GDANSK, Poland: Officials from across Europe and the US gathered in northern Poland yesterday to mark the outbreak of World War II 70 years ago, bringing together former foes to honor the tens of millions killed in the conflict.

Earlier, Polish leaders met at dawn on Gdansk's Westerplatte peninsula to mark the exact time the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein, in the war's opening salvo, shelled a tiny Polish military outpost housing the navy's arsenal.

Red and white Polish flags fluttered as the officials at 4:45 am (0245GMT, 9. 45 am Beijing time) placed wreaths at the foot of the monument to the defenders of Westerplatte. An honor guard looked on.