By this time World War II had begun following the German invasion of Poland on 1 September. Blaschke had made an attempt to prevent Bieberbach being named by the Reich minister as head of the German delegation, fearing that such an appointment would create trouble with both German and Italian mathematicians.
Oras na ito sa pamamagitan ng World War II had sinimulan ang mga sumusunod na mga German paglusob ng Poland sa Setyembre 1. Blaschke ay ginawa ng isang pagtatangka upang maiwasan ang Bieberbach na pinangalanan ng Reich maglingkod bilang pinuno ng German delegasyon, takot na tulad ng appointment ay gumawa ng mga problema sa parehong Aleman at Italyano mathematicians.