Germany invaded Poland as the rest of the world watched passively.

by Rabbi Eliyahu Ellis and Rabbi Shmuel Silinsky

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Invasion of Poland

Germans Invading Polish Border
photo courtesy of Yad Vashem


In a secret part of the "non-aggression" treaty, Stalin and Hitler decided to divide-up Poland. It was agreed that Germans would go into 60% on one side, and the Russians would go into the remaining 40% on the eastern side. Poland was going to disappear, which is exactly what happened.

 

 

Read an experience of the Russian invasion.

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Humiliating Jews

Germans Torturing Jews While Civilians Watch
photo courtesy of Yad Vashem

The Nazis took some prisoners from Dachau and dressed them in German uniforms. They took them to the border, shot them, and screamed, "Poland is attacking!" Then the German troops poured over the border.

In six weeks, Poland no longer existed.

 

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En Route To Poland

En Route To Poland, On Train Bearing Anti-Jewish Graffitti
photo courtesy of Yad Vashem

One should realize that there was a difference between the Nazis and the regular German army. Nevertheless, you could see slogans printed on the cars of a German troop train, such as: "We’re going into Poland to thrash the Jews."

 

 

 

Germany invaded Poland, and it was war. Hitler did not think that France and England would get involved. Much to his surprise, they did declare war, but followed with inaction.

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Abusing Polish Jew

Nazis Abusing Polish Jew For Sport
photo courtesy of Yad Vashem

The catch phrase was: "On the Eastern Front there was a Blitzkrieg, and on the Western Front there was a Sitzkrieg. One of the greatest "what-if’s" of history is: What if Britain and France attacked Germany right away? What would have happened?

But England and France did not invade. They sat around until the following summer. By that time the Germans were ready for them.

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Published: Wednesday, December 31, 1969
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Visitor Comments: 3

(3) Anonymous, November 3, 2004 12:00 AM

Reply to stick together

well people just let it happen. people think what goes on is just the falt of the offender... the victim lets it happen in the beggining and in the end when he/she wants it to stop, the offender wont stop because he thinks that he was joking around. if you want it to stop right away dont let it happen!

(2) kate, September 13, 2004 12:00 AM

stick together

This was a very early act of terroism. People say things like this will never happen again. Look around us. It is happening evey day, even if it is just a minor offense. People need to take a stand and unite or it will only get worse and history could possibly repeat itself. if we stuck together in the beginning many lives would not have been taken during the Holocaust.

(1) Anonymous, November 6, 2002 12:00 AM

Happen Again?

I am a student at an english college and the things that the nazis said about the jews is being spouted off again in the form of the BNP or british national party. It's terrifying to realize just how easily it could all happen again . Especially when all of my friends say that its not possible ,we're civilized. So was germany before the war.

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About the Author

Rabbi Eliyahu Ellis

Rabbi Eliyahu Ellis studied biology and geology at Northern Illinois University. In addition, he spent time as a deep-sea diver in the oil fields in the North Sea between Scotland and Norway and has circumnavigated the seas of the world in a sailboat. Rabbi Ellis received rabbinic ordination from Aish HaTorah where he is a senior lecturer at the Discovery and Essentials programs.

Rabbi Shmuel Silinsky

Rabbi Shmuel Silinsky received his BS from Cornell with a major in Communication Arts and a minor in Archeology, and did post-graduate work at UCLA in the field of Desert Plants and Natural History. Prior to moving to Israel, he worked in the field of Urban Ecology including several years as a landscape designer in Beverly Hills. Rabbi Silinsky received rabbinic ordination from Aish HaTorah and the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He currently teaches at the Yeshivat Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem.

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