Hitler leads Wehrmacht parade through occupied Warsaw after city's surrender

In the immediate aftermath of Warsaw's surrender, Adolf Hitler made a sole visit to the occupied capital, arriving by plane and being received by top German commanders such as the commander of the 8th Army. He transferred to an open-top Mercedes and rode through the city in a heavily guarded convoy, passing former Polish landmarks now renamed by the occupiers. The centerpiece of the visit was a two-hour Wehrmacht parade along the royal thoroughfare, featuring foot soldiers, cavalry, motorised units, tanks, artillery, paratroopers and seized Polish tanks.

Civilians were prohibited from leaving their homes or looking out windows under penalty of death, while twelve city leaders, including the mayor, were detained as hostages. A resistance group had prepared explosives to strike the parade, but the attack did not occur, and Hitler left after briefly inspecting the presidential palace before returning to Berlin.