 September 1939 the German foe begins its ruthless march of conquest and sets the stage for world war two Poland's 34 million inhabitants crushed scattered and enslaved tens of thousands of square miles of territory shrink before the movement of lightning armored columns Poland and the world learned the meaning of a grim new word blitzkrieg here is shown the initiation of that phase of modern warfare these pictures of the preparation for attack and later the actual combat were all made by German frontline cameraman therefore they stress Nazi superiority success is unimpeded as Hitler's divisions move against outnumbered Polish defenders later on other world battlefronts the allies are to destroy the myth of the invincibility of the Nazi armies but this is Hitler at the peak of his armed might and the record of a nation overrun in just days is of military as well as historical importance the spark is set off in the free city of dancing Nazi secret agents had long plotted the revolt against law and order Germany called it liberation the world knew that dancing represented the ignition of the European powder keg the excuse for Hitler's hordes to begin their destructive campaign of conquest here is the historic last stand of Danzig's loyal defenders they're entrenched in the city's post office and under repeated fire of Nazi trained militiamen taking cover behind an advancing tank the attackers move in gasoline is sprayed on the building and its doom is sealed on September 1st Danzig is incorporated into the right and all Europe is aflame World War two is a reality Nazi regulars move up the Germans brazenly call it counterattack with pursuit the civilized world knows it as the unleashing of unheard of military might with little to stand in their way the Nazi divisions roar across the Polish countryside and reveal for the first time the machines and weapons that are to terrorize a freedom loving people military observers see the Nazi lightning warfare is setting the style for modern battle only a well devised counter blitz can stem the flanking and pincer movements of the Wiley Germans the motorcycles bring up machine gunners for the opening of the attack the flage is used to best advance as a Polish town is about to fall the Nazis have occupied the town which is still burning and in complete movement testifies to the there's no halt in the wreck town the military timetable calls for the rushing up of troops for more blitz attacks the German strategy is to isolate Polish forces as quickly as possible so the Nazi columns move according to prearranged schedule 30 to 37 miles per day as the German plane a strategic bridge across the Vistula River has been blown up by retreating Polish soldiers but in their haste they were unable to ensure its complete destruction the enemy will be delayed but temporary repair is not impossible for skilled mechanics to accomplish in fast time a German sapper detachment sent ahead of the fighting unit goes to work these men are trained to construct emergency roads as well as bridges the hastily constructed span is quickly put to use by the advancing Nazis units don't even wait for the repairs when bridges are scarce shallow waters are forwarded the blitz minded German generals even fatigue long lines of tired troops are kept moving against the poles the operation is based on the principle that contact once made should never be lost naps are snatched on the move and only during the low between battle movements times weapons are kept clean and ready for instant use this enemy of ours has mastered every technique necessary to the maintenance of efficient fighting contingents which harbor of Gdynia for the defense of this vital seaport the poles have sunk ships to block the entrance of German warships the Nazis direct their fire across the harbor military and naval forces are cooperating to bring about complete destruction of Polish defense installations the outnumbered garrison of Gdynia surrenders the Nazi air arm plays a major role in the destruction of Polish territory the method is now a familiar one first reconnaissance planes go off to secure valuable photographic data aerial pictures will show the movement and position of Polish troops and also the undefended sectors that will supply easy targets for Nazi bombs immediately on landing valuable pictures are rushed to the field developing unit Germans have stated that information thus revealed has formed the base for much of their decisive military operations in Poland this photograph reveals a truck convoy closely bunched at a crossroad if proper distance and interval had been kept between vehicles they would not be the target shown here pound and air force raids are worked out with greater unity through the use of the aerial photographs for the preparation for attack by German fighter planes and bombers cases of bombs are continually unpacked ready to supply the big ships as they land and take off again a destructive aircraft leaves the field they are assigned to swarm ahead of the land armies and destroy complete fortifications batteries marching troops railway junctions and important highway links in several pockets stuka dive bomber attacks an important railway junction he swoops down thousands of feet before releasing his bombs as he straightens out barely 600 feet above the target off the winged enemy and spreads out below bridges and communications have been destroyed the railroad at this point has been rendered uses Nazi bombs also knock out the heavy armored cars which the Polish army and hope would see effective action against the enemy the siege of Warsaw the big attack begins 31 miles outside the capital shells are dropped into Warsaw without let up as day by day the Nazis forge a tighter ring of steel around the almost helpless city vicious Nazi attack has left the city in ruins the Blitzkrieg has won the first round in less than 30 days Poland has fallen Warsaw's final surrender comes on September 27 shot is fired the first of the conquerors are all ready within the city's boundaries here again the wreckage testifies to the fury of the Nazi assault of numbers and fighting equipment Polish defenders come up to surrender their arms Germans claim sizable quantities of guns and ammunition taken throughout the country there was no time for the Poles to destroy their weapons so quickly did the Nazis move in and dominate each position this was the challenge of conquest Hitler hurled at the universe the Nazis marched through Warsaw streets the world was permitted to view this display of military pomp and expected to bow before Germany's might but the events of years following Poland set back were to tell another story the allies are fighting to prove that these group-stepping legions are not supermen at the events of September 1939 shall never happen again