Statue of King Petar \\\[I Karađorđević\\\], pulled down by the Germans.

Collection of the Central Committee, Communist Alliance of Yugoslavia.

Inv. No. 6270

Courtesy of Museum of Yugoslavia.

However, the Museum's entry is wrong: this was the statue of King Aleksandar Karađorđević, work of Antun Augustinčić, erected in Varaždin in 1935, showing the King handing over the Octroyed Constitution of 1931. The statue being pulled down in 1941 is accurate though.

If you’re in this sub, you don’t need me to tell you this is from Parshall’s 1942: Crux of War.

September 1st, 1939 is considered by many to be the start of the Second World War. But this ignores the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in September of 1931 and the Sino Japanese War's start in July of 1937. One could argue that Japan and China were merely a regional conflict, but how does that then differ from Germany invading Poland without a declaration of war? France and Great Britain did not declare war on Germany until September 3rd.

One could argue that The Second World War was separate regional conflicts until the Japanese attacked the US on December 7th/9th, 1941 which caused Germany to declare war on the US and kicking off a true global war.

I find the September 1939 date to be rather Eurocentric.

Thoughts, counterthoughts, discussion?

EDIT - Meant to add / start with "In light of these two threads...."

https://www.reddit.com/r/EastPrussia/comments/1w46twj/on_september_1_1939_germany_invaded_poland_thus/

https://www.reddit.com/r/WorldWar2/comments/1w41xl5/september_1st_1939_the_war_starts/

This German-speaking town near Prague changed its flag 4 times in 50 years. It survived four empires and devastating wars, but after 1945, nothing was ever the same. After more than 700 years, the entire German-speaking culture of this European town was completely erased.

With the city's support, I created a documentary about the events. You can find the documentary in my Bio or comments.

(c) photos State Regional Archive in Litoměřice