In 1939, the German army had similarly overcome Polish forces. During World War II, the European press coined “Blitzkrieg” (lightning war) for the seemingly unstoppable German advance.

Almost six years of bloodshed and brutality tore through Europe, North Africa, Asia and the Pacific, leaving an estimated 45 ...

The two leaders secretly plan to divide Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe between them. September: Employing blitzkrieg (literally, "lightning war") tactics, Germany invades Poland.

For the first six months of the war, there was little fighting in the West, as the German military concentrated on their invasion and campaign in Poland. This period is often called the ‘Phoney ...