The Day Before the War · the Events of August 31, 1939 That Ignited World War II

Seventy-five years ago, German intelligence launched a series of raids on German facilities along the frontier with Poland. The attackers, though trained German provocateurs, posed as Polish insurgents and soldiers.

The highlight of these attacks was the assault on Sender Gleiwitz, a radio station in Upper Silesia. There, the attackers would broadcast their message of insurrection for the world to hear, giving solid evidence of Polish aggression and justification for Germany's Blitzkrieg upon Poland the next day.

The other two attacks were launched against a customs house and a forrestry station along the border.

The Day Before the Day provides details about these little-known events that ignited the Second World War in Europe.