First-half goals from Lewis Grabban and Gary Alexander fired Millwall to a second successive League One win - and up to seventh in the table.
Grabban got The Lions off to a perfect start with the opener on two minutes providing a clinical finish before Alexander bagged his first goal of the season with Millwall's second six minutes before the break.
Victory was no less than Kenny Jackett's side deserved - and it is a measure of just how topsy-turvy this division is that two straight home victories have propelled The Lions from the wrong end of the table to one place from the Play-Offs.
After an indifferent start to the league campaign, Millwall have now picked up seven points from the last three games. Last season it took nine matches to register eight points, but Jackett's side have reached that tally in just five games to date.
And this success against Hartlepool certainly provided a great base for next weekend's visit to third-placed Leicester City.
Millwall fans barely had time to settle into their seats before they were jumping out of them celebrating the opening goal.
There were just 120 seconds on the clock when Neil Harris flicked on to Grabban, and the young striker showed great composure to bury his second goal in sucessive home games past keeper Arran Lee-Barrett.
Four minutes later a long upfield punt from Tony Craig picked out Alexander on the left. Alexander used great strength to hold off Sam Collins and squeeze in a shot that the keeper did well to hold.
A rasping left-foot drive from Dave Martin flashed inches wide after 28 minutes before Grabban and Alexander nearly conjured another goal seconds later.
But The Lions were not to be denied and when some deft footwork by Grabban ended with Lee-Barrett parrying his shot only as far as Alexander, the number eight stooped to head home from close range.
At the other end Hartlepool were frustrated by a back four in which Paul Robinson and Zak Whitbread were impeccable.
On the one occasion Pools got a sniff of goal, David Forde was quick off his mark to block James Brown's angled effort.
Visiting boss Danny Wilson brought on Alan Power for Michael Nelson at the break, but the visitors were powerless to stop Millwall piling forward in the second half.
Another fine piece of skill by Grabban could have brought a third goal on 57 minutes. Picking up the ball on right, he left full-back Ritchie Humphreys chasing his shadow with a devastating burst of speed before delivering a ball across the face of goal that was inches away from both Alexander and Harris.
Rampaging right-back Chris Hackett's power and pace created an opening for Martin just before the hour-mark, only for the latter's header to lack power and be comfortably held by Lee-Barrett.
Millwall's overall display was worthy of further goals, and when Grabban slipped a neat pass through to Alexander on 86 minutes, the striker's ferocious shot was destined for the top corner until Lee-Barrett stretched every sinew in his fingers to tip the ball over the bar.
Den boss Jackett ensured that Grabban got the standing ovation his excellent performance deserved when he was replaced in injury-time by Ashley Grimes.
By that stage the points were firmly in the bag - and no sooner had Grimes got his first touch in league football for The Lions than referee Bratt blew the final whistle to bring an enjoyable afternoon to a close.

Millwall: Forde, Hackett (Frampton, 81mins), Craig, Fuseini, Robinson, Whitbread, Martin, Abdou, Harris (Brkovic, 60mins), Alexander, Grabban (Grimes, 90+1mins). Subs not used: Edwards, Moore.
Scorers: Grabban 2mins), Alexander (39mins)

Hartlepool United: Lee-Barratt, McCunnie, Humphreys, Nelson (Power, 46mins), Collins, Liddle, Porter, Monkhouse (Barker 68mins), Brown, Sweeney, Robson (Foley, 60mins). Subs not used: Budtz, Mackay.
Bookings: Liddle (50mins), Porter (69mins)

Ref: Steve Bratt
Att: 7,207 (away 237)