At the end of World War I in 1918, Germany was punished for their part in the war. They were forced to give up land and to disband their army.

The German people didn’t feel fairly treated. In 1933, they voted for Adolf Hitler to become their leader. He led the National Socialists or Nazis. He promised that he would restore Germany. He built their army back up and began taking land back from other countries.

On September 1st, 1939, German forces invaded Poland. Tanks poured into the country helped by bombers overhead. A total of 1.25 million Germans soldiers filed into Poland.

When Hitler refused to stop, Britain and France declared war on Germany.

It would begin six years of fighting.