NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Invasion of Poland

The Polish September Campaign or Defensive War of 1939 (Polish: Wojna obronna 1939 roku) was the conquest of Poland by the armies of Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small contingent of Slovak forces during the Second World War. The campaign began on 1 September 1939 and ended on 6 October 1939, with Germany and the Soviet Union occupying the entirety of Poland. Neither side - Germany, Western Allies or the Soviet Union - expected that this German invasion of Poland would lead to the war that would surpass the First World War in its scale and cost. This military operation marked the start of the Second World War in Europe, as the invasion led Poland's allies the United Kingdom and France to declare war on Germany on September 3. It was also the first campaign to witness the use of German Blitzkrieg tactics. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... October 6 is the 279th day of the year (280th in Leap years). ... 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Republic of Poland, a democratic country with a population of 38,626,349 and area of 312,685 km², is located in Central Europe, between Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and... The Republic of Poland, a democratic country with a population of 38,626,349 and area of 312,685 km², is located in Central Europe, between Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and... The Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is one of the worlds leading industrialised countries, located in the heart of Europe. ... Soviet Union - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... . Edward Rydz-Śmigły Edward Rydz-Śmigły (born March 11, 1886 in Łapszyn near Brzeżany, Tarnopol Voivodship - died December 2, 1941 in Warsaw), codenames Śmigły, Tarłowski, Adam Zawisza. ... Generalfeldmarschall Fedor von Bock Fedor von Bock (December 3, 1880 - May 4, 1945) was a German field marshal during World War II. He was born in Küstrin, Germany. ... Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt (December 12, 1875 - February 24, 1953) was a Field Marshal of the German Army during World War II. He remains known as one of Germanys best generals, as well as for being apolitical throughout his career. ... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Westerplatte Conflict Polish Defence War of 1939 Date September 1 to September 7, 1939 Place Westerplatte peninsula in Gdańsk Result ? Westerplatte is a peninsula in Gdańsk, at an estuary of the Dead Vistula (one of the Vistula delta estuaries), in the Gdańsk harbour channel. ... Battle of Krojanty Conflict Polish Defence War of 1939 Date September 1, 1939 Place near the village of Krojanty, Pomerania Result Polish victory The Battle of Krojanty was part of the Polish September Campaign. ... In the history of warfare there were several battles fought in the vicinity of the city of Łódź: Battle of Łódź (1914) during World War I Battle of Łódź (1939) during Polish Defence War of 1939 This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might... Battle of Wizna Conflict Polish Defence War of 1939 Date September 7-September 10, 1939 Place Wizna near Poland Result unconcluded Battle of Wizna (sometimes referred to as the Polish Thermopylae) was fought between September 6 and September 10, 1939, between the forces of Poland and Germany during the initial... Battle of Warsaw Conflict Polish Defence War of 1939 Date 8 to September 28, 1939 Place Warsaw, Poland Result Polish defeat The 1939 Battle of Warsaw was fought between the Polish Warsaw Army (Armia Warszawa) garrisoned and entrenched in the capital of Poland (Warsaw) and the German Army. ... Polish Bofors AA gun and a bombed column of Polish Army during the battle Categories: Historical stubs | World War II operations and battles of Poland | Polish battles ... Battle of Kobryń Conflict Polish Defence War of 1939 Date September 14-September 17, 1939 Place Kobryń Result unconcluded Battle of Kobryń was one of the battles of the Polish Defence War of 1939. ... Battle of Brześć Conflict Polish Defence War of 1939 Date September 14-September 17, 1939 Place Fortress of Brześć Result unconcluded Battle of Brześć Litewski (otherwise known as the Siege of Brześć, Battle of Brest-Litovsk or simply Battle of Brześć) was a World War II battle that took place... Battle of Szack Conflict Polish Defence War of 1939 Date September 28, 1939 Place Szack, Poland Result Polish victory Battle of Szack was one of the major battles between the Polish Army and the Red Army fought during the Polish Defence War of 1939. ... Battle of Kock Conflict Polish Defence War of 1939 Date October 2nd - 5th, 1939 Place near Kock, Poland Germany Commanders Franciszek Kleeberg Gustav von Wiedesheim Strength ? ? Casualties 250 KIA unknown The Battle of Kock was the final battle of the Polish September Campaign at the beginning of World War II... Polish (polski, język polski) is the official language of Poland. ... The Republic of Poland, a democratic country with a population of 38,626,349 and area of 312,685 km², is located in Central Europe, between Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... Soviet Union - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Slovak can refer to: Slovaks Slovak language adjective for Slovakia This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... October 6 is the 279th day of the year (280th in Leap years). ... The Western Allies was the alliance of democracies in World War II - in other words, the combined Allies minus the Communist Soviet Union. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... A military or miltary force (n. ... German Führer Adolf Hitler Preceding events (See also Events preceding World War II in Europe and Causes of World War II.) br Germany was in debt after World War I, due to the Great Depression and the forced payments to the victors of World War I. Germans wanted a leader... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent... The French Republic or France (French: République française or France) is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents. ... A Declaration of War is a formal declaration issued by a national government indicating that a state of war exists between that nation, and one or more others. ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years). ... Blitzkrieg relied on close cooperation between infantry and panzers (tanks). ... Tactics is the collective name for methods of winning a small-scale conflict, performing an optimization, etc. ...

Following the German-staged attack on September 1, 1939, at 04:40 hours, German forces invaded Poland's western, southern and northern borders. Polish armies, defending the long borders, were soon forced to withdraw east. After the mid-September Polish defeat in the Battle of Bzura, Germans gained undisputed initiative. Polish forces then begun a withdrawal south-east, following a plan that called for long defence in the Romanian bridgehead area, where the Polish forces were to await expected Western Allies counterattack and relief. On September 17, 1939, the Soviet Red Army invaded the eastern regions of Poland. The Soviets were acting in co-operation with Nazi Germany, carrying out their part of the secret appendix of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (the division of Europe into Nazi and Soviet spheres of influences). In view of the unexpected Soviet agression, Polish government and high command decided that the defence of the Romanian bridgehead was no longer feasible and ordered the evacuation of all troops to neutral Romania. The Gleiwitz incident refers to a staged attack against a German radio station in Gleiwitz (nowadays Gliwice) on the August 31, 1939 night. ... Polish Bofors AA gun and a bombed column of Polish Army during the battle Categories: Historical stubs | World War II operations and battles of Poland | Polish battles ... The Romanian Bridgehead (Polish Przedmoście rumuńskie) was an area in South-Eastern Poland, nowadays located in Ukraine. ... The Western Allies was the alliance of democracies in World War II - in other words, the combined Allies minus the Communist Soviet Union. ... September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... Soviet redirects here. ... Red Army flag The short forms Red Army and RKKA refer to the Workers and Peasants Red Army, (Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия - Raboche-Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya in Russian), the armed forces organised by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War in 1918. ... The name Kresy (Polish for borderlands) (or more correctly Kresy Wschodnie, Eastern Borderlands) is used by Poles to refer to the eastern part of Poland in the inter-war period. ... The Nazi party used a right-facing swastika as their symbol and the red and black colors were said to represent Blut und Boden (blood and soil). ... Molotov (lower left), Ribbentrop (in black) and Stalin (far right) The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, also known as the Hitler-Stalin pact or Nazi-Soviet pact and formally known as the Treaty of Nonaggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, was a non-aggression treaty between Germany and... A government is an organization that has the power to make and enforce laws for a certain territory. ... Romania (formerly spelled Rumania or Roumania; Romanian: România) is a country in southeastern Europe. ...

By the begining of October, Poland's territory was completely overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union. The Polish government, which never surrendered, together with its many of its remaining land and air forces, successfully evacuated to neighboring Romania and Hungary. Many of the evacuees subsequently joined the recreated Polish army in allied France, French-mandated Syria and the United Kingdom. Romania (formerly spelled Rumania or Roumania; Romanian: România) is a country in southeastern Europe. ... The Republic of Hungary (Magyar Köztársaság) or Hungary (Magyarország) is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. ... Polish Army (Polish Wojsko Polskie) is the name applied to the military forces of Poland. ... The French Republic or France (French: République française or France) is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents. ... League of Nations mandates were territories established under Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, 28 June 1919. ... The Syrian Arab Republic or Syria is a country in the Middle East, bordering (from south to north) on Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent...

