Gleiwitz incident facts for kids
The Gleiwitz incident was a secret plan by Germany to make it look like Poland had attacked them. This happened on the night of August 31, 1939, at a radio station called "Sender Gleiwitz" in the German town of Gliwice. Germany used this fake attack, along with other similar actions, to make people believe that Poland started World War II, not Germany.
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What Was the Gleiwitz Incident?
The Gleiwitz incident was a "false flag" operation. This means one country secretly carries out an action and makes it seem like another country did it. Germany wanted an excuse to invade Poland. They needed to convince their own people and the world that Poland was the aggressor.
The Secret Plan
The plan was led by a German officer named Alfred Naujocks. His team's job was to pretend to be Polish soldiers. They were to attack the radio station and broadcast a message in Polish. This message would say that Poland was attacking Germany.
The Attack on the Radio Station
On August 31, 1939, Naujocks and his team went to the Gleiwitz radio station. They took over the station for a short time. They broadcast a quick message in Polish. This message announced that the radio station was now in Polish hands. The attack was very brief.
Why Did Germany Do This?
Germany's leader, Adolf Hitler, wanted to invade Poland. But he needed a reason that would seem fair to the world. He also wanted to unite the German people behind his decision to go to war. The Gleiwitz incident was part of a bigger plan to create fake "attacks" by Poland.
Setting the Stage for War
These fake attacks were used as "proof" that Poland was being aggressive. Hitler then claimed that Germany had to defend itself. The very next day, on September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. This invasion officially started World War II.
After the Incident
The Gleiwitz incident was a key part of Germany's propaganda. Propaganda is information, often biased or misleading, used to promote a political cause or point of view. Germany used this event to justify its invasion. However, it was soon clear to many that the incident was staged.
Images for kids
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Plaque on site commemorating the incident
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