During a period of over six and a half years, from late December 1932 to the outbreak of World War II, three mathematician-cryptologists (Marian Rejewski, Henryk Zygalski and Jerzy Różycki) at the Polish General Staff's Cipher Bureau in Warsaw had developed a number of techniques and devices — including the "grill" method, Różycki's "clock," Rejewski's "cyclometer" and "card catalog," Zygalski's "perforated sheets," and Rejewski's "cryptologic bomb" (Polish term: bomba, precursor to the later British "Bombe," named after its Pol ...

See also:

Polish contribution to World War II, Polish contribution to World War II - Army, Polish contribution to World War II - Air Force, Polish contribution to World War II - Navy, Polish contribution to World War II - Intelligence, Polish contribution to World War II - Underground, Polish contribution to World War II - Battles, Polish contribution to World War II - Technical inventions

Read more here: » Polish contribution to World War II: Encyclopedia II - Polish contribution to World War II - Intelligence

Immediately after the crash, a Polish officer who had witnessed the event from the airstrip began sobbing quietly and repeating: "This is the end of Poland. This is the end of Poland." Without a doubt, as Sikorski had been the most prestigious leader of the Polish exiles, his death was a severe setback for the Polish cause, and doubtless convenient for Stalin. In some ways it was also convenient for the western Allies, who were finding the Polish question a stumbling-block to preserving good relations with Stalin. After the Soviets had broke ...

See also:

Władysław Sikorski, Władysław Sikorski - Biography, Władysław Sikorski - Early life and World War I, Władysław Sikorski - Polish-Soviet War, Władysław Sikorski - In government and in opposition, Władysław Sikorski - Prime Minister in Exile, Władysław Sikorski - Katyn, Władysław Sikorski - Death, Władysław Sikorski - Aftermath, Władysław Sikorski - Controversy surrounding Sikorski's death, Władysław Sikorski - Further reading and other media

Read more here: » Władysław Sikorski: Encyclopedia II - Władysław Sikorski - Aftermath

In 1943 a British Court of Inquiry investigated the crash of Sikorski's B-24 Liberator but was unable to determine the probable cause, finding only that the "aircraft [became] uncontrollable for reasons which cannot be established". Despite this finding, the political context of the event, coupled with a variety of curious circumstances, immediately gave rise to speculation that Sikorski's death had been no accident, and may in ...

See also:

Władysław Sikorski, Władysław Sikorski - Biography, Władysław Sikorski - Early life and World War I, Władysław Sikorski - Polish-Soviet War, Władysław Sikorski - In government and in opposition, Władysław Sikorski - Prime Minister in Exile, Władysław Sikorski - Katyn, Władysław Sikorski - Death, Władysław Sikorski - Aftermath, Władysław Sikorski - Controversy surrounding Sikorski's death, Władysław Sikorski - Further reading and other media

Read more here: » Władysław Sikorski: Encyclopedia II - Władysław Sikorski - Controversy surrounding Sikorski's death

March 30 is the 89th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (90th in Leap years). There are 276 days remaining. March 30 - Events. 1282 - The people of Sicily rebel against the Angevin king Charles I, in what becomes known as the Sicilian Vespers. 1296 - Edward I storms Berwick-upon-Tweed, sacking the then-Scottish border town, slaughtering almost everyone, even those fleeing to the churches. 1492 - Ferdinand and Isabella sign a decree aimed at expel ...

Including:

• March 30 - Events
• March 30 - Births
• March 30 - Deaths
• March 30 - Holidays and observances

Read more here: » March 30: Encyclopedia - March 30

See also special article about Polish government in exile during Second World War. The Polish government re-assembled in Paris and formed a government in exile. Władysław Raczkiewicz was sworn in as President and chose General Władysław Sikorski as Prime Minister. Most of the Polish Navy escaped to the United Kingdom, and thousands of other Poles escaped through Romania or across the Baltic Sea to continue the fight. Many Poles took part in defence of France, in the Battle of Britain and other opera ...

See also:

History of Poland 1939–1945, History of Poland 1939–1945 - German and Soviet Invasion, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Dismemberment of Poland, History of Poland 1939–1945 - The General Government, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Treatment of the Poles, History of Poland 1939–1945 - The Holocaust in Poland, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Governments in exile, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Resistance, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Aftermath of the War, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Yalta and the Soviet Occupation 1943–45

Read more here: » History of Poland 1939–1945: Encyclopedia II - History of Poland 1939–1945 - Governments in exile

Just on the eve of war, most of the major Polish Navy ships had been sent for safety to the British Isles. There they fought alongside the Royal Navy. At various stages of the war, the Polish Navy comprised two cruisers and a large number of smaller ships, including three destroyers and two submarines that had left the Baltic Sea in late August 1939. Cruisers: ORP Dragon (Danae class) ORP Conrad (Danae class) Destroyers: ORP Wicher (Wind) (Wicher class)< ...

