Poland marks 85th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s invasion

People lay wreaths at the monument to the 1939 heroic defence of the Westerplatte peninsula outpost in Poland (Wojciech Strozyk/AP)

Poland’s leaders stressed the need for a strong defence in the face of war in neighbouring Ukraine and redress as they led solemn ceremonies to mark the 85th anniversary of German Nazi forces invading and bombing Polish territory at the start of the Second World War.

Sirens wailed and a memorial bell tolled as President Andrzej Duda and deputy ambassador of Germany Robert Rohde attended an observance on Sunday in the town of Wielun, the first civilian target of German bombing in the small hours of September 1, 1939.