In the aftermath of the September Campaign, Poland, even under occupation, managed to create a powerful resistance movement and to contribute significant military forces to the Allies for the duration of World War II. The Soviet-occupied areas would later be captured by Germany when she invaded the Soviet Union (June 22, 1941), and recaptured again by the Soviet Union in 1944. Both the German and Soviet occupations were responsible for the death over 20% of Polish's citizens and meant the effective end of the Second Polish Republic. This article covers the Secret State of Poland during World War II. For the earlier secret state in Poland see: January Uprising This article is part of the series: Polish Secret State Categories: Historical stubs | Polish history | World War II resistance movements | National liberation movements ... Poland: First to Fight poster (1939). ... June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 192 days remaining. ... 1941 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Second Polish Republic 1921-1939 The Second Polish Republic is an unofficial name applied to the Republic of Poland between World War I and World War II. When the borders of the state were fixed in 1921, it had an area of 388. ...

Names of the campaign

The campaign is known by several names. The German operational plan was codenamed Fall Weiß (Fall Weiss — "Plan White"). From the German perspective the war is called the "the September Campaign." Polish historians also term it Wojna obronna 1939 roku ("the Defensive War of 1939"). Other names include "Polish-German War of 1939" and "Polish Campaign." See also Fall Weiss (1942) Fall Weiss (German spelling Fall Weiß) was a German strategic plan for a war with Poland prepared before 1939 and put into action on 1 September 1939. ...

Prelude to the campaign

In 1933 the Nazi Party led by Adolf Hitler took power in Germany. Hitler at first ostentatiously pursued a policy of rapprochement with Poland, culminating in the Polish-German Non-Aggression Pact of 1934. But following Germany's annexation of Austria in 1938 and most of Czechoslovakia in 1939 and the contined Allied policy of appeasement, the Nazi regime turned its attention to Poland. Of special concern to Germany was the little known territory called the Polish Corridor. This was a narrow strip of land separating East Prussia from main Germany and allowing access for Poland to the Baltic Sea. This small strip of territory was a continual annoyance for the Germans. In early 1939, Hitler issues orders to prepare for the "solution of the Polish problem by military means" and the German government intensified demands for the annexation of Free City of Danzig, as well as for construction of an extra-territorial road through the Polish Corridor, connecting East Prussia with the rest of Germany. Fall Weiss plan was be ready by April 3. 1933 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Nazi swastika symbol The National Socialist German Workers Party ( German: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei), better known as the NSDAP or the Nazi Party was a political party that was led to power in Germany by Adolf Hitler in 1933. ... Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945), a German politician who was the founder of the Third Reich (1933-1945), is widely regarded as one of the most significant and reviled leaders in world history. ... 1934 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Republic of Austria (German: Republik Österreich) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. ... 1938 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Czechoslovakia (Czech: Československo, Slovak: Česko-Slovensko/before 1990 Československo) was a country in Central Europe that existed from 1918 until 1992 (except for the World War II period). ... 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Appeasement is a strategic maneuver, based on either pragmatism, fear of war, or moral conviction, that leads to acceptance of imposed conditions in lieu of armed resistance. ... A Polish map showing the territory known as the Polish Corridor The Polish Corridor was the name given to a strip of territory which was transferred from Germany to Poland by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. ... East Prussia (German: Ostpreu en; Polish: Prusy Wschodnie; Russian: Восточная Пруссия — Vostochnaya Prussiya) was a province of Kingdom of Prussia, situated on the territory of former Ducal Prussia. ... The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe, bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of east and central Europe, and the Danish islands. ... Napoleonic-era Danzig The Free City of Danzig (French: Ville Libre de Dantzig) was a semi-independent state established by Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars in years 9 September 1807– 22 January 1813/1815. ... A Polish map showing the territory known as the Polish Corridor The Polish Corridor was the name given to a strip of territory which was transferred from Germany to Poland by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. ... East Prussia (German: Ostpreu en; Polish: Prusy Wschodnie; Russian: Восточная Пруссия — Vostochnaya Prussiya) was a province of Kingdom of Prussia, situated on the territory of former Ducal Prussia. ... See also Fall Weiss (1942) Fall Weiss (German spelling Fall Weiß) was a German strategic plan for a war with Poland prepared before 1939 and put into action on 1 September 1939. ... April 3 is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 272 days remaining. ...

Hitler and most of his advisors expected Polish government to yield to those demands, as many other governments have done before. However the Polish government rejected these demands, and were backed on March 30 by guarantees from Britain and France, now concerned at German expansionism. The government of the United Kingdom pledged to defend Poland, in the event of a German attack, and Romania in case of other threats. However, the British “guarantee” of Poland was not complete, and it adressed only of Polish independence, and pointly excluded Polish territorial integrity. This further encouraged Hitler, who believed that Britain and France would be unwilling to take any military action. On April 28 Germany withdraws from both the Polish-German Non-Aggression Pact of 1934 and the London Naval Agreement of 1935. March 30 is the 89th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (90th in Leap years). ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent... The French Republic or France (French: République française or France) is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents. ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent... Romania (formerly spelled Rumania or Roumania; Romanian: România) is a country in southeastern Europe. ...

The basic goal of British foreign policy between 1919-1939 was to prevent another world war by a mixture of “carrot and stick”. The “stick” in this case was the “guarantee” of March 1939, which was intended to prevent Germany from attacking either Poland or Rumania. At the same time, the Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and his Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax hoped to offer a “carrot” to Hitler in the form of another Munich type deal that would see the Free City of Danzig and the Polish Corridor returned to Germany in exchange for a promise by Hitler to leave the rest of Poland alone. Arthur Neville Chamberlain (18 March 1869 - 9 November 1940) was a British politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1937 - 1940. ... Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax, known as Lord Irwin from 1926 until 1934, (1881-1959) was a British Conservative politician. ... Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945), a German politician who was the founder of the Third Reich (1933-1945), is widely regarded as one of the most significant and reviled leaders in world history. ... The Munich Agreement was an agreement regarding the Munich Crisis between the major powers of Europe after a conference held in Munich in Germany in 1938 and concluded on September 29. ... Napoleonic-era Danzig The Free City of Danzig (French: Ville Libre de Dantzig) was a semi-independent state established by Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars in years 9 September 1807– 22 January 1813/1815. ... A Polish map showing the territory known as the Polish Corridor The Polish Corridor was the name given to a strip of territory which was transferred from Germany to Poland by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. ...

This declaration was further amended in April, when Poland's minister of foreign affairs Colonel Józef Beck met with Neville Chamberlain and Lord Halifax. In the aftermath of the talks a mutual assistance treaty was signed. On August 25 the Polish-British Common Defence Pact was signed as an annex to Polish-French alliance. Like the “guarantee” of March 30, the Anglo-Polish alliance committed Britain only to the defence of Polish independence. It was clearly aimed against German aggression. In case of war United Kingdom was to start hostilities as soon as possible; initially helping Poland with air raids against the German war industry, and joining the struggle on land as soon as the British Expeditionary Corps arrives to France. In addition, a military credit was granted and armament was to reach Polish or Romanian ports in early autumn. Józef Beck Józef Beck ( October 4, 1894 - June 5, 1944) was a Polish statesman, diplomat, military officer, and close associate of Józef Piłsudski. ... Arthur Neville Chamberlain (18 March 1869 - 9 November 1940) was a British politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1937 - 1940. ... Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax, known as Lord Irwin from 1926 until 1934, (1881-1959) was a British Conservative politician. ... August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ...

However, both British and French governments had other plans than fulfilling the treaties with Poland. On May 4, 1939, a meeting was held in Paris, at which it was decided that the fate of Poland depends on the final outcome of the war, which will depend on our ability to defeat Germany rather than to aid Poland at the beginning. Poland's government was not notified of this decision, and the Polish–British talks in London were continued. Also in May 1939, Poland signed a secret protocol to the alliance with France (existing from 1921), in which was agreed that France would grant her eastern ally a military credit as soon as possible. In case of war with Germany, France promised to start minor land and air military operations at once, and to start a major offensive (with the majority of its forces) not later than 15 days after the declaration of war. A full military alliance treaty between Poland and Great Britain was ready to be signed on August 22, but His Majesty's government postponed the signing until August 25, 1939. May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). ... 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Eiffel Tower has become the symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... Greater London and the Regions of England. ... 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1921 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... A Declaration of War is a formal declaration issued by a national government indicating that a state of war exists between that nation, and one or more others. ... August 22 is the 234th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (235th in leap years), with 131 days remaining. ... August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

At the same time secret German-Soviet talks were held in Moscow which resulted in signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact on August 22. The full text of the treaty, including the secret protocol assuming a partition of Poland and Soviet military help to Germany in case of war, was known to the British government thanks to Hans von Herwarth, an American agent in the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Yet, Poland's government was not informed of this fact either. Soviet redirects here. ... Saint Basils Cathedral Moscow listen? ( Russian/Cyrillic: Москва́, pronunciation: Moskva), capital of Russia, located on the river Moskva, and encompassing 1097. ... Molotov (lower left), Ribbentrop (in black) and Stalin (far right) The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, also known as the Hitler-Stalin pact or Nazi-Soviet pact and formally known as the Treaty of Nonaggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, was a non-aggression treaty between Germany and... August 22 is the 234th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (235th in leap years), with 131 days remaining. ... Hans Heinrich Herwarth von Bittenfeld (Berlin July 14, 1904 - Küps August 21, 1999), also known as Johnnie or Johann von Herwarth, was a German diplomat. ... Spy and secret agent redirect here; for alternate use, see Spy (disambiguation) and Secret agent (disambiguation). ...

