Sp. Ch 27 prt 2 790-6 The Course of World War II Victory and Stalemate I. Unleashing a Blitzkrieg, or ?lightening war,? Hitler stunned Europe w/the speed and efficiency of the German attack. A. Armored columns or panzer divisions supported by airplanes broke quickly through Polish lines and encircled the over-whelmed Polish troops. B. Regular infantry units then moved in to hold the newly conquered territory. C. Soon after, Soviet military forces attacked eastern Poland. W/I 4 weeks, Poland had surrendered. D. On September 28, 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union officially divided Poland b/w them. Hitler?s Attack in the West I. Although Hitler?s hopes of avoiding a war w/the West were dashed when France and