World War 2 in Europe is widely recognized as having started in 1939 when Nazi Germany invaded Poland.

Quick Scoop

World War 2 began in Europe on 1 September 1939, when German forces launched a full-scale invasion of Poland, using staged border incidents as a pretext for attack. Two days later, on 3 September 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany in response to this invasion, turning a regional conflict into a world war.

Key facts in brief

  • Country invaded in 1939 that marked the start of World War 2 in Europe: Poland.
  • Date of the invasion: 1 September 1939.
  • Immediate consequence: Britain and France declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939.

Forum-style highlight

World War 2 started in 1939 when Germany invaded this country: Poland —an attack that prompted Britain and France to declare war and set off the most destructive conflict in human history.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.