War in Poland 1939 - false myths?

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

THE MYTHS

In most books written about the Polish Campaign 1939 it is stated that Poland was totally chanceless because amongst other things:

1) The Polish Army was inferior in quality and quantity compared with the Germans.
2) The Polish Forces did not have time enough to mobilize.
3) The Polish Airforce was destroyed on the ground within two days.
4) The Polish Cavalry attacked German tanks with sabres.
5) The Polish Defence was deployed to an obsolete 1914-18 concept.
6) The Germans used new surprising Blitzkrieg tactics.

Looking a bit deeper on facts I have found all these six myths to be false. On the other hand I am aware that perhaps it is me who got it all wrong. So please correct me when I am wrong.

Picture: Polish Cavalry.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Was Polish Cavalry attacking tanks with sabres?

This long-lived myth goes back to Krojanty on 1st September 1939. Two Squadrons of 18th Uhlan Cavalry Regiment (Col Mastalerz) attacked a German Infantry Battalion from behind with sabres. The assault was initially sucessful but suddenly German armour appeard. The Polish Cavalry tried to escape by continuing riding through the German lines but several cavalrymen were killed.

The following day German Minister of Propaganda Dr. Joseph Goebbles invited Italian journalists to the area and they were told that the stupid Poles had tried to assault tanks with sabres because they believed the tanks were made of paper (!).

This idiotic myth could easily be falsified by the fact that the Polish Cavalry had their own armoured cars, tanks and anti-tank guns. Polish cavalrymen did very well know what a tank was and how to fight them in a proper way.

It seems to be generally beleived that the Poles kept the horse mounted Cavalry because they did not understand that it was obsolete. That is wrong. The mechanization of the Polish Cavalry began in 1929 and it was planned that the whole Polish Cavalry should be mechanized by 1941. In the meantime they used horses since large quantities were available. Riding is quicker than marching and the Polish Cavalry could act as mounted Infantry.

The totally stupid myth about Polish Cavalry attacking German tanks with sabres is nothing but an insult to the brave Polish Cavalry.

Even Field Marshal Viscount Bernard Law Montgomery of Alamein bought this false myth. Do You?

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Was the Polish Airforce destroyed on the ground within two days?

Contrary to what seems to be generally believed today, the Polish Airforce was on 31st August distributed to secret Airbases.

The only Airbase where the Germans were able to destroy Polish aircraft on the ground in some numbers was Rakowice near Krakow where 28 aircraft were knocked out. Those aircraft had not been redeployed because they were unabled to fly and were waiting for repair .

On 1st September Polish fighters shot down 16 German aircraft over Warszaw. Totally Polish fighters shot down more than 160 German Aircraft during the campaign. Polish bombers flew 255 sorties.

Impressing results of a Polish Airforce that should have been destroyed on the ground within two days.

The Germans totally lost 285 aircraft and in addition 279 damaged severely. This however include aircraft shot down or damaged by Polish AA and also accidents.

Anyhow this myth is false. Or?

Photo: Polish bombers type PZL-37 "Los" (Los = Moose). PZL = Panstwowe Zaklady Lotnicze = State Aircraft Factory in Warszaw-Okecie and Mielec.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Was the Polish Army mobilized too late?

One of the long-lived myths is that the Polish Army did not have time to mobilize. The German Army began mobilizing 26th August.

Let us see how the 40 Polish Infantry Divisions (of wich two Mountain Divisions) completed their mobilization.

§ = Mobilization disturbed. §§ = Mobilization uncomplete.

23rd Mrs ID 9, ID 20, ID 26
1st Aug ID 21
15th Aug ID 13
16th Aug ID 27
25th Aug ID 7
26th Aug ID 18, ID 19, ID 25, ID 28
27th Aug ID 1, ID 4, ID 14, ID 15, ID 17, ID 29, ID 30, ID 33 §
29th Aug ID 12, ID 22
30th Aug ID 23, ID 36
31st Aug ID 2
1st Sep ID 6, ID 8, ID 10, ID 16, ID 24, ID 55 §§
= 30 Divisions mobilized before outbreak of war.

