9 May 1945 — Facsimile of the front page of Libres, a newspaper founded by the national movement of prisoners of war and deportees. (Public domain).

Year 1939

1 September
Germany invades Poland.

3 September
France and the United Kingdom, Poland's allies, declare war on Germany.

17 September
The USSR invades Poland.

28 September
Germany and the USSR sign the Boundary and Friendship Treaty. Poland is divided between the two allies. The beginning of the extermination of the Jewish population and the Polish elite by the Nazis.

30 September
The Government of the Polish Republic in exile is established in Paris.

(End of) October
At the instigation of the Polish Catholic Mission, it is decided that a Polish school should be opened in Amiens to accommodate the children of economic immigrants. With the outbreak of war, priorities changed. Named after Polish poet Cyprian Norwid, the school becomes a lycée (high school) and is set up in Paris to receive war refugees.

(Early ) November
Start of training of the Polish army in France, based mainly at Coëtquidan (Morbihan). In June 1940, it consists of 85,000 men.

22 November
The Polish government in exile moves to Angers.