military@cbnews.att.com (09/21/89)
Friday, 22 September, 1939 In Brest-Litovsk, a joint Russo-German victory parade is staged. The Polish garrison at Lvov surrenders to the Soviets. Colonel-General Freiherr von Fritsch is killed by a sniper on the outskirts of Warsaw. Von Fritsch had lost his position as Army Commander-in-Chief in 1938, when Hitler and other high-ranking officials conspired to accuse him of "crimes of morality" (homosexuality). Though found innocent by a court martial, he was never returned to his post, but was instead given command of an artillery unit. He had been a model of the aristocratic Prussian officer, and anti-Nazi. Petrol rations begin in Britain. The Allied Supreme War Council meets in Sussex. References: C.Argyle, _Chronology of World War II_ J. Piekalkiewicz, _Tank War 1939-1940_ R.Dupuy and T.Dupuy, _The Encyclopedia of Military History_ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "After the Hitlerian invasion, the Polish Government and army leaders shamefully fled abroad, leaving the nation to the whims of fate." - _The Russian Version of the Second World War_, Lyons, ed.