3rd Sep ID 3, ID 5 §, ID 11 §, ID 45 §§
5th Sep ID 35, ID 38, ID 39, ID 41 §§, ID 44, ID 60
= 10 Divisions mobilized after outbreak of war.


The table above show us that of the 40 Polish Infantry Divisions 6 were mobilized long before outbreak of war, 27 were mobilized according to plans. 3 Divisions mobilized under disturbed conditions and 4 never reached full strenght but some 70%.

This leaves us with some 97% of the Polish Infantry Divisions mobilized.

Thus the Polish Army was in fact mobilized in time.

Picture: Polish Infantry.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Mobilization of the 30 Regular Infantry Divisions (the 10 Reserve Infantry Divisions excluded).

Green = Mobilized in March
Blue = Mobilized in August
Yellow = Mobilization completed on 1st September
Red = Mobilized later than 1st September

There were also 14 Infantry Brigades of the Territorial Defence.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Broken promises.

The Allies had promised Poland that in case of a war the French Army should directly with peacetime resources put pressure on the German western border during three days.

After having mobilized the French Army should launch a major offensive into Germany not later than the 14th day of the war.

These promises were not fulfilled but Britain & France waged a "Phoney war" passively waiting for the next German move that followed in Scandinavia on 9th April 1940 and in France-Benelux on 10th May 1940.

The Allies did not see through Dr. Goebbels´ propaganda. They did not realize that by mid September 1939 Germany was in fact losing the war.

I repeat: Germany was losing the war in September 1939!

Why?

German losses in Poland were approx 16.000 KiA and 32.000 WiA. That was no disaster for the Germans.

But the Germans had lost 674 tanks, 319 armoured cars, 195 artillery guns and 6.046 trucks. In addition hiereto several vehicles broken down by technical problems. In fact about 50% of the German vehicles deployed in Poland were destroyed or in need of repair. That was a problem. But not the real one.

More serious was that the German war industry and the railways were on the edge to collapse. The German needs of import was a o 50% lead, 66% iron ore, 70% copper, 90% pewter and 99% bauxit (aluminium).

Germany in September 1939 had almost no coal but did have oil and petrol for another four months.

But the real problem for the Germans was that the war in Poland had consumed 82,5% of all gunpowder available. Some 70% of the German Divisions had no munition and some 30% still had munitions - for 14 days of war!

So if the French Army had attacked on 14th September 1939 WW 2 should be won already in October 1939.

Instead the "Phoney War" allowed the Germans to regain strenght and to rize another 50 new Divisions and produce 570 new tanks plus 457 repaired.

In September 1939 the Allies were facing some 30% of the German Army. The "Phoney War" meant that Germany could increase the Army to 150% of the 1939 strenght.

On 10th May 1940 the Germans attacked with 136 Divisions and had 1.027 more tanks than in September 1939.

As a result of "Phoney War" instead of an Allied attack in September 1939 Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway and Poland were occupied by the Germans. Great Britain was attacked by air.

I think this could all had been avoided if the Allies had acted in September 1939.

Do You agree?

Picture: German Infantry. Note LMG M/08-15 as Ersatz subsititute for MG 34. The German Reserve Divisions still had the obsolete water-cooled M/08 Maxim guns.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

In this book of 473 pages Karl-Heinz Frieser of Militärgesichtliges Forschungsamt - the Official German Armed Forces Department of Military History - carefully shows that the first war fought to a special Blitzkrieg concept was against the Soviet Union in 1941.

The first trials with air-ground cooperation was to be held in Grafenwöhr Training Area 21st - 25th August 1939, but cancelled due to the oncoming war.

So in September 1939 the Germans had no new Blitzkrieg tactics.

