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The major tactical innovation of the war was the use of combined arms warfare, typified by the German doctrine of [[blitzkrieg]]. In this style of warfare armor, infantry, artillery and air power (see [[Luftwaffe]]) all coordinate to achieve overwhelming superiority at point on the enemy lines. Armor and fast-moving infantry units then exploit the gap and penetrate deep behind enemy lines. Slower moving foot infantry would follow behind the motorized (later mechanised) and armored forces, securing their flanks in order to prevent encirclement.  The objective is to cause a widespread collapse of the enemy's ability to fight. It was particularly effective during the early and middle stages of the war, before the Allies developed effective countermeasures.  

The major tactical innovation of the war was the use of combined arms warfare, typified by the German doctrine of [[blitzkrieg]]. In this style of warfare armor, infantry, artillery and air power (see [[Luftwaffe]]) all coordinate to achieve overwhelming superiority at point on the enemy lines. Armor and fast-moving infantry units then exploit the gap and penetrate deep behind enemy lines. Slower moving foot infantry would follow behind the motorized (later mechanised) and armored forces, securing their flanks in order to prevent encirclement.  The objective is to cause a widespread collapse of the enemy's ability to fight. It was particularly effective during the early and middle stages of the war, before the Allies developed effective countermeasures.  

On September 17th, the [[Soviet Union]] invaded Poland. [[Stalin]] had secured a ceasefire with Japan over the Khalkhin Gol incidents, allowing him to follow up on his promise to invade Poland from the east, as per the [[Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact]]. The combined weight of German and Soviet forces sealed the inevitable. Poland surrendered on September 27th, following the fall of [[Warsaw]]. Remaining pockets of resistance were crushed and surrendered on October 6th.

On September 17th, the [[Soviet Union]] invaded Poland. [[Stalin]] had secured a ceasefire with Japan over the Khalkhin Gol incidents, after which he followed up on his promise to invade the larger share Poland from the east, as per the [[Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact]]. The combined weight of German and Soviet forces sealed the inevitable. Poland surrendered on September 27th, following the fall of [[Warsaw]]. Remaining pockets of resistance were crushed and surrendered on October 6th.

[[Britain]] and [[France]] declared war on Germany two days after the invasion of Poland began. The Dominions of the British Commonwealth followed shortly after. Polish resistance would soon begin, and would continue throughout the entire war. Poland was divided between Germany and the USSR. Germany acquired the western regions, approximately 48.4% of the country.<ref name="rcin.org.p">[http://rcin.org.pl/Content/15652/WA51_13607_r2011-nr12_Monografie.pdf http://rcin.org.pl/Content/15652/WA51_13607_r2011-nr12_Monografie.pdf]</ref> The Soviet Union acquired the rest. About 270 sq. miles of land was given to Germany's puppet state [[Slovakia]].

[[Britain]] and [[France]] declared war on Germany two days after the invasion of Poland began. The Dominions of the British Commonwealth followed shortly afterwards. Polish resistance would soon begin and would continue throughout the entire war. Poland was divided between Germany and the USSR. Germany acquired the western regions, approximately 48.4% of the country.<ref name="rcin.org.p">[http://rcin.org.pl/Content/15652/WA51_13607_r2011-nr12_Monografie.pdf http://rcin.org.pl/Content/15652/WA51_13607_r2011-nr12_Monografie.pdf]</ref> The Soviet Union acquired the rest. About 270 sq. miles of land was given to Germany's puppet state [[Slovakia]].

==Operation Himmler and the Gleiwitz incident==

==Operation Himmler and the Gleiwitz incident==

==Soviet invasion from the east==

==Soviet invasion from the east==

Honoring the terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Stalin invaded from the east on September 17th. The relatively sparse Polish forces were easily swept aside by the Red Army. His forces were organized into two ''fronts'', or army groups. At the end of the campaign, the Soviets had captured 99,000 Polish soldiers, at the cost of around 13,000 casualties.  

Stalin invaded from the east, having delayed the originally-agreed-upon date to September 17, according to the terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which, Stalin having gotten Hitler into the war, he would begin to breach by way of a series of military actions within three months by invading Finland. The relatively sparse Polish forces were easily swept aside by the Red Army. His forces were organized into two ''fronts'', or army groups. At the end of the campaign, the Soviets had captured 99,000 Polish soldiers, at the cost of around 13,000 casualties.  

==References==

==References==