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1、A. POLAND FALL WEISS1stOnSeptember 1939, the German Army is still immature, it lacks equipments and is far from beingorganized around the Blitzkrieg concept. The chain of command is still very classical and the armored units have not the importance they will gain later in 1940. 5 Korps include motor

2、ized units but there is no specific group dedicated to large mechanized operations beyond the tactical level. All the Panzerdivisionen and10thLeichten-Divisionen are dispersed. Only theArmy has in some concentrated mechanized troops, thePanzerwaffe of September 1939 is not directed towards a specifi

3、c Schwehrpunkt of the front.The Panzerwaffe in Poland is mainly used in localized actions and not in big strategic maneuvers with several Korps working together. The Panzerdivisionen and Leichten Divisionen are then particular because of their fire power and mobility but in Poland their role is not

4、the one they will show the world later. They made no fantastic breakthroughs; some Infanterie Division did as well without being motorized like the 10.ID and the 17.ID (XIII.AK, 8.Armee) which pierced the Polish lines without armored support on- September 1939. On 6th September they had reached Lodz

5、 at 150 km from their departure line. The Polish line was weak in that area and the point is not to show that is was easily broken but that the speed of the German advance with or without armor was similar. Only in 1940 on the western front was the Panzerwaffe really used to make deep and fast break

6、throughs.The size of the Panzerwaffe is too limited in 1939 and its practical use is not yet well defined, the old school favoring the classical warfare is still powerful in the German high command.Once the breakthroughs achieved, the German units led a classical Kesselschlacht war and the mechanize

7、d units were often badly used, completely dispersed, often engaged in urban warfare (the 4.PzD was used to enter in Warsaw in 9th September and had 60 damaged/destroyed tanks in this type of combat not in favour of armored units) and they led often front attacks instead of outflanking their enemy.1s

8、t4thIn the Infanterie Divisionen the men were 20-25 years old in the 1. and 2.Wellen (70 divisions) but sometimes 35-45 years old in the 3. and 4.Wellen (35 divisions), especially in the Landwehr. The training and equipments were very good for the 1. and 2. Wellen but largely insufficient for the 3.

9、 and 4.Wellen sometimes issued with WW1 equipments. The German infantry is also massively horse drawn / foot infantry and there is usually 1 motor vehicle for 2 to 6 horses according to the units that are considered. In 1939, this infantry led most of the battles and 42 of the infantry divisions rem

10、ained to face the West front. In 1939, the German army is still very classical but in maturation and it already includes several innovations like the organization of the Panzerdivisionen :The Panzerwaffe formed in 1934 includes in 1939 7 Panzerdivisionen and 4 Leichten-Divisionen (light armored divi

11、sions) beside 4 ID (mot). It is the most powerful element of the Heer but only 16% of the tanks are armed with a 3.7cm or a 7.5cm gun, 84% of the tanks are Panzer I, Panzer II or command tanks. At the tactical, mobility and flexibility level the German mechanized units were superior to their Polish

12、opponents in 1939 but the inter-arms cooperation (tank/infantry/artillery/air support) was not yet mature even if already tested on the very basic level in Spain with the Panzer I and several crews.The close air support provided by the Ju87s and Hs123s.The omnipresent tactical air reconnaissance pla

13、yed a major role in Poland and later in France : spotter aircrafts (Hs126s and Fi156s) were accompanying the troops during their advance to communicate the enemy positions and direct the supports. Reconnaissance squadrons were detached to the Korps, Armee and even sometimes divisions.The German tact

14、ics with good inter-arms cooperation (tank / aircraft couple, close air support provided by the Ju87s and Hs123s, omnipresent tactical air reconnaissance) were not mature in Poland but they are ready for Fall Gelb. The first large trials with air-ground cooperation were to be held in Grafenwhr train

15、ing area21st- 2A5uthgust 1939, but cancelled due to the oncoming war. Therefore, in September 1939 the Germans had no new Blitzkrieg tactics to use. Later, in France, Greece and Yugoslavia, Blitzkrieg tactics were used. In Poland the battle turned into something that greatly resembled the Kesselschl

16、achten from World War I even if more motorized. On the other hand, the so-called Blitzkrieg proper was revealed later to the Allies.TOTAL HEER TROOPS 26th August 1st September 1939 :7 Panzerdivisionen, 4 Leichten Divisionen, 4 ID (mot), 3 Gebirgsdivisionen and 87 ID = 105 divisionsFROM FALL WEISS TO

17、 FALL GELBEvolution of the Heer French armyPOLISH ARMY 193939 infantry divisions, 11 cavalry brigades, 2 motorized cavalry brigades and independent units 998 AFVs (324 tanks, 574 tankettes and 100 armored cars)About 3500 field artillery pieces About 400 planes1) Infantry30 infantry divisions + 9 res

18、erve infantry divisionsEach with :3 infantry regiments1 light artillery regiment1 heavy artillery battalion (12 pieces)1 engineer battalion1 signal company1 AA battery (4 guns)Each infantry regiment contains : 3x infantry battalions1x MG battalion Total : 84 infantry regiments + 6 mountain infantry

19、regiments2) Cavalry11 cavalry brigadesEach with :3 to 4 cavalry regiments1 light artillery squadron (12-16 pieces)1 AA squad (2 guns)1 engineer company several service unitsEach cavalry regiment contains : 4x squadron1x MG company several service units Total : about 40 cavalry regiments (27 uhlan, 1

20、0 mounted rifles and 3 light horse)3) Armored units2 motorized cavalry brigades, each with : 2x 2 motorized cavalry regiments1x Vickers light tank company2x reconnaissance TK tankettes company 1x AT battalionIndependent units :2x 7TP tank battalions 2x 7TP tank companies1x Renault R35 battalion (eva

