The Day Before the War recounts the little-known events along the German-Polish border on August 31, 1939 that ignited the Second World War in Europe. Germany contrived a series of false flag attacks on German facilities along the frontier using specially-trained SS men dressed as Polish insurgents and soldiers to carry out the attacks. The highlight of these was the German radio station in Gleiwitz (today, Gliwice, Poland) where the rebels would broadcast their message to the world, providing clear evidence of Polish aggression against Germany. The Day Before the War is an ideal length for a quick reading of the origins of World War II in Europe. It is ideal as supplementary reading for high school and college history courses covering World War II and its causes.