The German assault was originally scheduled to begin on 0400 of August 26th. However, on August 25th, Britain announced that her guarantee of Polish independence had been formalized by an alliance between the two countries. Hitler wavered and postponed his attack to September 1, while trying on 26th of August to dissuade the British and the French from interfering in the eventual conflict. The negotiations convince Hitler that there is little chance the Western Allies would declare war on him, and even it this event, due to the lack of territorial guarantees to Poland they would be willing to negotiate a compromise favourable to Germany after its conquest of Poland. Meanwhile, the number of cross-border raids and sabotages by German Abwehr units, border skirmishes and overflights by high altitude reconnaissance aircraft increase, signalling to the Poles that war is imminent. The Abwehr was the common name for the German military foreign information and counterintelligence department, during both World War I and World War II. Abwehr is a German word, which is commonly translated to the English defence. The head of the Abwehr during World War II was Admiral Wilhelm Canaris. ...

On August 29 Germany issues a final ultimatum to Poland, demanding the Polish Corridor, which the Poles refuse to consider. German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop declares negotiations with Poland to be at an end. The Polish forces brace for war. On August 30 the Polish Navy sends its destroyer flotilla to Britain to avoid destruction by overwhelming German Navy (Kriegsmarine) on the small Baltic Sea. On the same day, Polish Marshal Rydz-Smigly announces mobilization of Polish troops for war but is pressured into revoking the order by the French, who still hope for diplomatic settelment and fail to realize that the Germans are fully mobilized and concentrated at the Polish border. An ultimatum is a final demand made without intent of negotiation. ... A Polish map showing the territory known as the Polish Corridor The Polish Corridor was the name given to a strip of territory which was transferred from Germany to Poland by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. ... Joachim von Ribbentrop Joachim von Ribbentrop (born Joachim Ribbentrop) (April 30, 1893–October 16, 1946) was Foreign Minister of Germany from 1938 until 1945. ... War ensign of the Polish Navy Flag of the Polish Navy Jack of the Polish Navy The Polish Navy (Polska Marynarka Wojenna, PMW) is the Navy of Poland. ... The Kriegsmarine or War Navy was the name of the German Navy between 1935 and 1945, during the Nazi reign. ... The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe, bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of east and central Europe, and the Danish islands. ... Mobilization (or mobilisation in British English) is the act of assembling and making both troops and supplies ready for war. ...

Details of the campaign

September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Phase 1: German aggression

Following a number of German-staged incidents (Operation Himmler), which gave Germany propaganda the reason to claim they were acting in self-defense, the first regular act of war took place on September 1, 1939, at 04:40 hours, when Germany's Luftwaffe (air force) attacked the Polish town of Wieluń, destroying 75% of the city and killing close to 1,200 people, most of them civilians. Five minutes later, at 04:45 hours, the old German battleship Schleswig-Holstein opened fire on the Polish enclave of Westerplatte at Free City of Gdańsk on the Baltic Sea. At 08:00 hours, German troops, still with no formal declaratio of war issued, attacked Poland near the town of Mokra. Later that day, the Germans opened fronts along Poland's western, southern and northern borders, while German aircraft began raids on Polish cities. Main routes of attack led eastwards, from Germany mainland through western Polish border. Supporting attacks were carried by the second route of attack from northern Prusy region and a tertiary attack by German and allied Slovak units (Army "Bernolak") from the territory of German-allied Slovakia. All three assaults were converged on the Polish captial of Warsaw, The Gleiwitz incident refers to a staged attack against a German radio station in Gleiwitz (nowadays Gliwice) on the August 31, 1939 night. ... North Korean propaganda showing a soldier destroying the United States Capitol building. ... Self-defense usually refers to the use of violence to protect oneself and is a possible justification for this otherwise illegal act. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Luftwaffe (literally, air weapon, pronounced looft-vaaf-feh) is the air force of Germany. ... Wieluń is a town in central Poland with 25,500 inhabitants (1995). ... This article is about a battleship as a type of warship. ... Schleswig-Holstein, a German battleship, started World War II by firing at the Polish base at Westerplatte on 1 September 1939. ... Westerplatte Conflict Polish Defence War of 1939 Date September 1 to September 7, 1939 Place Westerplatte peninsula in Gdańsk Result ? Westerplatte is a peninsula in Gdańsk, at an estuary of the Dead Vistula (one of the Vistula delta estuaries), in the Gdańsk harbour channel. ... Napoleonic-era Danzig The Free City of Danzig (French: Ville Libre de Dantzig) was a semi-independent state established by Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars in years 9 September 1807– 22 January 1813/1815. ... The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe, bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of east and central Europe, and the Danish islands. ... The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1701-1918 The word Prussia (German: Preußen or Preussen, Polish: Prusy, Lithuanian: Prusai, Latin: Borussia) has had various (often contradictory) meanings: The land of the Baltic Prussians (in what is now parts of southern Lithuania, the Kaliningrad exclave of Russia and... Slovak can refer to: Slovaks Slovak language adjective for Slovakia This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... National motto: None Official language Slovak Capital Bratislava President Ivan Gašparovič Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda Area - Total - % water Ranked 126th 49,035 km² Negligible Population - Total (2004) - Density Ranked 103rd 5,379,455 109/km² Independence January 1, 1993 (division of Czechoslovakia) Currency Slovak koruna Time zone - in summer CET... Warsaw ( Polish: Warszawa, see also other names, in full The Capital City of Warsaw, Polish: Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa) is the capital of Poland and its largest city. ...

In the meantime, the Allied governments declared war on Germany on September 3. However, they failed to provide any meaningful support to Poland. Despite some Polish successes in minor border battles, German technical, operational and numerical superiority forced the Polish armies to withdraw from the borders, towards Warsaw and Lwów. Regions of Pomerania, Wielkopolska and Silesia were abandoned by Polish forces in the first week of the campaign, after the seires of battles known as the battle of the border. Warsaw, under heavy aerial bombardment from the first hours of the war, was first attacked on 9 September and was put under siege from September 13. Around that time advanced German forces have also reached the city of Lwów, a major metropiis of the eastern Poland. Schleswig-Holstein, a German battleship, started World War II by firing at the Polish base at Westerplatte on 1 September 1939. ... The Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is one of the worlds leading industrialised countries, located in the heart of Europe. ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years). ... Western betrayal is a concept, particularly popular among several Central European nations (including Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia). ... Warsaw ( Polish: Warszawa, see also other names, in full The Capital City of Warsaw, Polish: Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa) is the capital of Poland and its largest city. ... Lviv coat of arms Motto: Semper fidelis Municipal government City council (Львівська міська рада) Mayor City chairman Lyubomyr Bunyak Area 171,01 km² Population total 2000 density 808,900 4786/km² Founded city rights 13th century 1353 Area code + 0322 Latitude Longitude 49°51′ N 24°01′ E Twin towns... Pomerania (Polish: Pomorze, German: Pommern and Pommerellen, Pomeranian (Kashubian): Pòmòrze and Pòmòrskô, Latin: Pomerania, Pomorania) is a geographical and historical region in northern Poland and Germany on the south coasts of the Baltic Sea between and on both sides of the Vistula and Oder (Odra) rivers, reaching the Reknitz river... Greater Poland (also Great Poland; Polish: Wielkopolska, German: Grosspolen, Latin: Polonia Maior) is one of the historical regions of Poland. ... Please be advised that the factual accuracy of Wikipedia articles dealing with topics related to the Oder-Neisse Line is often disputed. ... Warsaw ( Polish: Warszawa, see also other names, in full The Capital City of Warsaw, Polish: Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa) is the capital of Poland and its largest city. ... Battle of Warsaw Conflict Polish Defence War of 1939 Date 8 to September 28, 1939 Place Warsaw, Poland Result Polish defeat The 1939 Battle of Warsaw was fought between the Polish Warsaw Army (Armia Warszawa) garrisoned and entrenched in the capital of Poland (Warsaw) and the German Army. ... September 13 is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years). ... Lviv coat of arms Motto: Semper fidelis Municipal government City council (Львівська міська рада) Mayor City chairman Lyubomyr Bunyak Area 171,01 km² Population total 2000 density 808,900 4786/km² Founded city rights 13th century 1353 Area code + 0322 Latitude Longitude 49°51′ N 24°01′ E Twin towns...