Another old myth has been falsified.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Dr. Joseph Goebbels managed to impress the world by the illusion of the mechanized German war machine - see top photo.

In reality 90% of the German Infantry was marching by foot and the Artillery was horse-drawn just like during WW 1 - see photo below.

In the German Reserve Infantry Divisions in September 1939 some 30% of the soldiers were totally untrained civilians that got their uniforms just some days ago. In some units even 42%!

The Polish campaign should more be linked with slogging jackboots and klappering horseshoes than with roaring tank engines.

Another myth gone? Or?

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

In 1939 Poland had 12 Tank Bns. Germany had 33.

The Polish Bns were dissolved and Coys attached to Infantry Divisions. Only 3 Polish Tank Bns were retained.

The Germans however did it the other way and organized their Tank Bns in 6 Armoured Divisions and 4 Light Divisions.

Numbers:
Tanks with only MGs. Poland 625, Germany 1.145.
Tanks with 20 mm guns. Poland 24, Germany 1.223.

These could be disregarded as beeing too weak. The Germans considered PzKw I and PzKw II as Exerzierpanzer or just training tanks.

Tanks with 37 or 47 mm guns. Poland 257, Germany 98.

Of the Polish tanks with 37 mm guns 112 were however obsolescent French WW 1 vintage FT-17. But Poland had 135 modern tanks.

The Germans also had 211 PzKw IV with 75 mm guns. These guns were short and suitable to combat against Infantry but less effective against tanks.

The Polish Army had 1.300 37 mm Anti-Tank guns m/34 Bofors that could penetrate all German tanks frontally at a distance of 1.000 meter except PzKw IV wich could be penetrated except for the front at that distance.

The 37 mm AT-gun did however penetrate PzKw IV frontally at a range of 700 meters.

Photo: The best tank in the September 1939 campaign. Polish 7TPjw - 95 extant.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Regular Infantry Divisions:
Poland 28 - Germany 28 (of wich 4 motorized)

Reserve Infantry Divisions
Poland 10 - Germany 16

Regular Mountain Divisions
Poland 2 - Germany 3

Reserve Mountain Divisions (expanded Brigades)
Poland 3 - Germany Nil

Territorial Defense Infantry brigades
Poland 14 = 8 Infantry Divisions

Cavalry Brigades (horse mounted)
Poland 11 - Germany 1

Cavalry Brigades (mechanized)
Poland 2 - Germany Nil

Armoured Divisions
Poland Nil - Germany 6

Light Divisions
Poland Nil - Germany 4

Roughly Infantry 1:1 Armour German superiority 3:1.

However on the third day of combat most German Armour mostly stood still due to technical problems or logistic shortages.

Photo: Polish 81 mm Mortar M/1931 Stokes-Brandt

[Norm Cromie (RIP)]

Stellan

I wish to congratulate you on an informative and excellent article on Polish History WW2. I believe it is imperative that we set out the clear difference between fact and fiction. We are so hypnotized by the inaccurate documentation of the second world war that the new generations will never truly understand actual truth. There is a great difference between the Hollywood version and pure truthful history. I feel that the horror story of the last days of Warsaw can never be dominated by inaccurate information. The second world war history is saturated with unsubstantiated facts, eg. I read or was told by someone that on the last days of the fall of Tobruk the order of the day was to salute all staff cars when it should have really been destroy all equipment, leave the Germans nothing. What a shame if it is true.

[wayne c. petrie]

Stellan

Facts don't lie,but they are distorted by those who don't want the real truth to be known.
Many myths can be debugged also by the Vets themselves,both Allied and Axis.
Rumors can also be more factual than the"Offical Version"! One rumor,[story], I had heard many years ago was that the Germans attacked Poland first,not because they were deemed an easy prey,but that they had one of the most formadible armies in Europe at that time.Poland would not have waited to honour their treaties as the French and British Goverments did.The Germans could not afford to have such an army ready to attack their flanks if they went into Western Europe first.
But,is it just a rumor? After what you pointed out,Stellan,maybe not.
A very good research Stellan.

