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Putin compared to Hitler as Russia's war on Ukraine echoes 1939 invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany

Though Putin dubs his military action in Ukraine to be 'de-Nazification', global leaders and citizens cannot help but see its uncanny similarities with the Poland invasion

More than 68 years after the end of World War 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced military action in Ukraine late on February 23, 2022. Within hours, the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv, Odessa, and the capital of Kyiv were all reportedly struck by missiles. In his announcement, Putin said the goal of the operation was "demilitarization and de-Nazification of Ukraine." 

However, global citizens are comparing Russia's Ukraine invasion with Germany's Poland invasion in 1939, which triggered World War 2. Dubbed 'Verteidigungskrieg' or the notorious 1939 Defensive War, the war in Poland lasted for a month before Hitler declared the victory of the Nazis. Though Putin dubs his military action in Ukraine to be "de-Nazification", global leaders and citizens cannot help but see its uncanny similarities with the Poland invasion. Many fear that this might eventually trigger World War 3.

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Meanwhile, many Ukrainian residents are attempting to flee the country to Poland as miles of cars can be seen moving out of the capital city of Kyiv.  Unconfirmed sources reveal that roads to Poland are now being blocked by Russian forces, prompting citizens to share cars to reach Hungary. 

Ukrainian resident Anders Ostlund tweeted, "It's very hard to grasp that Russia just launched a WWII style assault on a peaceful neighbor. This is like Hitler's invasion of Poland 1939. Twice the air raid alarm has gone off in Kyiv the last hour. It's surrealistic."

Writer Susan Solomon noted, "Chilling. The Nazis justified the invasion of Poland marking the start of WWII by falsely reporting that Poles were persecuting ethnic Germans. Exactly what Putin is doing now—justifying his invasion of Ukraine by falsely stating that Ukrainians are persecuting ethnic Russians." 

"I can't even make jokes, we are literally watching the 1939 invasion of Poland right now," another user noted. 

Many netizens also drew a comparison between Putin and Hitler as one user said, "Putin is using Hitler’s playbook in his diatribe claiming Ukraine is part of Russia. Hitler said the same thing in Mein Kampf when he insisted Austria should be part of the German motherland. Putin is the new Hitler. He should be dealt with accordingly."

Actor Daniel Coonan tweeted, "Putin is the new Hitler. The whole world needs to stop him."

Another wrote, "September 1, 1939 Hitler attacked Poland. A deranged madman. February 23, 2022 Putin attacked Ukraine. A deranged madman. Will the world act quickly?"

"Putin would never invade Ukraine they said Hitler would never invade Poland they said #Ukraine #Russia," read another haunting tweet. 

"My heart will be with the Ukrainian people against the Russian barbarism, Vladimir Putin is the new Adolf Hitler.❤️🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦❤️," one user asserted.