See also:

Polish contribution to World War II, Polish contribution to World War II - Army, Polish contribution to World War II - Air Force, Polish contribution to World War II - Navy, Polish contribution to World War II - Intelligence, Polish contribution to World War II - Underground, Polish contribution to World War II - Battles, Polish contribution to World War II - Technical inventions

Read more here: » Polish contribution to World War II: Encyclopedia II - Polish contribution to World War II - Navy

The Polish Air Force fought in the Battle of France as one fighter squadron GC 1/145, several small units detached to French squadrons, and numerous flights of industry defence (in total, 133 pilots, who achieved 55 victories at a loss of 15 men). Later, Polish pilots fought in the Battle of Britain, where the Polish 303 Fighter Squadron achieved the highest number of kills of any Allied squadron. From the very beginning of the war, the Royal Air Force (RAF) had welcomed foreign pilots to supplement the dwindling pool of British pilot ...

See also:

Polish contribution to World War II, Polish contribution to World War II - Army, Polish contribution to World War II - Air Force, Polish contribution to World War II - Navy, Polish contribution to World War II - Intelligence, Polish contribution to World War II - Underground, Polish contribution to World War II - Battles, Polish contribution to World War II - Technical inventions

Read more here: » Polish contribution to World War II: Encyclopedia II - Polish contribution to World War II - Air Force

Polish September Campaign - Germany. Germany had a large numerical advantage over Polish forces, and had developed a significant military. The Wehrmacht had some 2,400 tanks organized into six panzer divisions using the new operational doctrine. They theoretically acted with other units to punch holes in the enemy line and isolate selected enemy units, which the infantry would then encircle and destroy. This would be repeated and followed up by less mobile mechanized infantry and foot soldiers. The German airforc ...

See also:

Polish September Campaign, Polish September Campaign - Opposing forces, Polish September Campaign - Germany, Polish September Campaign - Soviet Union, Polish September Campaign - Poland, Polish September Campaign - Order of battle, Polish September Campaign - Prelude to the campaign, Polish September Campaign - Details of the campaign, Polish September Campaign - Plans, Polish September Campaign - Phase 1: German aggression, Polish September Campaign - Phase 2: Soviet aggression, Polish September Campaign - Civilian losses, Polish September Campaign - Aftermath, Polish September Campaign - Notes

Read more here: » Polish September Campaign: Encyclopedia II - Polish September Campaign - Opposing forces

The Allies' only major military actions during the Phony War were at sea. Notable events among these were the following: In October 1939 the obsolete battleship HMS Royal Oak was sunk in Scapa Flow by the U-boat U-47. In November 1939 German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee was attacked by the cruisers HMS Exeter, HMS Ajax and HMS Achilles in the Battle of the River Plate and trapped in Montevideo harbour where she was scuttled. On April 10, 1940, the mining of Norwe ...

See also:

Phony War, Phony War - Dates, Phony War - Assault on Finland, Phony War - Invasion of Denmark and Norway, Phony War - The Norway Debate, Phony War - Allied action during the Phony War

Read more here: » Phony War: Encyclopedia II - Phony War - Allied action during the Phony War

The Yalta Conference is often cited as the symbol of Western betrayal or the beginning of the Cold War. Although democracy was promised, in reality, for countries liberated by the Red Army such as Poland and the Baltic states, this remained only a declaration. Elections in Soviet-occupied countries were heavily rigged in favour of Moscow-controlled Communist parties while members of other political parties were persecuted an ...

See also:

Yalta Conference, Yalta Conference - Conference, Yalta Conference - Controversies over Yalta

Read more here: » Yalta Conference: Encyclopedia II - Yalta Conference - Controversies over Yalta

The uprising began officially in daylight at 17:00 on "W-hour" August 1, a decision which is now regarded as a costly mistake. Although the Germans failed to realise that extra activity and early fights with the insurgents were linked and had not developed a plan for dealing with the uprising, they received warning, reportedly from a Polish woman, an hour before the start. Lack of surprise, sudden changes of plan, inexperience in day fighting and incomplete mobilisation meant that many of the early objectives of the uprising were not achieve ...

See also:

Warsaw Uprising, Warsaw Uprising - Eve of the battle, Warsaw Uprising - Opposing forces, Warsaw Uprising - The battle, Warsaw Uprising - Life behind the front lines, Warsaw Uprising - Lack of outside support, Warsaw Uprising - The capitulation, Warsaw Uprising - Destruction of the city, Warsaw Uprising - Liberation of the ruins, Warsaw Uprising - The legacy, Warsaw Uprising - After the war, Warsaw Uprising - Note

Read more here: » Warsaw Uprising: Encyclopedia II - Warsaw Uprising - The battle

The debacle of the British campaign in Norway, which actually was an offspring of the never-realised plans to aid Finland, forced a famous debate in the House of Commons during which the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain was under constant attack. A nominal vote of confidence in his government was won by 281 to 200, but many of Chamberlain's supporters had voted against him whilst others had abstained. The humiliated Chamberlain found it impossible to continue to lead a National Government or to form a government of national unity ( ...

