading to war.

💡Plan West

Plan West was Poland's military strategy to delay the German advance and retreat to a defensive line along major rivers, hoping for allied support. The script uses this term to illustrate the Polish military's strategic thinking and the reliance on allies that ultimately did not materialize.

💡Polish Air Force

The Polish Air Force is highlighted in the script as being outmatched and relying on outdated aircraft, which is indicative of the broader challenges Poland faced in terms of military technology and preparedness during the invasion.

💡Soviet Union

The Soviet Union plays a duplicitous role in the script, initially appearing as a potential ally but ultimately joining Germany in the invasion. This keyword is crucial for understanding the double betrayal Poland experienced and the broader Allied strategy during the early stages of the war.

💡Warsaw Uprising

The Warsaw Uprising was an unsuccessful attempt by the Polish resistance to retake Warsaw from German occupation towards the end of the war. Although not detailed in the script, it's mentioned as a future topic and symbolizes the ongoing Polish struggle for freedom and sovereignty.

Highlights

A veteran soldier in Warsaw reflects on his service and the impending invasion by the German forces.

Introduction to the video by Griffin Johnson, focusing on the invasion of Poland from the Polish perspective.

The geopolitical context of Poland post-World War I, surrounded by enemies and the redrawing of Eastern Europe's map.

Poland's strategic alliances with France and the USSR to ensure its sovereignty.

The rise of Adolf Hitler and Germany's renewed aggression towards Poland.

Poland's annexation of Zawoja and the international response affecting its alliances.

Germany's demands on Poland, including the annexation of Danzig and the construction of a road and railway through the Polish Corridor.

Poland's military strategy, Plan West, to delay German forces and fall back to a defensive line along major rivers.

The false flag attacks by Germany and Hitler's radio broadcast to justify the invasion of Poland.

Details of the Polish military organization and equipment at the onset of the invasion.

The German invasion begins with the bombardment of Westerplatte and the rapid advance of German forces.

The role of the Polish cavalry brigades as elite units and their tactics during the invasion.

The British and French declaration of war on Germany and the lack of immediate military support for Poland.

The French offensive into Germany and its subsequent halt, leaving Poland without the anticipated aid.

The aerial defense of Warsaw and the resilience of the Polish Air Force against German bombers.

The siege of Warsaw by German forces and the city's transformation into a fortress by civilian volunteers.

The Soviet Union's invasion of Poland and the Polish High Command's loss of confidence in the defense of the country.

The surrender of the Warsaw garrison and the end of the Polish resistance against Germany.

The establishment of the Polish government in exile and its commitment to continue the fight for Poland's restoration.

Transcripts

in the suburbs of warsaw

a veteran sits alone by the fireplace

the dying embers illuminate his stoic

face

and the occasional flashes of light

pierce the threadbare curtains

covering the windows he would be out

there right now

if he could sadly the army has little

use

for maimed soldiers even in situations

as desperate as this having fought

alongside the forces of the german

empire in the great war

this veteran can scarcely believe that

they are now coming to destroy

his home

[Music]

hi i'm griffin johnson the armchair

historian

today's video the invasion of poland

from the polish perspective

the rarely covered story of calamity and

betrayal

that started the second world war

during the invasion miscommunication

within the polish ranks led to many

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history or follow the link in the

