Destroyed Vistula Bridge in Poland 1939 1

Destroyed Vistula Bridge in Poland 1939, photo; Licensed article; Original: 5740×4315; Photographer: unknown; subject to licence; Rights: © Bleek/zb Media.

Historical background

The destruction of the Vistula Bridge in September 1939 was a significant event at the beginning of the Second World War. The bridge over the Vistula near Dirschau (today Tczew in Poland) was a decisive strategic point for the German invasion of Poland. On 1 September 1939, the day of the German attack on Poland, the bridge was blown up by Polish troops to stop the advance of the German army. This day marked the beginning of the Second World War in Europe. Shortly afterwards, the German troops built a makeshift bridge over the Vistula to continue their attack. The photos of the destruction of the Vistula Bridge can serve as a symbol of the Polish armed forces’ resistance to the German invasion