Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Sept. 1, 2024.

A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

On Sept. 1, 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, an event regarded as the start of World War II.

But what came next, the German occupation of Poland, was exceptionally brutal.

Adolf Hitler’s Nazis considered Poles to be racially inferior. So when Germany amassed troops near their shared border, Poland and the rest of its allies were aggressive in resistance.

Here are the Deseret News headlines of that week:

Aug. 30-31: “Peace efforts appear to be fruitless.” “Poles mobilizing on a large scale,” with a summary of crisis responses from London, Washington, Berlin, Warsaw, Rome and Tokyo. Initially, the U.S. declared neutrality.

Sept. 1: “War

See Full Page