Poland marks 80th anniversary of start of WWII

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda, started on Sunday at 4.40am (0240 GMT), the exact hour that, according to survivors, the war's first bombs fell, in a central Polish town, killing civilians.

Wielun: The Presidents of Germany and Poland have opened day-long observances of the 80th anniversary of the start of World War II with a ceremony in a central Polish town that was the first target of Nazi Germany's deadly bombings.

The ceremony in Wielun, attended by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda, started on Sunday at 4.40 am (0240 GMT), the exact hour that, according to survivors, the war's first bombs fell, killing civilians.

Minutes later, observances began at Westerplatte Peninsula, on the Baltic coast, the site of the war's first battle as Polish troops put up resistance.

US Vice President Mike Pence, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and many other leaders will also attend the main event in Warsaw.