Description

A captured Polish infantryman has his pockets and ammunition pouches searched by one of the victorious ‘invaders’. A scene that must have been repeated many thousands of times.

In August 1939, the ‘German-Soviet Pact’ was signed which among other points stated, in secret, that Poland was to be partitioned between the two countries. This enabled Germany to attack Poland on September 1, 1939, with no fear of any Soviet intervention.
On September 17, just over two weeks later the Soviet Union invaded eastern Poland and within days met up with their advancing German ‘partners-in-crime’ from the West. Instantly Poland was dismembered and a reign of terror began..