description below

born from the ashes of the great war

poland was a nation beset by enemies

the entire map of eastern europe had

been redrawn

after the war and although poland was

the largest

and strongest of these new countries it

was dwarved by the superpowers on the

horizon

to the west there was germany frustrated

by the polish corridor cutting off its

access to east

prussia to the east there was the soviet

union

seething from its loss in the 1919-1920

polish soviet war

desperate to secure its future as a

sovereign state poland

entered into a defensive alliance with

france in 1921

however this distant ally offered scant

protection

against soviet aggression and poland

began investing heavily in its eastern

defenses

it was only after poland's foreign

minister joseph beck

secured a non-aggression pact with the

ussr

in 1932 that tension seemed to ease

then the unthinkable happened germany

that supposedly humbled shell of a

nation

suddenly burst back onto the scene led

by adolf hitler's

national socialist party this resurgent

an increasingly militant country

now had its eyes dead set on the

ethnically divided territories torn from

it by the treaty of versailles

but once again beck stepped up to defuse

the situation

wrangling another non-aggression pact

from germany in 1934

however this house of cards came

crashing down

just a few years later after hitler

seized the german ethnic

sudetenland in october in 1938 poland

used it as a precedent to annex

zawoja a polish ethnic region in

czechoslovakia

this was a monumental blunder and caused

both britain and france who saw the move

as an act of aggression to reconsider

their support of poland

seeing an opportunity open up germany

submitted a list of demands to poland

that included annexing the free city of

danzig

and constructing an extra territorial

road and railway through the polish

corridor

losing danzig would have cut off poland

almost entirely from the sea

and a german railway could have later

been used to justify the seizure of the

entire

corridor thus back refused hitler's

demands

denouncing them as tantamount to a

renunciation of polish sovereignty

beck also refused to negotiate with the

increasingly belligerent soviets

and spent most of the next year

campaigning for western support in the

event of hostilities

which he now saw as inevitable

as tensions escalated plans were drawn

up to defend against an attack

from the north and west however they had

to be immediately reworked

after germany completely annexed

czechoslovakia

in march of 1939 which stretched the

polish-german border

much further to the south suddenly

poland had to worry about

every point on the compass later that

month on march 31st

poland formed a tentative military

alliance with both britain and france

with the former promising to support

poland's independence

by august 1939 hitler was seeking

any pretext to justify an invasion of

poland

as panzers massed along the border

marshall edvard ritz schmuckel

commander-in-chief of poland's military

tried desperately to mobilize polish

forces

but his efforts were foiled by the uk

and france who insisted that the polish

offer no provocation to the germans and

so their army sat idle

until the 30th of august when ritz

schmiegel finally ordered a general

mobilization

just one day after general mobilization

was ordered in poland

german troops dressed in polish uniforms

launched a series of false flag attacks

against german military

and civilian targets hitler furiously

denounced these supposed polish attacks

in an evening radio broadcast that night

which he used to conceal his real

intentions

war was inevitable

prior to this point polish generals had

recognized the impossibility of a

conventional defensive posture

their strategy named plan west was

instead

to delay german forces at the frontiers

while falling back to a defensive line

along the major rivers

there they hoped to hold the line until

their allies launched an invasion of

germany

the success of plan west depended

entirely

on britain and france upholding their

guarantees

poland's military strategists headed by

martial ritz

did not think that their allies would

simply sit back and watch them succumb

to the third reich

yet there were some like chief of the

general staff

that's what stahevich who had doubts

about the plan's feasibility

inside the polish headquarters in warsaw

we can imagine a conversation

like this taking place

at the outbreak of war the polish army

had mobilized

only about 500 000 men of which half

were combat ready

throughout the war an additional 500 000

men would be raised

many of whom could have been mustered

much earlier had the british and french

not discouraged polish mobilization by

september

1939 the army was organized into

26 infantry divisions eight cavalry

brigades

one motorized brigade three mountain

brigades

two armored brigades and four

independent tank battalions

the soldiers were reasonably motivated

and disciplined but they were poorly

equipped

due to poland's relative poverty with

obsolete communication systems and a

lack of motorized

transport although unlike what

propaganda footage shows

the german army was not heavily

motorized or mechanized either

and both sides relied heavily on horses

on the ground poland's latest tank was

the 7tp

whose 37 millimeter gun could easily

knock out the panzer one or panzer ii

and even destroy the panzer iv

[Music]

unfortunately the 7tp was a rare sight

on the battlefield

only 161 were in service by 1939.

