Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Don't miss 'History's Most Daring Raids' on Nebula and get 50% off an annual subscription: nebula.tv/realtimehistory/historys-most-daring-raids?ref=epichistory
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In January 1939, many Europeans dared to hope the worst was over. They were wrong.
This is the story of the year that changed everything — from the intensifying clashes on the Soviet-Japanese frontier, to Hitler and Stalin’s secret pact to carve up Eastern Europe, and their invasion of Poland that plunged the world into its most devastating conflict.
We explore World War 2's opening moves, as the Soviet Union invades Finland and the Allies prepare for battle on the Western Front.
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Thank you to our series historical consultant, Professor Richard Overy of the University of Exeter. Find out more about his research and publications here: experts.exeter.ac.uk/1234-richard-overy/about
You can find some of Richard Overy's work in our online bookshop, as well as more great titles on World War Two and other Epic History topics:
UK site - uk.bookshop.org/shop/epichistorytv
US site - bookshop.org/shop/epichistorytv
As a bookshop.org affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases, while donating 10% of sales to support independent bookshops!
📚 Recommended reading:
'The Inter-War Crisis' by Richard Overy - US: bookshop.org/a/99532/9781138963252 / UK: uk.bookshop.org/a/12275/9781138963252
'Why The Allies Won' by Richard Overy - US: bookshop.org/a/99532/9780393316193 / UK: uk.bookshop.org/a/12275/9781845950651
'Blood And Ruins' by Richard Overy - US: bookshop.org/a/99532/9780143132936 / UK: uk.bookshop.org/a/12275/9780241300930
'World War II: The Definitive Visual History' by Richard Overy - US: bookshop.org/a/99532/9780233006215 / UK: uk.bookshop.org/a/12275/9780233006208
'The Second World War' by Antony Beevor - US: bookshop.org/a/99532/9780316023757 / UK: uk.bookshop.org/a/12275/9781780225647
'Inferno: The World at War, 1939-1945' by Max Hastings - US: bookshop.org/a/99532/9780307475534 / UK: uk.bookshop.org/a/12275/9780007450725
'The Storm of War' by Andrew Roberts - US: bookshop.org/a/99532/9780061228605 / UK: uk.bookshop.org/a/12275/9780141029283
-------------------------------------
Support Epic History TV on Patreon from $1 per month, and get perks like ad-free early access & votes on future topics patreon.com/EpicHistoryTV
Or join the ranks of the Grognards with our YouTube memberships youtube.com/channel/UCvPXiKxH-eH9xq-80vpgmKQ/join
👕 Buy posters, t-shirts, hoodies, mugs & stickers at our merch store:
ehtvmerch.com
#EpicHistoryTV #EpicHistory #History #WW2 #WW2history #WorldWar2
Don't miss 'History's Most Daring Raids' on Nebula and get 50% off an annual subscription: nebula.tv/realtimehistory/historys-most-daring-raids?ref=epichistory
------------------------------------
In January 1939, many Europeans dared to hope the worst was over. They were wrong.
This is the story of the year that changed everything — from the intensifying clashes on the Soviet-Japanese frontier, to Hitler and Stalin’s secret pact to carve up Eastern Europe, and their invasion of Poland that plunged the world into its most devastating conflict.
We explore World War 2's opening moves, as the Soviet Union invades Finland and the Allies prepare for battle on the Western Front.
-------------------------------------
Thank you to our series historical consultant, Professor Richard Overy of the University of Exeter. Find out more about his research and publications here: experts.exeter.ac.uk/1234-richard-overy/about
You can find some of Richard Overy's work in our online bookshop, as well as more great titles on World War Two and other Epic History topics:
UK site - uk.bookshop.org/shop/epichistorytv
US site - bookshop.org/shop/epichistorytv
As a bookshop.org affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases, while donating 10% of sales to support independent bookshops!
📚 Recommended reading:
'The Inter-War Crisis' by Richard Overy - US: bookshop.org/a/99532/9781138963252 / UK: uk.bookshop.org/a/12275/9781138963252
'Why The Allies Won' by Richard Overy - US: bookshop.org/a/99532/9780393316193 / UK: uk.bookshop.org/a/12275/9781845950651
'Blood And Ruins' by Richard Overy - US: bookshop.org/a/99532/9780143132936 / UK: uk.bookshop.org/a/12275/9780241300930
'World War II: The Definitive Visual History' by Richard Overy - US: bookshop.org/a/99532/9780233006215 / UK: uk.bookshop.org/a/12275/9780233006208
'The Second World War' by Antony Beevor - US: bookshop.org/a/99532/9780316023757 / UK: uk.bookshop.org/a/12275/9781780225647
'Inferno: The World at War, 1939-1945' by Max Hastings - US: bookshop.org/a/99532/9780307475534 / UK: uk.bookshop.org/a/12275/9780007450725
'The Storm of War' by Andrew Roberts - US: bookshop.org/a/99532/9780061228605 / UK: uk.bookshop.org/a/12275/9780141029283
-------------------------------------
Support Epic History TV on Patreon from $1 per month, and get perks like ad-free early access & votes on future topics patreon.com/EpicHistoryTV
Or join the ranks of the Grognards with our YouTube memberships youtube.com/channel/UCvPXiKxH-eH9xq-80vpgmKQ/join
👕 Buy posters, t-shirts, hoodies, mugs & stickers at our merch store:
ehtvmerch.com
#EpicHistoryTV #EpicHistory #History #WW2 #WW2history #WorldWar2
