The German campaign in Poland, September 1 to October 5, 1939 [electronic resource] / prepared under direction of the Chief of Staff.

View Description

Download

small (250x250 max)

medium (500x500 max)

large ( > 500x500)

Full Resolution

you wish to report:

Your comment:

Your Name:

Submit

Cancel

...

Rating
Title	The German campaign in Poland, September 1 to October 5, 1939 [electronic resource] / prepared under direction of the Chief of Staff.
Alternative Title	At head of title: Digests and lessons of recent military operations.
Item Number	w0006
Creator (Corporate)	United States. War Dept.
Government Publisher	War Dept.; U.S. Government Printing Office
Original Date	1942
Physical Description	36 p. : 3 maps ; 24 cm.
Notes	War Department, Washington, March 31, 1942. Digests and Lessons of Recent Military Operations -- The German Campaign in Poland, September 1 to October 5, 1939, is published for the information of all concerned. The digest has been compiled from War Department reports and from other governmental and authentic professional military sources. [A. G. 062.11 (1-26-42).] By Order of the Secretary of War: G. C. Marshall, Chief of Staff. Official: J. A. Ulio, Major General, The Adjutant General.--ii.; Title from cover.
Table of Contents	Introductory -- Historical sketch -- Strategy, initial dispositions, and missions -- Operations -- Lessons -- Map No. 1. Concentration areas -- Map No. 2. Situation map of the German Army -- Map No. 3. Polish plan for retirement to the southeast and actual withdrawal routes of Polish.
Summary	The Army of the Third Reich was unleashed completely for the first time in the Polish campaign, which was a preview of German strategy, tactics, and technique. In 20 days of fighting the new German military machine annihilated the Polish armies; Warsaw capitulated after 27 days; and the last point of resistance was subdued in 35 days. Undoubtedly this swift victory was due in great measure to the overwhelming superiority of the German Army in both numbers and materiel, but of equal importance was the fact that the German High Command had learned vital lessons from the stalemates of position warfare in the first World War. New German concepts of warfare that materialized fully on Polish battlefields started a new military era marked by the return of the war of movement. The mobility and speed made possible by extensive motorization, together with the increased fire power and shock force of armored corps and divisions, and the close support of bombardment aviation, restored to all ground arms the ability to maneuver. The need for more intensive and closely coordinated supporting fire was filled by developing the air-infantry-artillery combat team to a new peak of efficiency. And air power demonstrated radically improved strategic as well as tactical capabilities. While developing these factors of speed, fire power, air power, and the ability to maneuver to a degree of effectiveness never realized before, the German Army, in its training, had devoted itself intensively to the coordination of separate arms. The German victory over Poland was achieved not by the shock action and penetrations of armored forces alone, nor by air power alone, but by the combined operations of all arms under unified command. Finally, the German Army was indoctrinated with the idea of total war -- the idea that all the resources of the nation must be concentrated ruthlessly and relentlessly against all important hostile means of resistance in order to win a swift and complete decision.--p.1.
Topical Terms	World War, 1939-1945--Poland. World War, 1939-1945--Germany. World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Poland. World War, 1939-1945--Territorial questions--Germany. World War, 1939-1945--Territorial questions--Poland.
Geographic Terms	Germany--History, Military--20th century. Poland--History, Military. Poland--History--Occupation, 1939-1945. Germany--Military relations--Poland. Poland--Military relations--Germany.
Gov Doc Classification	W 3.2:G 31/3
Type	Text
Digital Format	.pdf
Digital Publication Date	Available in digital format: 2001-2002
Digitization Process	Scanned as 300 dpi .jpg; converted to Adobe .pdf
SMU File Name	w0006.pdf
Digital Collection	Historic Government Publications from World War II
Library	Government Information Resources
Publisher	Central University Libraries, Southern Methodist University
Rights	These files may be freely used. A high-quality version of these files may be obtained for a fee by contacting ncds@smu.edu.

Find results with:

Searching collections:

Home The German campaign in Poland, September 1 to October 5, 1939 [electronic resource] / prepared...

The German campaign in Poland, September 1 to October 5, 1939 [electronic resource] / prepared under direction of the Chief of Staff.

Description

Tags