2. Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Soviet Union . (23rd August 1939) A secret protocol dividing Northern and Eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres of influence ( anticipating potential "territorial and political rearrangements" of these countries ).
3.
4. O n September 3 : t he United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, France, South Africa and Canada, declared war on Germany => the „Phoney War” 6th September - Germany and the Soviet Union occupy most of Poland 1st October – complete ocupation The Polish keep fighting; but stand no chance in the massive attack from both sides, so the Government evacuates to neautral Romania and Hungary. The Polish NEVER surrendered, continued fighting abroad by joinging the French and English Armies.
5. Polish Military Transit Depot (88 soldiers -> Sept.1939: 182 soldiers; push back attack for 12 hrs to be saved by the Polish army, fought 7 days! Major Sucharski)
6. 1932 – Polish-Soviet Pact of non-aggression – not respected, confusion among Polish Soldiers 250,000 soldiers and officers become POW Retrieting to neutral Romania did not help, as was influenced by Germany and the Soviets and the Pl.government got interned. Pl president (Mościcki) passes on his power to successor in England (Raczkiewicz).
15. Prisoners died of starvation, forced labor, lack of disease control, individual executions, and medical experiments , łapanki (St. Maksymilian Kolbe)
16. 1942-45 1.6 million ppl murdered (90% Jews, 10% Poles, Soviet Prisoners of War, Sinti Roma, Jehovah Witnesses, homosexuals and others