a much more common sight was poland's

575

tks takets while completely adorable

these tiny vehicles were barely more

useful

than armored cars and often less

reliable

lastly the poles had also purchased 88

tanks from their british

and french allies prior to the war

in the skies the polish air force had

fewer than 400 modern aircraft

poland's latest fighter the p24 was

highly competitive with foreign planes

when it was introduced in 1936

but it was outclassed by the time of the

invasion

to make matters worse poland had

exported many p-24s to other countries

leaving few for national defense thus

the polish air force had to rely

primarily on obsolete p-11s

finally at sea the polish navy consisted

of just

five submarines and four destroyers as

well as various smaller vessels

luckily before the german attack most

destroyers retreated to england while

the submarines were ordered to mine the

polish coast around danzig and interdict

enemy ships attempting to stage

amphibious landings

at 4 45 a.m on september 1st

1939 the german invasion began with the

pre-dreadnought

schleswig-holstein bombarding a military

depot

in danzig warrant officer vwadiswolf

bharan

recalled of the attack the air rocked

fountains of sand

stones and smoke rose up shattered

trunks and branches of trees

pieces of human bodies and weapons flew

in the air

as the sun rose marshall ritz

schmiegel's worst fears were confirmed

as

german armored spearheads punched

straight through the confused polish

lines with barely a pause

army group north attacked the polish

corridor army group south attacked woods

krakow and warsaw and forces from the

german puppet state of slovakia

attacked poland's southern regions

lieutenant jan karsky

detailed his division's ordeal the

extent of death

destruction and disorganization this

combined fire caused in three short

hours was

incredible by the time our whips were

sufficiently collected

even to survey the situation it was

apparent that we were in no position to

offer any serious resistance

by the end of september 2nd the polish

defenses had fallen apart

nonetheless some units resisted fiercely

especially the polish cavalry brigades

considered the elite units of the polish

military

far from charging into battle solely

armed with sabers and lances

these modern cavalrymen also carried

bolt-action rifles

anti-tank rifles and machine guns giving

them access to some of the most

concentrated firepower of the early war

period

at the battle of makra the vowenska

cavalry brigade destroyed at least

50 german tanks and inflicted some 800

casualties in one of the only polish

victories of the war

when not fighting directly the polish

cavalry acted as a mobile reserve

galloping to the front lines and then

dismounting to fight as infantry

polish armored trains also mounted

considerable resistance and wreaked

havoc on enemy supply lines and

communications

using the country's extensive rail

network and forests

for cover discounted by the germans as

obsolete

the self-sustaining behemoths which came

in light and heavy varieties

bristled with artillery pieces and

machine guns

overall the 10 or so armored trains

fought in about 90 battles during the

invasion

september 3rd britain and france finally

declared war on germany

after repeated pleas from polish

diplomats

the polish people were overjoyed with

the news but no military support

was forthcoming polish forces continued

losing ground on all fronts and on

september 5th

army's krakow woods prusa and poznan

withdrew

beyond the viscula and dunietz rivers

abandoning

western poland unfortunately the rivers

had almost completely dried up

due to drought so they posed little

obstacle to the german advance

to make matters worse fleeing refugees

clogged the roads

hampering efforts to contain the enemy

breakthrough

desperate for any assistance poland

urged its allies to attack germany's

extremely weak western front

france responded by launching an

offensive into the tsar region of

germany

on september 7th just as the polls had

hoped early reports told the french

making remarkable progress

capturing towns and overwhelming all

german resistance

once the british joined in the germans

would have no choice but to divert

forces to the west and poland would be

saved

but then on the 13th the unthinkable

occurred the french despite their

crushing momentum

halted their advance days later they

pulled back

to the relative safety of the maginot

line the news came like a slap in the

face to the poles

without the help of their allies plan

west was utterly ruined one of the few

bright spots in this otherwise dark time

was the aerial defense of warsaw

between september 1st and the 6th polish

fighters and anti-aircraft guns downed

80 german bombers and damaged more than

20

others however the situation

deteriorated as the germans escalated

