Soviet Union invades Poland from the east 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 17 1939)

1930s, World War II

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Video: 'The Soviet Story - Soviet Invasion of Poland, September 17, 1939, an excerpt.'

(Sunday, September 17, 1939, 4:00 a.m. Central European Time; during the Soviet invasion of Poland, part of the Invasion of Poland in World War II) — The Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east today, sixteen days after Germany invaded Poland from the west, launching World War II, the deadliest conflict in human history, marked by 50 to 85 million fatalities.

The Soviet invasion of Poland was secretly approved by Germany following the signing of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact on Aug. 23, 1939.