The largest battle during this campaign (Battle of Bzura) took place near the Bzura river west of Warsaw from 9 September to 18 September, when Polish armies "Poznań" i "Pomorze", retreating from the border areas, attacked the flank of the advancing German 8th army. This Polish attempt at a counter-attackwhich failed after an initial success. Polish defated in this battle marked the effective end of the Polish ability to take initative and counterattack in the large scale. Polish government (of president Ignacy Mościcki) and high command (of General Edward Rydz-Śmigły had left Warsaw in the first days of the campaign and headed south-east, arriving in Brześć on 6th September. General Rydz-Śmigły ordered the Polish forces to reatreat in the same direction, behind the Vistula and San rivers, begining the preparations for the long defence of the Romanian bridgehead area. Polish Bofors AA gun and a bombed column of Polish Army during the battle Categories: Historical stubs | World War II operations and battles of Poland | Polish battles ... Bzura is a river in central Poland, a tributary of the Vistula river (in Wyszogrod), with a length of 166 kilometres (25th longest) and the basin area of 7,788 sq. ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... . Edward Rydz-Śmigły Edward Rydz-Śmigły (born March 11, 1886 in Łapszyn near Brzeżany, Tarnopol Voivodship - died December 2, 1941 in Warsaw), codenames Śmigły, Tarłowski, Adam Zawisza. ... Brest is the name of several cities: City in Belarus: Brest, Belarus, formerly in Russia and the Soviet Union and formerly known as Brest-Litovsk. ... Vistula river basin Vistula ( Polish Wisła, German Weichsel) is the longest river in Poland. ... San (or santo) is the Spanish word for saint, as in San Francisco (Saint Francis) and San Diego. ... The Romanian Bridgehead (Polish Przedmoście rumuńskie) was an area in South-Eastern Poland, nowadays located in Ukraine. ...

German infantry during its failed assault on Wola, a borough of Warsaw on September 9, 1939 This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... German infantry during its failed assault on Wola, a borough of Warsaw on September 9, 1939 This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Sowiński defending Wola during the November Uprising Wola is a district of western Warsaw, Poland, formerly the village of Wielka Wola, that was incorporated into Warsaw in 1916. ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ...

Phase 2: Soviet aggression

In September 17, 1939, the Soviet Red Army, divided into the Bielorussian and Ukrainian fronts, invaded the eastern regions of Poland that had not yet been involved in military operations. While the Soviet diplomacy claimed that they were 'protecting the Ukrainian and Belorussian minorities inhabiting Poland in view of Polish imminent collapse', in fact they were acting in co-operation with Nazi Germany, carrying out their part of a secret deal (the division of Europe into Nazi and Soviet spheres of influences, as specified in the secret appendix of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact). Polish border defences forces (Korpus Ochrony Pogranicza) in the east, (about 25 battalions) were unable to defend the border and were further ordered by Edward Rydz-Śmig ly to fall back and not to engage the Soviets. This however did not prevent some clashes and small battles. September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years). ... 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Chicago (officially named the City of Chicago) is the third largest city in the United States (after New York City and Los Angeles), with an official population of 2,896,016, as of the 2000 census. ... September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... Red Army flag The short forms Red Army and RKKA refer to the Workers and Peasants Red Army, (Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия - Raboche-Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya in Russian), the armed forces organised by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War in 1918. ... Front was a major military subdivision of the Soviet Army, not to be mistaken with the more general term of a military front. ... The name Kresy (Polish for borderlands) (or more correctly Kresy Wschodnie, Eastern Borderlands) is used by Poles to refer to the eastern part of Poland in the inter-war period. ... Ukrainian is: Ukrainian language a person of Ukrainian ethnicity adjective for Ukraine This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Belarusian can refer to: the Belarusian language the Belarusian people adjective for Belarus This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Nazi party used a right-facing swastika as their symbol and the red and black colors were said to represent Blut und Boden (blood and soil). ... Molotov (lower left), Ribbentrop (in black) and Stalin (far right) The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, also known as the Hitler-Stalin pact or Nazi-Soviet pact and formally known as the Treaty of Nonaggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, was a non-aggression treaty between Germany and... Border Defence Corps (Polish Korpus Ochrony Pogranicza, KOP) was a Polish military unit created in 1924 for defence of the eastern border against armed Soviet raids and local bandits. ...

The Soviet invasion was one of the decisive factors that convinced the Polish government that the war in Polish territory was lost. Prior to the Soviet attack from the East, the Polish military plan called for long-term defence against Germany in the southern-eastern part of Poland (near the Romanian border), while awaiting relief from an attack on the western border with Germany by the Western Allies. Facing two powerful enemies--Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union--the Polish government decided that it was impossible to carry out the defence on Polish territories. However it refused to surrender or negotiate for peace with the Germany and ordered all units to evacuate Poland and reorganize in France. Romania (formerly spelled Rumania or Roumania; Romanian: România) is a country in southeastern Europe. ...

Meanwhile, Polish forces trying to move towards the Romanian bridgehead area, still actively resisted the German invasion. During 17-20 September the Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski, second biggest battle of the campaign took place. Despite a series of intensifing German attacks, Warsaw, defended by quickly reorganised retreating units, civilian volunteers and milita held out until its capitulation on 28 September. The Modlin Fortress north of Warsaw, capitulated on 29 September, after intense 16-days battle. Some isolated Polish garrisons managed to hold their positons long after being sourrounded by German forces. Westerplatte enclave tiny garrison capitulated on 7 September. Oksywie garrison held until the 19th September. Polish defenders on the Hel peninsula on the shore of the Baltic Sea held out until 2 October. The capitulation of the last operational unit of the Polish army, the Samodzielna Grupa Operacyjna "Polesie" of General Franciszek Kleeberg after a 4-day Battle of Kock near Lublin on 6 October, marked the end of the September Campaign. German bombers over Warsaw during the Siege of Warsaw (1939), author unknown, taken from the German Wehrmacht propaganda newspaper Signal, This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... German bombers over Warsaw during the Siege of Warsaw (1939), author unknown, taken from the German Wehrmacht propaganda newspaper Signal, This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (980x1102, 509 KB)Map of Polish September Campaign entitled Poland Collapse from The Time newspaper 1939 September 25. ... Download high resolution version (980x1102, 509 KB)Map of Polish September Campaign entitled Poland Collapse from The Time newspaper 1939 September 25. ... The Times is a national quality daily newspaper in the United Kingdom. ... September 28 is the 271st day of the year (272nd in leap years). ... Modlin Fortress (Polish Twierdza Modlin) is one of the biggest 19th century fortresses in Poland. ... September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years). ... September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ... (Redirected from 19th September) September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years). ... Hel Peninsula as seen from Landsat satellite in 2000 Hel Peninsula (Polish Mierzeja Helska) is a 35 km long and sand-bar peninsula in northern Poland separating the Bay of Puck from the open Baltic Sea. ... The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe, bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of east and central Europe, and the Danish islands. ... October 2nd is the 275th day (276th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 90 days remaining. ... Independent Operational Group Polesie (Samodzielna Grupa Operacyjna Polesie, SGO Polesie) was one of the Polish Army Corps that took part in the Polish Defence War of 1939. ... Battle of Kock Conflict Polish Defence War of 1939 Date October 2nd - 5th, 1939 Place near Kock, Poland Germany Commanders Franciszek Kleeberg Gustav von Wiedesheim Strength ? ? Casualties 250 KIA unknown The Battle of Kock was the final battle of the Polish September Campaign at the beginning of World War II... Lublin (pronounce: [lublin]) is the biggest city in eastern Poland and the capital of Lublin Voivodship with a population of 355,954 (2004). ... October 6 is the 279th day of the year (280th in Leap years). ...

