This is part 3 in our series on Hitler's War On Poland, watch episode one here: https://youtu.be/wudeH4ALp0I
Our whole playlist on the Nazis in power can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEbAHi3fZpuGxEWIhEho-xuMhe7MRXGKG
This is episode 532 of The Rest Is History, it is called 'The Fall of Warsaw' on audio and members' early access.
The Nazi invasion of Poland is one of the most harrowing episodes of the Second World War, which saw terrible scenes of abuse take place. Though long threatened, Poland was in no way prepared to face Hitler’s war machine when it finally attacked. Replete with tanks and planes, his would be a new kind of warfare. So, on the 10th of September 1939, Warsaw became the first capital in Europe to face relentless bombing raids, with Hitler - delighted by war - a spectator to the whole thing. The breaking point came when Stalin, whose troops had been fighting in Japan, agreed to send in his Red Army into Poland to reinforce the Germans. Before long, and despite their heroic resistance, the Poles had been decimated by German machinery, and nine days later the Nazis entered Danzig in triumph. With Warsaw an apocalyptic wasteland, Nazi occupied Poland became a hell of random brutality, discrimination, and horrific violence, particularly for the Jewish members of the population.
Join Dominic and Tom for the tragic conclusion of their journey into the dark depths of the fall of Poland, including the invasion of the German war machine, Russian participation, and Poland's inspiring defence.
00:00 The lost world of Warsaw
04:17 The first people to come under fire
07:58 The invasion begins proper
09:20 The Polish face immediate issues
12:50 “Blitzkrieg” and how Germany attacks
16:35 Reactions to this new kind of war at the time
18:02 Did cavalry charge panzers?
21:47 Why didn’t Britain and France help?
26:48 The situation in Poland deteriorates
27:30 A new kind of war…
29:28 The one general who stood against Hitler
34:26 The fate of Poland’s jews
37:20 A commander who stood up to the German High Command
39:25 The defence of Warsaw
41:09 The Russians invade
44:02 Hitler enters Warsaw
47:38 Warsaw surrenders
49:32 Did Germany celebrate what they were doing?
50:10 What did this mean for Poland?
54:47 “The final aim” for Poland’s jews
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Producer: Theo Young-Smith
Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett
Editor: Jack Meek
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Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor