Tag: 1939

Attack on Poland – 1 – 17 September

Attack on Poland – 1 – 17 September

Preliminary Incidents Hitler had given top priority to engineering an incident that would provoke the Poland into retaliation and thus justify German invasion. On 5 August 1939 the head of the SD (the Security Service of the SS), Reinhard Heydrich, entrusted the 28-year-old Alfred Naujoks with the task of creating just such an incident. To … Continue reading Attack on Poland – 1 – 17 September →

Attack on Poland – Moves Towards the Invasion

Attack on Poland – Moves Towards the Invasion

Breaking the Nazi Codes While Poland was behind Germany and other European powers in most areas of military doctrine and technology, it was well ahead in one area – breaking of German codes. Germany was well ahead in cypher machines, with the first Engima machine developed for civilian purposes (at least officially); in 1930 a … Continue reading Attack on Poland – Moves Towards the Invasion →

Attack on Poland – Polish Army

Attack on Poland – Polish Army

Polish Army In February 1919., the newly created Polish parliament – Sejm – passed the Army Law, setting up an official Polish Defense Force under Pilsudski. Its core was comprised of Pilsudski's former Polish Legions, soon strenghtened in April 1919 by the arrival of Haller’s Polish units from France. Its defense of new Polish state … Continue reading Attack on Poland – Polish Army →

Attack on Poland – German and Soviet Rearmament

Attack on Poland – German and Soviet Rearmament

Introduction Throughout history, Poland shared the fate of many Central European nations in being a playground of various great powers. While Poland had, through Middle Ages and especially in 16th to 18th centuries, achieved status of a great or at least regional power, it always had to fight to preserve its independence. Poland eventually disappeared … Continue reading Attack on Poland – German and Soviet Rearmament →