Important battles

Polish Bofors AA gun and a bombed column of Polish Army during the battle Categories: Historical stubs | World War II operations and battles of Poland | Polish battles ... Battle of Warsaw Conflict Polish Defence War of 1939 Date 8 to September 28, 1939 Place Warsaw, Poland Result Polish defeat The 1939 Battle of Warsaw was fought between the Poland (Warsaw) and the German Army. ... Battle of Kock Conflict Polish Defence War of 1939 Date October 2nd - 5th, 1939 Place near Kock, Poland Germany Commanders Franciszek Kleeberg Gustav von Wiedesheim Strength ? ? Casualties 250 KIA unknown The Battle of Kock was the final battle of the Polish September Campaign at the beginning of World War II...

Aftermath

At the end of the September Campaign, Poland was divided among Nazi Germany, Soviet Union, Lithuania and Slovakia. Nazi Germany annexed parts of Poland, while the rest was governed by the so-called General Government. Neither side - Germany, Western Allies or the Soviet Union - expected that the German invasion of Poland would lead to the war that would surpass the First World War in its scale and cost. Hitler didn't want to attack west, not in the 1939. German war machine was not yet ready. It would be months before Hitler would see the futility of his peace negotiation attempts with Great Britain it France. Years before the war would be joined by the Japan, Soviet Union and the United States and became truly the 'world war'. Nonetheless, what was not visible to most politicians and generals in 1939, is clear from the historical perspective. The Polish September Campaign marked the begining of the Second World War in Europe, which combined with the Pacific War in 1941 would form the conflict known as Second World War. Download high resolution version (1285x812, 152 KB)German troops parade through Warsaw, Poland on October 5, 1939. ... Download high resolution version (1285x812, 152 KB)German troops parade through Warsaw, Poland on October 5, 1939. ... October 5 is the 278th day of the year (279th in Leap years). ... 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Wehrmacht (literally defence force or means/power of resistance) was the name of the armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945. ... Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945), a German politician who was the founder of the Third Reich (1933-1945), is widely regarded as one of the most significant and reviled leaders in world history. ... Warsaw University (Polish Uniwersytet Warszawski) - the biggest and one of the most prestigious universities in Poland. ... The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... Soviet Union - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... The Republic of Lithuania (in Lithuanian, Lietuva) is a republic in Northeastern Europe. ... National motto: None Official language Slovak Capital Bratislava President Ivan Gašparovič Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda Area - Total - % water Ranked 126th 49,035 km² Negligible Population - Total (2004) - Density Ranked 103rd 5,379,455 109/km² Independence January 1, 1993 (division of Czechoslovakia) Currency Slovak koruna Time zone - in summer CET... The General Government (in full General government for the occupied Polish areas, in German Generalgouvernement für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete) was the name given by Germany to the governing authority in Poland after its occupation by the Wehrmacht in September and October 1939. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... Official language Japanese Capital Tokyo Largest City Tokyo Emperor Akihito Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Area - Total - % water Ranked 60th 377,835 km² 0. ... Soviet Union - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... The United States of America — also referred to as the United States, the U.S.A., the U.S., America, the States, or (archaically) Columbia—is a federal republic of 50 states located primarily in central North America (with the exception of two states: Alaska and Hawaii). ... German Führer Adolf Hitler Preceding events (See also Events preceding World War II in Europe and Causes of World War II.) br Germany was in debt after World War I, due to the Great Depression and the forced payments to the victors of World War I. Germans wanted a leader... The Pacific War (1937–1945) is not to be confused with the War of the Pacific (1879–1884) in South America. ... 1941 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ...

About 65,000 Polish troops were killed and 680,000 were captured by the Germans (420,000) or Soviets (240,000). Up to 120,000 Polish troops withdrew to neutral Romania (through the Romanian Bridgehead) and Hungary and 20,000 to Latvia and Lithuania, with the majority eventually making their way to France or Britain. Most of the Polish Navy succeeded in evacuating to Britain as well. Romania (formerly spelled Rumania or Roumania; Romanian: România) is a country in southeastern Europe. ... The Romanian Bridgehead (Polish Przedmoście rumuńskie) was an area in South-Eastern Poland, nowadays located in Ukraine. ... The Republic of Hungary (Magyar Köztársaság) or Hungary (Magyarország) is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. ... The Republic of Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas Republika), or Latvia (Latvian: Latvija), is a country in Northern Europe. ... The Republic of Lithuania (in Lithuanian, Lietuva) is a republic in Northeastern Europe. ... War ensign of the Polish Navy Flag of the Polish Navy Jack of the Polish Navy The Polish Navy (Polska Marynarka Wojenna, PMW) is the Navy of Poland. ...

The invasion of Poland led to Britain and France declaring war on Germany on September 3, however they did little to affect the outcome of the September Campaign. This lack of direct help during September 1939 led many Poles to believe that they had been betrayed by their Western allies. In the meantime Poland, fulfilling her alliance obligations, did not surrender in 1939, but rather set up a government-in-exile (see Polish Government in Exile) in France (later in the United Kingdom) connected to the extensive underground civil and military organisation (Polish Secret State) as legal successors to their pre-1939 government. During the German occupation, the Poles continued their struggle as one of the most restive and organised populations under Nazi rule. Until the United States and Soviet Union entered the war, Poland, even with its territories occupied, had the third biggest army at the Western Allies' disposal. The Republic of Poland, a democratic country with a population of 38,626,349 and area of 312,685 km², is located in Central Europe, between Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent... The French Republic or France (French: République française or France) is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents. ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years). ... Western betrayal is a concept, particularly popular among several Central European nations (including Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia). ... Poland: First to Fight poster (1939). ... A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a countrys legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. ... The Government of the Polish Republic in exile maintained a continuous existence in exile from the time of the German occupation of Poland in September 1939 until the end of the Communist rule in Poland in 1990. ... The underground is sometimes a nickname for a resistance movement: the underground is also a common name for World War II resistance movements. ... A civil servant or public servant is a civilian career public-sector employee working for a government department or agency. ... A military or miltary force (n. ... Alternative meaning: Organisation (band). ... This article covers the Secret State of Poland during World War II. For the earlier secret state in Poland see: January Uprising This article is part of the series: Polish Secret State Categories: Historical stubs | Polish history | World War II resistance movements | National liberation movements ... The Western Allies was the alliance of democracies in World War II - in other words, the combined Allies minus the Communist Soviet Union. ...

The Polish campaign was important as the first step in Hitler's drive for "living space" for Germans in Eastern Europe, and as the blitzkrieg decimated urban residential areas, civilians soon became indistinguishable from combatants. The forthcoming Nazi occupation (General Government, Reichsgau Wartheland) was one of the most brutal episodes of World War II, resulting in over 6 million Polish deaths (over 20% of country's inhabitants), including the mass murder of 3 million Polish Jews in extermination camps like Auschwitz. Soviet occupation, while shorter, also resulted in millions of deaths, when all who were deemed dangerous to the communist regime were subject to Sovietization, forced resettlement, imprisonment in labour camps (the Gulags) or simply murdered, like Polish officers in the Katyn massacre. Soviet atrocities commenced again after Poland was 'liberated' by the Red Army in 1944, with events like the persecutions of Armia Krajowa soldiers and executions of their leaders. The General Government (in full General government for the occupied Polish areas, in German Generalgouvernement für die besetzten polnischen Gebiete) was the name given by Germany to the governing authority in Poland after its occupation by the Wehrmacht in September and October 1939. ... Reichsgau Wartheland (initially Reichsgau Posen) was the name given by Nazis to the territory of Greater Poland which was occupied, annexed and directly incorporated into the German Reich after defeating the Polish army in 1939 (as opposed to the General Government, GG). ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination of these attributes. ... Majdanek - crematorium Extermination camp (German Vernichtungslager) was the term applied to a group of camps set up by Nazi Germany during World War II for the express purpose of killing the Jews of Europe, although members of some other groups whom the Nazis wished to exterminate, such as Roma (Gypsies... Auschwitz, in English, commonly refers to the Auschwitz concentration camp complex built near the town of Oświęcim, by Nazi Germany during World War II. Rarely, it may refer to the Polish town of Oświęcim (called by the Germans Auschwitz) itself. ... Communism - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... This article is about the political term. ... Gulag (from the Russian ГУЛАГ: Главное Управление Исправительно— Трудовых Лагерей, Glavnoye Upravleniye Ispravitelno-trudovykh Lagerey, The Chief Directorate [or Administration] of Corrective Labour Camps) was the branch of the Soviet internal police and security service that operated the penal system of forced labour camps and associated detention and transit camps... The Katyń Forest Massacre, also known as the Katyn massacre, was the mass execution of Polish citizens by the Soviet Union during World War II. Initially, the expression referred to the massacre of the Polish officers from the Kozielsk POW camp in Katyn forest near the village of Gnezdovo, a... 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... For other meanings of Home Army see: Home Army (disambiguation) The Armia Krajowa or AK (Home Army) functioned as the pre-eminent underground military organization in German-occupied Poland, which functioned in all areas of the country from September 1939 until its disbanding in January 1945. ...

Polish army equipment and tactics

Economic base

Between 1936 and 1939, Poland invested heavily in industrialization of the Centralny Okręg Przemysłowy, chosen for being reasonably far from both the Soviet and German frontiers. That heavy spending on military industry pushed much of the spending on actual weapons into 1940 - 42. Poland had been preparing for defensive war for many years, however most plans assumed German aggression would not happen before 1942. Polish military industry development and fortifications were scheduled to be completed in that year, and newer tanks and aircraft were just entering production or would shortly.

The French loaned Poland 2.6 billion francs over a 5 year period starting in September 1936. That added 12% to the annual Polish military budget. The Polish defense budget for 1938-39 was 800 million złoty, of which: The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ...

To raise funds for the industrial development, Poland was selling much of the modern equipment it produced: for example, anti-tank guns were sold to Britain, and planes were exported to Greece.

Polish plan

The Polish defence plan was shaped by the politicians' determination to deploy directly at the front. With the most valuable natural resources, industry and highly populated regions near the western border (Silesia region), Polish policy was centered on protection of those regions, especially as many politicians feared that if Poland should retreat from the regions disputed by Germany (like the Gdansk corridor, cause of the famous 'Danzig or War' ultimatum), Britain and France would sign a separate peace with Germany, similar to the Munich Agreement of 1938, especially as none of those countries specifically guaranteed Polish borders and territorial integrity. On that grounds French advice to Poland to deploy bulk of Polish forces behind Vistula river was disregarded, even though it was supported as a reasonable strategy by some Polish generals. A front, in addition to its common dictionary meanings, may specifically refer to: a weather front, a boundary of two airmasses a military front, an area where armies are engaged in conflict a Front (Soviet Army), a major military subdivision of the Soviet Army a front organization or front company... Please be advised that the factual accuracy of Wikipedia articles dealing with topics related to the Oder-Neisse Line is often disputed. ... A Polish map showing the territory known as the Polish Corridor The Polish Corridor was the name given to a strip of territory which was transferred from Germany to Poland by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. ... The Munich Agreement was an agreement regarding the Munich Crisis between the major powers of Europe after a conference held in Munich in Germany in 1938 and concluded on September 29. ... 1938 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The plan to defend the borders contributed vastly to the Polish defeat, as during the September campaign Polish forces were stretched thin on the very long border, and lacking compact defence lines and good defence positions, were often encircled by the mobile German forces. The Polish army had a fall-back plan, involving retreat to the southeastern voviodships (the Romanian bridgehead plan). The UK and France estimated that Poland should be able to defend that region for 2-3 months, while Poles estimated they could hold it for at least 6 months. This Polish plan was based around the expectation that Western Allies would keep their end of the signed alliance treaty and quickly start an offensive of their own. However, neither the French nor the British government had made plans to attack Germany while the Polish campaign was fought. Their plans were based on the experiences of the First World War and they expected to wear down Germany in trench warfare, eventually forcing Germany to sign a peace treaty and restore Polish independence. The Polish government, however, was not notified of this strategy and based all of its defence plans on the expectation of a quick relief action by their Western Allies. However, the Polish plan for Romanian Bridgehead defence was rendered obsolete overnight by the unexpected attack by the Soviet Union. Although the secret appendix of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact about the Soviet alliance with Nazi Germany and their policy towards Poland had been uncovered by the Western Allies' intelligence, it was never shared with Poland. The Romanian Bridgehead (Polish Przedmoście rumuńskie) was an area in South-Eastern Poland, nowadays located in Ukraine. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... Trench warfare is a form of war in which both opposing armies have static lines of fortifications dug into the ground, facing each other. ... Molotov (lower left), Ribbentrop (in black) and Stalin (far right) The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, also known as the Hitler-Stalin pact or Nazi-Soviet pact and formally known as the Treaty of Nonaggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, was a non-aggression treaty between Germany and...

The political decision to defend the border was not the only strategic mistake of the Polish high command. Polish pre-war propaganda stated that any German invasion would be easily repelled, so that the eventual Polish defeats in the September campaign came as a shock to many civilians, who, unprepared for such news and with no training for such an event, panicked and retreated east, spreading chaos, lowering troop morale and making road transportation for Polish troops very difficult. The propaganda also had some negative consequences on Polish troops themselves, whose communications, disrupted by German mobile units operating in the rear and civilians blocking roads, was further thrown in chaos by the bizarre reports from Polish radio stations and newspapers, which often reported imaginary victories and other military operations. This led to some Polish troops being encircled or taking a stand against overwhelming odds, when they thought they were actually counterattacking or would receive reinforcements from other victorious areas soon. North Korean propaganda showing a soldier destroying the United States Capitol building. ...

Polish Army

The Polish army was fairly strong in numbers (~1 million soldiers), but many of them were not mobilised by the 1st September, as the Polish government, advised in this by the British and French governments, constantly hoped that the war could be resolved (at least, for the time being) by diplomatic channels. Less than half of the Polish armed forces had been mobilized by 1 September, and only one-quarter (600,000) were fully equipped and in assigned positions when hostilities commenced. Thus many soldiers, mobilised after 1st September, failed to reach the designated staging areas, and, together with normal civilians, sustained significant casualties when public transport (trains and roads filled with refugees) became targets of the German air force. Polish Bofors AA gun and a bombed column of Polish Army during the Battle of Bzura This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Polish Bofors AA gun and a bombed column of Polish Army during the Battle of Bzura This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Polish Bofors AA gun and a bombed column of Polish Army during the battle Categories: Historical stubs | World War II operations and battles of Poland | Polish battles ... Mobilization (or mobilisation in British English) is the act of assembling and making both troops and supplies ready for war. ...

Poland possessed numerically inferior armoured forces. Polish units were dispersed within infantry and unable to effectively engage in any major panzer battles. The Germans opposing them had 3,000 tanks, organised into independent divisions under blitzkrieg doctrine. In terms of equipment, the Poles had 132 7TP light tanks, which were capable of destroying any German armour, including the Panzer IV, and less than 300 much weaker tankettes. An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is a military vehicle, equipped with protection against hostile attacks and often mounted weapons. ... Blitzkrieg relied on close cooperation between infantry and panzers (tanks). ... General characteristics Length: 4. ... The US M1A1 Abrams tank is a typical modern main battle tank. ... The Panzerkampfwagen IV (PzKpfw IV), more commonly referred to as the Panzer IV, was a tank developed by Nazi Germany and used extensively in World War II. It was designed initially as an infantry-support medium tank, to work in conjunction with the anti-tank Pzkpfw III. Later in the... TK-3 A tankette was a small tank, with a crew of 2 (there were prototypes with one-man crew). ...

In addition to tanks, Poland successfully used armoured trains against Germans, who were unprepared to face this kind of combat vehicle, considered in '39 too obsolete by German planners to be given any serious consideration. Although the trains proved indeed vulnerable to air attack, the losses that the Germans incurred against Polish trains convinced them to reintroduce this type of vehicle into their own army after the September Campaign. Single-turret 7TP tank. ... Single-turret 7TP tank. ... General characteristics Length: 4. ... Armoured train is a train protected with armour. ...

Polish cavalry was considered to be the elite troops of the Polish army and were much more successful than the Germans anticipated. Polish cavalry brigades, contrary to the common myth, were used as a mobile infantry, and were quite successful against the German infantry. Cavalry charges were rare but succesfull, especially when used against normal infantry in unentrenched positions. However, while Polish cavalry matched German Panzers in speed and anti-infantry effectiveness, it could not stand its ground against the tanks.

