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Why did Adolf Hitler invade Poland in 1939?

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Portrait of Adolf Hitler in a collared shirt and tie, facing forward with a serious expression, circa 1933. — Adolf Hitler Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler, c. 1933.

Adolf Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939 was driven by his long-term strategic goal of securing Lebensraum (living space) for Germany in the east. Hitler viewed the conquest of these territories as essential for Germany’s economic and military domination of Europe.1

Specifically, Poland was critical to his strategy because its territory was required as a staging area for a future invasion of the Soviet Union. While Hitler initially hoped to pressure Poland into becoming an ally against the Soviets, Poland’s refusal to comply—coupled with security guarantees from Britain and France—led him to order a military invasion.12

To ensure the invasion could proceed without the risk of a two-front war, Hitler secured the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact in August 1939. This agreement included a secret protocol that divided Poland between Germany and the Soviet Union, effectively sealing Poland's fate and allowing Hitler to launch his attack on September 1, 1939. Additionally, Hitler used the status of the Polish Corridor and the city of Danzig as a pretext for the aggression.2345