Europe in war right before WW2

Right before the beginning of WW2 Poland was not so peaceful and toothless country, as it try to present itself. It was a big European country that managed to defeat Russian Red Army in 1920 and regain its independence. It had pretty powerful military ans was not afraid to use it to gain control over desired territory.

In 1938, after Nazi Germany annexed Austria and  invaded Czechoslovakia, Poland was first in the line to claim  Cieszyn Silesia region of Czechoslovakia.

On attached pictures you can see Handshake Polish Marshal of Edward Rydz-Rydz and the German officer, Major-General von Bogislav Studnitz (soldier nicknamed «Grünes Herz») at the parade, “Independence Day” in Warsaw on 11 November 1938. Photo is notable that the Polish parade was tied specifically to the capture of Cieszyn Silesia month earlier. At the parade was specially column Těšínské Poles.
At the ceremony, as there are officers from different countries – Latvia, Bulgaria, Japan, UK, etc.

In the Spring of 1939 Hungary, in cooperation with Poland invaded newly formed republic Carpathian Ruthenia, also known as Transcarpathian Ruthenia that was defended by a small formation of volunteers.

On March 15, 1939 the Hungarian Army regular troops invaded Carpatho-Ukraine and by the nightfall reached Szolyva. The Carpatho-Ukrainian irregular troops, the Carpathian Sich, fought bravely, but without additional support, were quickly routed. Czecho-Slovak resistance in Carpatho-Ukraine was negligible, and the advancing Hungarian troops did not have to face a well-organized and centralized resistance. The Hungarian Army also had the advantage of the Vienna Award, which made it possible for the Hungarians to take possession of the area where the Czechs built their permanent fortifications against Hungary.

On March 16, 1939, Hungary formally annexed the territory. Prime Minister Yulian Révaý had resisted the Hungarians until then.

In the night to March 17, the last Czecho-Slovak troops left Khust and retreated to Romanian borders. They and the one-day president of Carpatho-Ukraine, Voloshyn, fled to Romania.

The Hungarian Army continued their advance, pushing forward at top speed, and reached the Polish border on March 17. According to witness recollections, all captured Sich members Hungarian soldiers were tying by four with a barb wire and throwing them in Tysa. Those Sich members who came from the province of Galicia as Polish citizens were captured by Hungarians and handed over to Polish soldiers for illegal crossing of border, while some 500-600 were executed by Polish soldiers. The last resistance in the Carpathian mountains was taken out on March 18.

In 6 month Nazi Germany in cooperation with USSR will invade Poland. WW2 have began officially.