Wayne

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Thank you Norm & Wayne for your comments.

There were in fact Polish Officers that dreamt of marching on Berlin - a distance of some 200 km.

The Polish war plan "Zachod" (West) made in 1936 by LtGen Tadeusz Kutrzeba counted with 110 German Divisions of which 70 could be used in Poland.

The Poles did beleive the main assault should be made from Pommerania. After that Czechoslovakia was sold out by the western powers in 1939, the Poles did think that the German main thrust should come from Silesia.

General Kutrzeba had foreseen the German plans totally right.

Photo: Polish 220 mm howitzers M/1932 Skoda. They were transported in three loads. I know that the tractor was of type C7P but noting more about these vehicles.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Was the Polish Defence deployed following the 1914-18 system?

For political reasons Field Marshal Edward Rydz-Smigly decided to take up defence positions near the border and not along the easier defended river Vistula line.

The Polish leadership was centralized and field commanders could not act without permission from the GHQ in Warszaw. This however has nothing to do with 1914-18 but the person of Rydz-Smigly and the rigid command structure and leadership culture within the Polish Armed Forces.

Polish communications were severed by the fact that GHQ left Warszaw and redeployed in a small town in Southern Poland. If I remember right GHQ there had only three telephone lines.

The Germans on the other hands encouraged unit commanders to take own initiatives within the principle of Auftragstaktik (Mission Tactics).

The Germans took an ovbious risk leaving some 80 km front undefended counting that the two Polish Armies in that area should not react in time because they had to wait for orders from Warszaw.

Picture: FM Rydz-Smigly.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Dr. Goebbels should not have liked this photo. But it shows how the real German Army was in September 1939. An obsolete HMG M/1908 Maxim with 50th Infantry Division near Bromberg.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

The invincible German War Machine entrering Poland. As earlier stated some 30% or even more of the "soldiers" in the German Reserve Infantry Divisions had no military training at all - but brand new boots!

Mid September these "civilians in uniform" were sent back to Germany because they were only creating problems due to the fact that they could not take care of themselves under field conditions.

[Andrew Morrison]

Perhaps it is another of those myths but I was always lead to believe that it was the Russian attack that destroyed the Polish army.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Originally posted by Andrew Morrison
Perhaps it is another of those myths but I was always lead to believe that it was the Russian attack that destroyed the Polish army.

As I understand it the Soviet troops only met limited resistance because most of the Polish Army was already busy fighting the Germans.

On 19th September German and Soviet troops met at Brest-Litovsk. By that time Warszaw was already under siege. Warszaw did however fight for another week and surrendered 27th September 1939.

Map: Red = Polish units. Black = Germans. Black and yellow = Soviet advance.

(The name Gen. Rommel at Warszaw stands for Polish GOC "Lodz" Army, LtGen Juliusz Rommel).

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Originally posted by wayne c. petrie


Facts don't lie,but they are distorted by those who don't want the real truth to be known.

Why have historians not seen through all these false myths?

Strange enough the victor and the looser both had reasons to lie to the world. To the Poles it was preferable to say that they lost because the Germans were totally superior.

The Germans at the time had an interest in posing as invincible and couldn’t say: “We did not win because we were better – we won because they played their cards wrong”.

So Field Marshal Rydz-Smigly and Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels both had a common interest in pretending that Poland was no match for the German war machine.

For the Poles it sounded far better to have fought bravely but lost against impossible odds than to say “the Germans were not so good at all but we missed to take advantage of our possibilities”.

Photo: The invincible German War Machine on the march. The men are towing the wagon in order to help the overstrained horses.

[Crewman]

Originally posted by wayne c. petrie
A very good research Stellan.

I may only confirm -- a very good research!

I am also under the impression of the Stellan's posts.

Best regards

C.