Among interesting equipment used with success by Polish forces was the 7.92 mm Karabin przeciwpancerny wz.35 anti-tank rifle. It was quite successful against German light tanks, although, as with most of the Polish modern equipment, production was just beginning when the war started and thus it wasn't fielded in numbers large enough to significantly change the war outcome. An anti-tank rifle is a rifle designed for shooting at tanks. ... The US M1A1 Abrams tank is a typical modern main battle tank. ...

The US M1A1 Abrams tank is a typical modern main battle tank. ... Alternate use: abbreviation of taijin kyofusho symptoms General characteristics Length: 2. ... Alternate use: abbreviation of taijin kyofusho symptoms General characteristics Length: 2. ... TK-3 A tankette was a small tank, with a crew of 2 (there were prototypes with one-man crew). ... General characteristics Length: 4. ... The US M1A1 Abrams tank is a typical modern main battle tank. ...

Polish Air Force

The Polish Air Force was at a severe disadvantage against the German Luftwaffe. Although its pilots were highly trained, the Polish Air Force lacked modern fighter aircraft, and the Germans had gross numerical superiority: Poland had approximately 400 aircraft, including 169 fighters, and Germany had approximately 3,000 aircraft. The development program of the Polish airforce was slowed in 1926 in the aftermath of Józef Piłsudski's May coup d'etat, as Piłsudski considered the airforce to be of less importance than other military branches. The Luftwaffe (literally, air weapon, pronounced looft-vaaf-feh) is the air force of Germany. ... A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for attacking other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed to attack ground targets, primarily by dropping bombs. ... 1926 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Term of Office from November 14, 1918 until December 9, 1922 Profession Statesman and military commander Political Party none, see Sanacja for details First Lady Maria Piłsudska Date of Birth December 5, 1867 Place of Birth Zułów, in todays Lithuania Date of Death May 12, 1935 Place of Death...

In 1939, the Polish main fighter, the PZL P.11, designed in early-1930s, was becoming obsolete, the slightly better PZL P.24 was used solely for export and PZL P.50s and several other projects, which were supposed to have better parameters than contemporary German fighters, were still on the drawing board. As the result, the German Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Bf 110 fighters were faster and better armed then anything Poles had in 1939, and most German bombers could also outrun the Polish fighters. On the other hand, P.11s were more maneuverable, and despite the German superiority in speed, armament and numbers, P.11s downed a considerable number of German aircraft, including fighters. The exact numbers are not verified, but some sources claim that at least one German aircraft was shot down for each P.11 lost (a figure of 107 to 141 German aircraft shot down for the loss of 118 Polish aircraft are most often given). The PZL P.11 was the Polish fighter aircraft, designed in early-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. ... The PZL P.24 was a Polish fighter aircraft, designed in mid-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. ... Economics In economics, an export is any good or commodity, shipped or otherwise transported out of a country, province, town to another part of the world, typically for use in trade or sale. ... (Bf 109 was the official Reichsluftfahrtministerium designation, though some late-war aircraft actually carried the Me 109 designation stamped onto their aircraft type plates. ... (Bf 109 was the official Reichsluftfahrtministerium designation, though some late-war aircraft actually carried the Me 109 designation stamped onto their aircraft type plates. ...

One of the most interesting units in the Polish airforce arsenal was the twin-engine medium bomber, the PZL.37 Łoś. Before the war it was one of the world's most modern and outstanding bombers. Smaller than most contemporary medium bombers, it was still able to carry a heavier bomb load than comparable aircraft, including the famous Vickers Wellington. It was relatively fast and easy to handle. Thanks to a landing gear with double wheels, it could operate from rough fields or meadows. The only drawback was its relatively weak defensive armament, consisting of 3 machine guns. Its range was also limited, but the Łoś was not meant to be a long range bomber. During the September Campaign, despite their good performance, they were too few in number to change the outcome, and, often lacking fighter cover, they sustained heavy losses. The PZL-37 Los (in Polish: Łoś) was the Polish twin-engine medium bomber, used in the Polish September Campaign in 1939. ... The Vickers Wellington was a twin-engine, medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs Chief Designer, R.K. Pierson. ... A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ...

Few planes of the Polish air Force were destroyed on ground, as most had been deployed to temporary secret airstrips. The fighter planes were grouped in 15 escadres. Five of them constituted the Pursuit Brigade (Polish: Brygada Pościgowa), deployed in Warsaw area. The bombers, grouped in 9 escadres of the Bomber Brigade (Brygada Bombowa), attacked armoured columns, suffering heavy losses. Seven reconnaissance and 12 observation escadres, deployed to particular Polish Armies, were intensively used for reconnaissance. However, the Polish pilots, while highly trained and motivated, faced a superior numerical opponent in superior designs with much better command structure. Germany achieved air superiority around day three of the campaign, although Polish Air Force manged to remain operational for the two first weeks of the September campaign. At that point, the Polish Air Force ceased to exist as a fighting force, as most planes were either destroyed in combat or had to be abandoned on the ground due to lack of supplies and spare parts, in the face of rapidly advancing German land troops. A few remaining aircraft were either captured by Germans or withdrawn to Romania and taken over by that country. A great number of pilots and air crews managed to break through to France and later Britain through various routes. PZL.37 Los medium bomber - the second prototype P.37/II Photo from a book: Janusz Babiejczuk, Jerzy Grzegorzewski Polski przemysl lotniczy 1945-1973, Warsaw 1974 This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... PZL.37 Los medium bomber - the second prototype P.37/II Photo from a book: Janusz Babiejczuk, Jerzy Grzegorzewski Polski przemysl lotniczy 1945-1973, Warsaw 1974 This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Warsaw ( Polish: Warszawa, see also other names, in full The Capital City of Warsaw, Polish: Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa) is the capital of Poland and its largest city. ...

Fixed-wing aircraft is a term used to refer to what are more commonly known as aeroplanes in Commonwealth English (excluding Canada) or airplanes in North American English. ... The PZL P.7 was the Polish fighter aircraft, designed in early-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. ... A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for attacking other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed to attack ground targets, primarily by dropping bombs. ... The PZL P.11 was the Polish fighter aircraft, designed in early-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. ... The PZL P.24 was a Polish fighter aircraft, designed in mid-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. ... The PZL-37 Los (in Polish: Łoś) was the Polish twin-engine medium bomber, used in the Polish September Campaign in 1939. ... A medium bomber is a bomber aircraft designed to operate with medium bombloads over medium distances; primarily to distinguish them from the much larger heavy bombers and smaller light bombers. ... The PZL.23 Karaś was the Polish light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, designed in the mid-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. ... A light bomber is a military bomber aircraft which, when compared to other bombers, is relatively small and fast; such aircraft will probably not carry more than one ton of ordnance. ... A military aircraft used for monitoring enemy activity, usually carrying no armament. ...

Polish Navy

The Polish Navy was a small fleet composed of destroyers and submarines. Most of Polish surface units followed Operation Pekin, leaving Polish ports on 20th August, evading German forces and escaping to the North Sea to join with the British Royal Navy. Submarine forces were realising Operation Worek, with the goal of engaging and damaging German shipping in the Baltic Sea, but with much less success. War ensign of the Polish Navy Flag of the Polish Navy Jack of the Polish Navy The Polish Navy (Polska Marynarka Wojenna, PMW) is the Navy of Poland. ... This article is about the warship. ... USS Los Angeles A submarine is a specialized watercraft that can operate underwater. ... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ... Royal Navy Ensign The Royal Navy is the navy of the United Kingdom. ...

In addition, many ships of Polish Merchant Navy joined the British merchant fleet and took part in various convoys during the war. Download high resolution version (801x476, 91 KB)Polish destroyer ORP Blyskawica http://pl. ... Download high resolution version (801x476, 91 KB)Polish destroyer ORP Blyskawica http://pl. ... USS Port Royal (CG-73), a Ticonderoga class cruiser. ... A minelayer is a naval ship used for deploying sea mines. ... The ORP Błyskawica is a Polish destroyer, currently preserved as a museum ship in Gdynia. ... For other ships of the Polish Navy named ORP Grom see: ORP Grom (disambiguation) ORP Grom was a name of a Polish Navy destroyer during World War II. It was laid down in 1935, commissioned in 1937 and lost in battle on May 4, 1940 near Narvik. ... For other ships of the Polish Navy named ORP Orzeł see: ORP Orzeł (disambiguation) ORP Orzeł was a Polish Navy submarine in service during the World War II. The ship was built in the Dutch shipyard De Schelde in 1937-1938 together with her sister ship ORP Sęp (Vulture). A... The Kingdom of Sweden (Swedish: Konungariket Sverige listen) is a Nordic country in Scandinavia, in Northern Europe. ... The Kingdom of Sweden (Swedish: Konungariket Sverige listen) is a Nordic country in Scandinavia, in Northern Europe. ... The Kingdom of Sweden (Swedish: Konungariket Sverige listen) is a Nordic country in Scandinavia, in Northern Europe. ... A minesweeper is a military ship designed to locate and destroy naval mines placed in the sea by enemies. ... A gunboat is literally a boat carrying one or more guns. ... A convoy is a group of vehicles or ships traveling together for mutual support. ...