their bombing campaign

on september 10th enemy bombers carried

out 17

consecutive bombing raids overwhelming

the polish defenses

meanwhile enemy tanks were closing in on

the capital

the poles were prepared for this thanks

to the effort of over 150 000 civilian

volunteers who had labored for weeks to

prepare

a network of anti-tank ditches and

improvised barricades

transforming warsaw into a fortress

on september 8th the polish defenders

watched with a mix of fear

and steely resolve as german tanks

appeared on the horizon

the attack began in the south as panzers

overran

several suburbs but when the germans

attacked from the west the poles pushed

them back

from behind their makeshift barricades

when the germans came again

on the 9th with reinforcements in tow

the stubborn poles repelled them again

between these two assaults the poles

destroyed 80 tanks and successfully

denied the enemy

further access to the western suburbs as

the battle raged on the poles made up

for their shortage of anti-tank weapons

with sheer

ingenuity for example they covered a

street with turpentine and

lit it on fire when enemy tanks got

close enough some poles even lit

mattresses on fire and hurled them onto

the germans from balconies

yet everywhere around warsaw poland's

defenses were collapsing

on the 10th brits ordered a general

retreat toward the romanian bridgehead

to relieve army woods army's pozman and

pemorgia

counter-attacked the left flank of the

german forces attacking warsaw between

the 19th

and the 15th although they were

initially successful

low morale poor coordination between

units and enemy air superiority

turned the battle of zura into a

crushing defeat as the germans encircled

and destroyed them between the 15th

and 19th polish defenses along the narev

river collapsed on the 12th

allowing the germans to advance toward

warsaw from the east

and lay siege to the city three days

later

combined with the survivors of the

battle of zura the defenders of warsaw

now numbered 140 000 soldiers

opposing them were 175 000 germans

supported by 1000 artillery pieces and

over a thousand

aircraft for an entire week the poles

endured a night and day bombardment as

the germans prepared to storm the city

however on the 15th of september the

warsaw garrison

managed to repel all attacks on the

pragas suburb

and two full-scale attacks on the 23rd

and

26th

as the siege continued strange reports

began

arriving from the east soviet forces

were pouring across the border

and the germans were retreating before

them to the beleaguered defenders of

levof

this meant salvation after enduring a

grueling siege by german forces

the city opened its gates to the red

army without hesitation

but even as polish citizens prepared to

celebrate with their unlikely saviors

the horrible truth was revealed the

soviets were not here to help but merely

to take their share of the spoils

it was at this point that the polish

high command lost confidence in the

defense of the country

so it fled to the border of romania to

the small town of kuri

abandoned by their leadership the

remaining polish forces had no idea how

to react to the soviet invasion

some units continued fighting but they

could not stop the twin juggernauts from

squeezing the life

out of poland

[Music]

on september 27th after three weeks of

staunch resistance the warsaw

garrison finally surrendered in the face

of the near complete destruction

of the city

one later wrote we listened silently to

these grim words

there were no questions or comments our

minds recognized the inevitability of

capitulation

but our feelings could not be reconciled

to it was this

to be the end fighting continued on

october 6

as the germans and soviets eliminated

the last pockets of resistance

the brave but unsuccessful defense of

poland came at a steep

price poland sustained between eight

hundred and eighty thousand

and one million two hundred and fifty

three thousand casualties

germany sustained between forty four

thousand and fifty one thousand

four hundred and the ussr between three

thousand eight hundred

and thirteen thousand during the

invasion nevertheless

about 100 000 polish soldiers managed to

escape

and they would go on to join the allied

war effort seeing action throughout the

remainder of the second world war

in november 1939 the polish government

in exile

announced that it would fight for the

restoration of poland

despite their resentment towards britain

and france for failing to come to their

aid in the invasion

they agreed to cooperate with them and

organize a resistance movement within

their occupied country

this culminated in the heroic but doomed

warsaw uprising

a fascinating topic for a future video

despite their devastating loss in the

invasion

the fight for poland was far from over

[Music]

you