[Crewman]

Originally posted by Stellan Bojerud
4) The Polish Cavalry attacked German tanks with sabres.

Stellan,

One more time thank you very much for your fight against the myths that show the Poles as romantic idiots.

Sad to tell but also the Poles have their own participation in this "black PR" against their own nation and the Army. Famous Polish movie director, Oscar-awarded Andrzej Wajda realized in 1959 the "Lotna" movie that shows… Polish Campaign of 1939 with cavalry charge against German tanks. The movie hated by all Polish historians and cavalry veterans. Wajda could not do worse job for Polish image all over the world. The next "black PR factor" in aid of Polish stupidity is the work of Italian war correspondent who "colorized" his reports from Polish battle fields and reported that Polish cavalry fights against the tanks. No greater bullshit. This correspondent liked the Poles and admired them very much none the less he did bad job for them in the national image category. Since that time there is powerful stereotype of stupid romantic Pole who fights against his enemy by all means even if it is a saber against heavy armour.

The facts? Stellan described very well Krojanty case study. It was not Polish cavalry charge against the tanks but against German infantry. The tanks entered the battle later on to save infantry but Polish 18. Pu³k U³anów Pomorskich (18th Pomeranian Ulan Regiment) did not attacked the tanks then.

In Polish 1939 Campaign Polish cavalrymen met the tanks only twice during their charges but both cases were the coincidences and they were not the charges against the tanks. The first case took place on September 1st, 1939 near Mokra. 12th Ulan Regiment in heavy smoke and very low visibility attacked German infantry when the Poles suddenly met the tanks. Nobody "cut" them by sabers however and cavalrymen simply by-passed them. The second case took place on September 19th, 1939 near Wólka Wêglowa. The elements of the 9th and 14th cavalry regiments did dynamic charges to brake through German lines and to help encircled Warsaw. In the midst of German infantry companies from time to time there were the tanks but this is all. Nobody charged against the tanks but generally against enemy lines.

Best regards

C.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Thank you crewman!

I remember reading some years ago (but cannot remember where) that a Polish horse-drawn Arty Bty was encircled. They destroyed the guns and mounted the horses. They then tried to break through the German lines.

Anyhow it is time to get rid of this idiotic myth about Polish Cavalry attacking German tanks with sabres.

It is an insult to the brave Polish soldiers that fought WW 2.

I love France and the Republic has awarded me the decoration Officier dans l´ordre des Palmes Academiques but nevertheless I think that if France had kept the promise to Poland and marched on Germany in mid September 1939 the Allies had won WW 2 already in October 1939 and not five years later.

Instead France had to pay a higher price in May 1940.

[Crewman]

Stellan,

You are very objective man and in my opinion you feel very good national mentality of selected countries and various psychological aspects of the war. Look below at this pic. I think that both you and me are able to imagine how many jokes and sarcastic comments would be told and written around the world about this pic if the soldier in a cart would be the Pole, French, Russian or Italian but never German. For the German Wehrmacht it was not a shame to enter Paris in the carts towed by donkeys but Poland must be ashamed of the fact that had no time to prepare in 1939 better tanks, better air force, better navy, better artillery and whatever else when Poland existed as an independent State only 20 years between the wars.




Maybe this pic would be also proper for The Softskin Forum?

Best regards

C.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Thank you Crewman!

That it the most unbeleivable photo I have seen this year! Wonderful!

Please note that the notorious Germans despite their Herrenvolk mentality did not march through the Triumph Arch but around it.

Best greetings from a now sunny Stockholm,

Stellan

[Crewman]

Hello,

If we are fighting against the myths related to the Polish 1939 Campaign let's look at the German wreckage pictorial. Somebody did them and it was not Polish cavalry with sabers.


















Best regards

C.

[Crewman]

Not by cavalry...

[Crewman]

[Bartek]

Originally posted by Andrew Morrison
Perhaps it is another of those myths but I was always lead to believe that it was the Russian attack that destroyed the Polish army.

