70 Years Ago Today, World War II Started

German Chancellor Adolf Hitler confers with his generals during the advance upon Warsaw on Sept. 12, 1939. Bettmann-Corbis

Poland Ceremonies Mark WWII Start -- The BBC

Leaders from Russia and Germany are among those expected at ceremonies in Poland to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II.

At 0445 on 1 September 1939, the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein opened fire at point blank range on a Polish fort on the Westerplatte peninsula.

At the same time, the German Wehrmacht invaded Poland over three frontiers.

The attacks triggered Britain and France's declaration of war against Germany two days later.

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More News On This Anniversary

Watching the start of World War II -- BBC
Poland remembers its catastrophe -- BBC
Leaders mark World War II anniversary -- AFP
Europe marks anniversary of WWII beginning -- AP
70 years on, Poland's WWII wounds haven't healed -- AP
Russian Premier Calls Nazi-Soviet Pact Immoral -- New York Times
Putin goes to Poland for war anniversary, but sorry is the hardest word -- Times Online
Putin urges West to learn from second World War -- Irish Times
Putin condemns the Nazi-Soviet agreement that carved up Poland -- News Scotsman
As Putin heads to Poland, WWII disputes on display -- Christian Science Monitor
The war? Nothing to do with Stalin, says Russia's president, Dmitry Medvedev -- The Guardian
TIMELINE-The road to World War Two -- Reuters
Scenes from the Invasion of Poland -- Newsweek