On September 17, 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Poland, entering World War II as an ally of Nazi Germany. This invasion from the east came just 16 days after Germany’s attack from the west, effectively erasing Poland’s sovereignty. The Soviet Red Army crossed Poland’s eastern border in accordance with the secret protocol of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
Background
On August 23, 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression treaty, known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. This agreement included a secret supplementary protocol that divided Eastern Europe into German and Soviet “spheres of influence.” Poland was partitioned between the two totalitarian powers, setting the stage for their coordinated military invasions.
Analysis
The Soviet invasion of Poland is often overshadowed in historical narratives by Germany’s initial assault, but its significance is critical. The event not only demonstrated the functional alliance between Hitler and Stalin in the war’s early stages but also sealed the fate of Eastern Europe for the next half-century. The joint Wehrmacht and Red Army parade in Brest on September 22, 1939, served as a public symbol of this cooperation. Today, this historical event remains a point of tension in Russia’s relations with Poland and other Eastern European nations, as modern Russian official narratives often attempt to downplay the Soviet role as an aggressor in 1939.
Conclusion
The anniversary of the September 17 invasion serves as a reminder that the beginning of World War II was facilitated by the collusion of two totalitarian regimes, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, leading to the division and destruction of sovereign nations.
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