With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

Poland marks 70th anniversary of Second World War

Polish leaders have marked the 70th anniversary of the Second World War in a dawn ceremony on the Baltic peninsula where the conflict began.

Later in the day, European and American officials are due to meet in Gdansk for other ceremonies to pay tribute to the tens of millions who lost their lives in the conflict.

At the Westerplatte peninsula, the site of Nazi Germany's opening assault on Poland, Polish political and religious leaders recalled the sacrifices their countrymen made in the struggle against the overwhelming forces of Hitler's Germany.

With red and white Polish flags fluttering in the breeze, those gathered then placed wreathes at the foot of the monument to the defenders of Westerplatte as an honor guard looked on
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)