The myths

The Polish military was so backward they fought tanks with cavalry: Although Poland had 11 cavalry brigades and its doctrine emphasized cavalry units as elites, other armies of that time (including Germany) also fielded and extensively used cavalry units. Polish cavalry never charged on German tanks nor entrenched machine guns but usually acted as mobile infantry units and executed cavalry charges only in rare situations. Powazki Cemetery Powązki Cemetery (Polish Cmentarz powązkowski) is the oldest and most famous cemetery in Warsaw, Poland, which is situated in the western part of the city. ... An army unit consisting of mounted soldiers are commonly known as cavalry. ... Brigade is a term from military science which refers to a group of several battalions (typically two to four), and directly attached supporting units (normally including at least an artillery battery and additional logistic support). ... Alternative meaning: Elite (computer game) In sociology as in general usage, the elite (the elect; sometimes the French form élite is used) refers to a relatively small dominant group within a larger society, which enjoys privileged status and, almost invariantly, exploits individuals of lower social status. ... Mobile infantry is a military term and usually refers to infantry units equiped with vehicles. ...

The Polish air force was destroyed on the ground in the first days of the war: The Polish Air Forces, though numerically inferior and lacking modern fighters, were not destroyed on airfields and remained active in the first two weeks of the campaign, causing some harm to the Germans. Skilled Polish pilots who escaped to the United Kingdom after the German occupation were employed by the RAF during the Battle of Britain. Fighting from British bases, Polish pilots were also, on average, the most successful in shooting down German planes.² Polish Air Forces (Siły Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, Sily Powietrzne RP) - the Air Force of Poland. ... The word pilot has several meanings: In shipping, a pilot is someone who guides ships through the waters near a harbour, or especially narrow or otherwise dangerous coastal waters. ... The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force of the United Kingdom. ... Battle of Britain - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ...

Poland offered little resistance and surrendered quickly: It should be noted that the September campaign lasted only about one week less than the Battle of France in 1940. , even through French forces had much better parity in terms of numerical strenght and equipment. ³ In World War II, Battle of France or Case Yellow (Fall Gelb in German) was the France and the Low Countries, executed 10 May 1940 which ended the Phony War. ... 1940 was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

German army equipment and tactics

German plan

German Fall Weiss plan called for start of hostilities before the declaration of war and to pursue the doctrine of lightning war, later known as the blitzkrieg. German units were to invade Poland from three directions: Download high resolution version (1256x956, 402 KB)Polish Campaign - Operations - September 1-14 Source: US ARMY License: US Government document. ... Download high resolution version (1256x956, 402 KB)Polish Campaign - Operations - September 1-14 Source: US ARMY License: US Government document. ... Tiger II, perhaps the most advanced Panzer Panzer is an abbreviation of Panzerkampfwagen, a German compound noun which translates as Armoured Combat Vehicle. It became synonymous with German tanks during the 1930s, and is usually shortened to become PzKpfw. ... Blitzkrieg relied on close cooperation between infantry and panzers (tanks). ... See also Fall Weiss (1942) Fall Weiss (German spelling Fall Weiß) was a German strategic plan for a war with Poland prepared before 1939 and put into action on 1 September 1939. ... A Declaration of War is a formal declaration issued by a national government indicating that a state of war exists between that nation, and one or more others. ... Blitzkrieg relied on close cooperation between infantry and panzers (tanks). ... Blitzkrieg relied on close cooperation between infantry and panzers (tanks). ...

All three assaults were to converge on Warsaw, while the main Polish army were to be encircled and destroyed west of the Vistula. Fall Weiss was initiated on 1 September of 1939, and was the first operation of the Second World War. The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1701-1918 The word Prussia (German: Preußen or Preussen, Polish: Prusy, Lithuanian: Prusai, Latin: Borussia) has had various (often contradictory) meanings: The land of the Baltic Prussians (in what is now parts of southern Lithuania, the Kaliningrad exclave of Russia and... Slovak can refer to: Slovaks Slovak language adjective for Slovakia This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... National motto: None Official language Slovak Capital Bratislava President Ivan Gašparovič Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda Area - Total - % water Ranked 126th 49,035 km² Negligible Population - Total (2004) - Density Ranked 103rd 5,379,455 109/km² Independence January 1, 1993 (division of Czechoslovakia) Currency Slovak koruna Time zone - in summer CET... Warsaw ( Polish: Warszawa, see also other names, in full The Capital City of Warsaw, Polish: Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa) is the capital of Poland and its largest city. ... Vistula river basin Vistula ( Polish Wisła, German Weichsel) is the longest river in Poland. ...

German army

Despite the term blitzkrieg being coined during the Polish September Campaign of 1939, historians generally hold that German operations during it were more consistent with more traditional methods. The Wehrmacht's strategy was more inline with Vernichtungsgedanken, or a focus on envelopment to create pockets in broad-front annihilation. Panzer forces were deployed among the three German concentrations without strong emphasis on independent use, being used to create or destroy close pockets of Polish forces and seize operational-depth terrain in support of the largely unmotorized infantry which followed. The Luftwaffe gained air superiority early in the campaign. General characteristics Length: 4. ... Vernichtungsgedanken, meaning annihilation thoughts in German, is a Prussian / German strategic doctrine, dating to Frederick the Great. ...

Germany's forces were not as mobile as they would be in the later stages of the Second World War, but the total number of mechanized forces was far greater than Poland's. The Germans were able to successfully exploit the weakness of the Polish forces' thin deployment on the long frontline. Their blitzkrieg] doctrine was based on the novel idea of a mechanized spearhead attack (Schwerpunkt), using mobile units to break through enemy frontlines and then disperse, causing confusion in the rear areas and severing lines of supply and communication, Follow-on forces could then encircle and defeat the confused and cut-off units at the front.

Tanks and aircraft (particularly fighter and ground attack aircraft like the famous Junkers Ju 87 Stuka) played a major role in the fighting. Bomber aircraft also attacked cities and civilian targets causing huge losses amongst the civilian population in what became known as terror bombings. Survivor of German aerial bombardment of Warsaw This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Survivor of German aerial bombardment of Warsaw This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... The Bombing of Warsaw in World War II refers both to the terror bombing campaign by Luftwaffe during the September Campaign and to the German bombing raids on Warsaw during the Warsaw Uprising. ... The US M1A1 Abrams tank is a typical modern main battle tank. ... A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for attacking other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed to attack ground targets, primarily by dropping bombs. ... A ground attack aircraft is an aircraft that is designed to operate very close to the ground, supporting infantry and tanks directly in battle. ... Junkers Ju 87 Dive-Bombers The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was the most famous Sturzkampfflugzeug (German dive bomber) in World War II, instantly recognisable by its inverted gull-wings and fixed undercarriage. ... It needs informaion on Post World War II treaties World War I The first ever aerial bombardment of civilians was on January 19, 1915, in which two German Zeppelins dropped twenty four 50 kg high explosive bombs and ineffective 3 kg incendiaries on Greath Yarmouth, Sheringham, Kings Lynn and the...

Order of battle

Notes

No. ... Battle of Britain - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ...

Names of the campaign

Prelude to the campaign

Details of the campaign

Phase 1: German aggression

Phase 2: Soviet aggression

Important battles

Aftermath

Polish army equipment and tactics

Economic base

Polish plan

Polish Army

Polish Air Force

Polish Navy

The myths

German army equipment and tactics

German plan

German army

Order of battle

Notes

See also

External links

References

Names of the campaign GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Prelude to the campaign

Details of the campaign

Phase 1: German aggression

Phase 2: Soviet aggression

Important battles

Aftermath

Polish army equipment and tactics

Economic base

Polish plan

Polish Army

Polish Air Force

Polish Navy

The myths

German army equipment and tactics

German plan

German army

Order of battle

Notes

See also

External links

References

Names of the campaign