See also:

Phony War, Phony War - Dates, Phony War - Assault on Finland, Phony War - Invasion of Denmark and Norway, Phony War - The Norway Debate, Phony War - Allied action during the Phony War

Read more here: » Phony War: Encyclopedia II - Phony War - The Norway Debate

Order of battle of Poland: Polish army order of battle in 1939 Polish Air Force order of battle in 1939 Polish Navy order of battle in 1939 Polish armaments 1939-1945 Order of battle of invading forces: German order of battle for Operation Fall Weiss Soviet order of battle for invasion of Poland in 1939 ...

See also:

Polish September Campaign, Polish September Campaign - Opposing forces, Polish September Campaign - Germany, Polish September Campaign - Soviet Union, Polish September Campaign - Poland, Polish September Campaign - Order of battle, Polish September Campaign - Prelude to the campaign, Polish September Campaign - Details of the campaign, Polish September Campaign - Plans, Polish September Campaign - Phase 1: German aggression, Polish September Campaign - Phase 2: Soviet aggression, Polish September Campaign - Civilian losses, Polish September Campaign - Aftermath, Polish September Campaign - Notes

Read more here: » Polish September Campaign: Encyclopedia II - Polish September Campaign - Order of battle

Persecution of the Jews by the occupation government, particularly in the urban areas, began immediately after the occupation. In the first year and a half, however, the Germans confined themselves to stripping the Jews of their property and herding them into ghettoes and putting them into forced labor in war-related industries. During this period the Jewish community leadership, which, unlike Polish authorities, had an official recognition by the Germans, was able to some extent to bargain with the Germans. After the German attack on the So ...

See also:

History of Poland 1939–1945, History of Poland 1939–1945 - German and Soviet Invasion, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Dismemberment of Poland, History of Poland 1939–1945 - The General Government, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Treatment of the Poles, History of Poland 1939–1945 - The Holocaust in Poland, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Governments in exile, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Resistance, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Aftermath of the War, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Yalta and the Soviet Occupation 1943–45

Read more here: » History of Poland 1939–1945: Encyclopedia II - History of Poland 1939–1945 - The Holocaust in Poland

The territory which lay between the Curzon Line and the 1921 eastern border of Poland had a population of about 12 million people in an area of 188,000 square kilometres. According to statistics from the Polish census of 1931 (which was unlikely to underestimate the number of Poles), the population of these territories by mother-tongue was: Poles 4,794,000 39.9% Ukrainians and Ruthenians 4,139,000 34.4% Jews 1,045,000 08.4% Belarusians 993,000 08.5% R ...

See also:

Curzon Line, Curzon Line - History of the Curzon Line, Curzon Line - Ethnography to the east of the Curzon Line, Curzon Line - Ethnography to the west of the Curzon Line

Read more here: » Curzon Line: Encyclopedia II - Curzon Line - Ethnography to the east of the Curzon Line

Polish September Campaign - Germany. Germany had a large numerical advantage over Polish forces, and the German economy was geared toward military production. The Wehrmacht had some 2,400 tanks organized into six panzer divisions using the new operational doctrine. They acted with other units to punch holes in the enemy line and isolate selected enemy units, which the infantry would then encircle and destroy. This would be repeated and followed up by less mobile mechanized infantry and foot soldiers. The Luftwaff ...

See also:

Polish September Campaign, Polish September Campaign - Opposing forces, Polish September Campaign - Germany, Polish September Campaign - Soviet Union, Polish September Campaign - Poland, Polish September Campaign - Order of battle, Polish September Campaign - Prelude to the campaign, Polish September Campaign - Details of the campaign, Polish September Campaign - Plans, Polish September Campaign - Phase 1: German aggression, Polish September Campaign - Phase 2: Soviet aggression, Polish September Campaign - Civilian losses, Polish September Campaign - Aftermath, Polish September Campaign - Notes

Read more here: » Polish September Campaign: Encyclopedia II - Polish September Campaign - Opposing forces

The limited landings by the 1st Polish army, mentioned above, represented the only external forces who arrived to support the uprising. There was limited support in terms of airdrops from the Western allies, (the Royal Air Force and the Polish Air Force made 223 sorties and lost 34 aircraft), but the effect of these airdrops were mostly psychological, as all but one American airdrop had to be carried out using bases in faraway Italy. Although the Soviets briefly (13 September–28) provided some airdrops, without parachutes, they active ...

