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Tension filled the city of Danzig. War was coming. Everyone knew it, but at the same time, hoped that it wouldn't happen.

The German pre dreadnought SMS Schleswig-Holstein sat in the harbor of Danzig. The ship had arrived on a port visit in late August. Unknown to the Polish garrison, German plans had been to start the invasion on August 26th, but the signing of an alliance between Poland and Britain had resulted in Hitler postponing the start of hostilities for several days. Also unknown to the Polish garrison in Danzig was the presense of over 200 German Marines aboard the pre dreadnought.

So things where on September 1st, 1939 at 0448 local time when the Schleswig-Holstein, under the orders of Rear Admiral Gustav Kleikamp opened fire on the Polish positions along the Westerplatte.

To this day nobody knows for sure the cause of what happened next, but the effects would none the less have far reaching consequences. At approximately 0456 local time, an explosion, followed by a massive fireball over 200 feet high erupted from the front of the Schleswig-Holstein. This was followed by a second explosion, one or both likely the result of the ship's main magazine going off. The entire front half of the ship was literally vaporized in the blast, the stern of the ship rolling over and sinking fast. With the ship, over 700 members of her crew, along with over 200 of the German Marines lost their lives, including Rear Admiral Gustav Kleikamp.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Westerplatte
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