After the battle of river Bzura german's Panzer Divisions hadn't got enough fuel to march into the eastern Poland to Wilno,Tarnopol,Luck and to the South-East Poland to the "Romanian Brigdehead"."Romanian Brigdehead" was a real danger for Germans,from romanian harbour Constanza could come to Poland supply from France and England ,first ship with 50 Hawker Hurricanes was on its way at Black Sea.Polish troops entrenched at mountains,supplied from France through neutral Romania could fight till the winter,and how Germans were prepared for winters at eastern Europe all we know.After the soviet's invasion at 17.09.1939 the plan of "romanian brigdehead" fall down.

[Bartek]

Originally posted by Stellan Bojerud
In 1939 Poland had 12 Tank Bns. Germany had 33.

The Polish Bns were dissolved and Coys attached to Infantry Divisions. Only 3 Polish Tank Bns were retained.

The Germans however did it the other way and organized their Tank Bns in 6 Armoured Divisions and 4 Light Divisions.

Numbers:
Tanks with only MGs. Poland 625, Germany 1.145.
Tanks with 20 mm guns. Poland 24, Germany 1.223.

These could be disregarded as beeing too weak. The Germans considered PzKw I and PzKw II as Exerzierpanzer or just training tanks.

Tanks with 37 or 47 mm guns. Poland 257, Germany 98.

Of the Polish tanks with 37 mm guns 112 were however obsolescent French WW 1 vintage FT-17. But Poland had 135 modern tanks.

The Germans also had 211 PzKw IV with 75 mm guns. These guns were short and suitable to combat against Infantry but less effective against tanks.

The Polish Army had 1.300 37 mm Anti-Tank guns m/34 Bofors that could penetrate all German tanks frontally at a distance of 1.000 meter except PzKw IV wich could be penetrated except for the front at that distance.

The 37 mm AT-gun did however penetrate PzKw IV frontally at a range of 700 meters.

Photo: The best tank in the September 1939 campaign. Polish 7TPjw - 95 extant.

7TP had diesel engine,that means it was less flammable than german tanks.Before and during the 2nd World War only Russians and Poles were building tanks with diesel engines,even germany engineers were unable to project and produce diesel engines for their tanks.

[Crewman]

I beg the moderators pardon but this is an interesting small off-topic.

At first quotation from the GOC 4th Canadian Armoured Division Maj.-Gen. George Kitching's memoirs:

Once we were ashore in France and had set up our headquarters, I went to see General Simonds. He invited me into his caravan where he was in conversation with General Dempsey who commanded 2nd British Army. I knew Dempsey from Italy and although he greeted me very pleasantly, it was obvious that he was under a considerable amount of strain. His first words after greeting me were, "Are your tanks petrol or diesel?" When I told him they were petrol, he seemed disappointed. I did not understand the significance of this remark until after he had gone when Guy Simonds told me that only two days before over 150 tanks of three British divisions had been knocked out during an all-out attack to gain the high ground south of Caen. Since many of the tanks were petrol-fuelled Shermans, they had caught fire more easily and more rapidly than those fuelled by diesel. General Dempsey wished that our tanks were diesel and, as we became involved in battle, so did we.

Source:
George Kitching
Mud and Green Fields. The Memoirs of Major-General George Kitching
Vanwell Publishing Ltd., St. Catharines, Ontario, 1993
ISBN 0-920277-73-X
page 188

I think that we have to remember that the Diesel-powered WWII-era tanks were also:

▪ M3 Stuart (Stuart Mk. II) manufactured by the American Car & Foundry Co. The tank powered by the Guiberson T-1020-4 Diesel engine

▪ M3A1 Stuart (Stuart Mk. IV in the Commonwealth's Armies)

▪ M3A3 and M3A5 Lee

▪ M4A2 Sherman

▪ Also the M10 tank destroyers and their Achilles versions powered by GM 6046 diesel engines


Best regards

C.