See also:

Warsaw Uprising, Warsaw Uprising - Eve of the battle, Warsaw Uprising - Opposing forces, Warsaw Uprising - The battle, Warsaw Uprising - Life behind the front lines, Warsaw Uprising - Lack of outside support, Warsaw Uprising - The capitulation, Warsaw Uprising - Destruction of the city, Warsaw Uprising - Liberation of the ruins, Warsaw Uprising - The legacy, Warsaw Uprising - After the war, Warsaw Uprising - Note

Read more here: » Warsaw Uprising: Encyclopedia II - Warsaw Uprising - Lack of outside support

Led by Adolf Hitler, the Nazi Party took power in Germany in 1933. Hitler at first ostentatiously pursued a policy of rapprochement with Poland, culminating in the Polish-German Non-Aggression Pact of 1934. However, following Germany's annexation of Austria in 1938, and most of Czechoslovakia in 1939, under the continued Allied policy of appeasement, the Nazi regime turned its attention to Poland. Of special concern to Germany was the Free City of Danzig and the fact that German exclave of East Prussia was separated from mainland by little-k ...

See also:

Polish September Campaign, Polish September Campaign - Opposing forces, Polish September Campaign - Germany, Polish September Campaign - Soviet Union, Polish September Campaign - Poland, Polish September Campaign - Order of battle, Polish September Campaign - Prelude to the campaign, Polish September Campaign - Details of the campaign, Polish September Campaign - Plans, Polish September Campaign - Phase 1: German aggression, Polish September Campaign - Phase 2: Soviet aggression, Polish September Campaign - Civilian losses, Polish September Campaign - Aftermath, Polish September Campaign - Notes

Read more here: » Polish September Campaign: Encyclopedia II - Polish September Campaign - Prelude to the campaign

Under the terms of two decrees by Hitler (8 October and 12 October 1939), large areas of western Poland were annexed to Germany. These included all the territories which Germany had lost under the 1918 Treaty of Versailles, such as the Polish Corridor, West Prussia and Upper Silesia, but also a large area of indisputably Polish territory east of these territories, including the city of Łódź. The Germans provided for the division of the annexed areas of Poland into the following administrative units: Reichsgau Warthelan ...

See also:

History of Poland 1939–1945, History of Poland 1939–1945 - German and Soviet Invasion, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Dismemberment of Poland, History of Poland 1939–1945 - The General Government, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Treatment of the Poles, History of Poland 1939–1945 - The Holocaust in Poland, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Governments in exile, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Resistance, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Aftermath of the War, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Yalta and the Soviet Occupation 1943–45

Read more here: » History of Poland 1939–1945: Encyclopedia II - History of Poland 1939–1945 - Dismemberment of Poland

The remaining block of territory was placed under a German administration called the General Government (in German Generalgouvernement für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete), with its capital at Kraków. The General Government was subdivided into four districts, Warsaw, Lublin, Radom, and Kraków. (For more detail on the territorial division of this area see General Government.) A German lawyer and prominent Nazi, Hans Frank, was appointed Governor-General of the occupied territories on 26 October 1939. Frank oversaw the segreg ...

See also:

History of Poland 1939–1945, History of Poland 1939–1945 - German and Soviet Invasion, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Dismemberment of Poland, History of Poland 1939–1945 - The General Government, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Treatment of the Poles, History of Poland 1939–1945 - The Holocaust in Poland, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Governments in exile, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Resistance, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Aftermath of the War, History of Poland 1939–1945 - Yalta and the Soviet Occupation 1943–45

Read more here: » History of Poland 1939–1945: Encyclopedia II - History of Poland 1939–1945 - The General Government

On October 2 General Tadeusz Bór-Komorowski signed the capitulation of the remaining Polish forces (Warszawski Korpus Armii Krajowej or Home Army Warsaw Corps) in the German headquarters in the presence of General von dem Bach. According to the capitulation agreement the Wehrmacht promised to treat Home Army soldiers in accordance with the Geneva Convention, and to treat the civilian population humanely. Fighting was so fierce that SS chief Heinrich Himmler remarked: One of the ...

See also:

Warsaw Uprising, Warsaw Uprising - Eve of the battle, Warsaw Uprising - Opposing forces, Warsaw Uprising - The battle, Warsaw Uprising - Life behind the front lines, Warsaw Uprising - Lack of outside support, Warsaw Uprising - The capitulation, Warsaw Uprising - Destruction of the city, Warsaw Uprising - Liberation of the ruins, Warsaw Uprising - The legacy, Warsaw Uprising - After the war, Warsaw Uprising - Note

Read more here: » Warsaw Uprising: Encyclopedia II - Warsaw Uprising - The capitulation