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Invasion of Poland
Date Range
September 1 – October 6, 1939
Location
Poland
Combatants
Germany and Soviet Union vs. Poland
Outcome
German and Soviet victory — Poland partitioned and occupied
Casualties
Over 66,000 Polish killed; over 60,000 German and Soviet killed
Strategic Significance
Triggered the outbreak of World War II in Europe. Caused Britain and France to declare war on Germany on September 3. Introduced the concept of Blitzkrieg and demonstrated the effectiveness of combined armor-air coordination.