21、cuated to Romania, didnt fight) 3x FT17 tank companies11 cavalry brigades and 18 infantry divisions had also 1 recon company with WZ armored cars or TK, TKS or TKF tankettes.Total :50x Renault R35 (37mm SA18 gun)3x Hotchkiss H35 tank (37mm SA18 gun)135x 7TP (20 with two MG-armed turrets, 115 with a

22、good 37mm Bofors gun) 102x FT17 (about 70 with a French 37mm SA18 gun)34x Vickers tanks (47mm Vickers QF gun)574x TK, TKS or TKF tankettes (24 TKS tankettes were armed with 20mm wz.38 FK-A gun)100x armored cars (of those were armed with the French 37mm SA18 gun : 6 Peugeot, 30 armoredhalftracks Citr

23、on-Kgresse wz.28, 10 armored car wz.29 close to the French Laffly 50AM, armored cars wz.34 based on a Citron-Kgresse chassis).30That makes a total of 998 AFVs including 371 AFVs armed with 20mm, 37mm or 47mm guns (271 of the tanks, 24 of the tankettes and 76 of the armored cars).4) ArtilleryApart fr

24、om the divisional artillery there were also 23x heavy artillery groups3x super heavy artillery groups 20x siege artillery platoonsThe AT artillery is present as- platoons in the cavalry brigades- companies in the infantry regimentsTotal :Field Artillery :24x 1230x466x900x242x38x65mm wz.06 French mou

25、ntain gunsSchneider 75mm wz.97 guns (also used in AT role) Buffetaut indicates 1374 guns 75mm Mle1902 Russian guns100mm Skoda howitzersSchneider 105mm guns (118 wz.13 and 124 wz.29) Buffetaut indicates 254 gunsDe Bange 120mm guns (32 wz.78/09/31 and 6 wz.78/10/31) with trail from Russian 6 howitzer)

26、 Buffetaut indicates 43 gunsSchneider 155mm wz.17 French howitzers Buffetaut indicates 340 guns too very heavy 220 mm mortars340x27xAT artillery :1200x 37mm Bofors gunsAA artillery :306x72x 84x 12x 2x40mm Bofors guns 75mm Bofors gunsSchneider 75mm wz.1897/25 French AA gunsSchneider 75mm wz.1918/24 F

27、rench AA guns on De Dion-Bouton cars (self-propelled AA guns) Schneider 75mm wz.1917 French AA gunsENGAGED BY GERMANY About 63 divisions2771 tanks (16% of the tank armed with a 3.7cm or a 7.5cm gun) About 5000 field artillery piecesAbout 3000 planesGERMAN LOSSES :40,390 losses (13,110 KIA, 27,280 MI

28、A and WIA) + Soviets (2953 KIA)285 aircrafts definitely destroyed (+ 279 damaged ones)236 tanks definitely destroyed (8.5% of the engaged tanks)POLISH LOSSES :200,000 losses (66,300 KIA, 133,700 WIA and MIA) (an about 200,000 civilian killed by bombings) 787,000 prisoners188 aircrafts + many escaped

29、 to RumaniaB. THE PHONEY WARBetween 1920 and 1927, France made military agreements with Belgium, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Yugoslavia but in 1938 the situation had considerably evolved : Belgium is completely neutralCzechoslovakia is seen as too weak to counter any German or even Italian a

30、ttack. It is in trouble because of the German minorities in the Sudetes and France doesnt really count anymore with it.Romania is between Hungary and Bulgaria and is not really in a situation to be an ally but French armaments are being delivered to Romania (Renault R35 tanks, 105mm field guns, Bran

31、dt mortars etc.)Poland appears then as the last possible ally. The French intelligence services noted weaknesses about the Polish Army in their reports :o insufficient instruction of the NCOso tactical doctrines not adapted to modern warfareo insufficient ammunition and equipmento war industry too w

32、eakBut they also noted good points like the instruction of the officers and the ardent patriotism. Poland is seen as a good ally but it is unsure if Poland will fight with the French troops at this time.During this time, French politicians are also trying very slowly to cooperate with the Soviets in

33、 the simple aim to isolate Germany but the latter choose to support Hitler. Nonetheless in 1938, the French Army on its side doesnt see a possible alliance with the Soviets at all. At the beginning of WW2 it is intended to send an allied expeditionary force in Finland . but the intervention takes fi

34、nally place later in Norway in 1940 with British, French and Polish soldiers.In February 1938, the British Army has only 6 active divisions and 11 reserve divisions. Great Britain doesnt want to be involved in the coming war and before October 1938 is not implicated in the rearmament programs beside

35、 France. Chamberlain and Lord Halifax indicated (as noted by Georges Bonnet) that a ground involvement in continental Europe by the British Army is purely hypothetical and could at the moment only reach 2 incomplete divisions.Therefore by end 1938 the single allied ground troops that could help Fran

36、ce against Germany are those from the Polish army and 2 British divisions. At that time the involvement of Poland is nevertheless also seen very hypothetical because of the foreign policy of colonel Beck.The perception from the French high command about the French troops in 1938 is also not very goo

37、d, many armaments and divisions are lacking, the war industry is insufficient etc. but the clash with Germany is not expected before 1941 (in the worst case for end 1940). France was not prepared at all to enter in a war in 1939 and many types of equipment will lack in 1940. In 1938-1939, France fee

38、ls roughly alone to face Germany on the continent and is very cautious. This will be illustrated by the decisions taken in 1939.During the Phoney war the French and German armies didnt remain completely inactive. France and Great- Britain declared war to Germany after the invasion of Poland but at f

39、irst this is mainly a political gesture.The French attack on the Sarre area in 1939 is very limited and is much more a probe than a full scale offensive. Such an offensive could in no case be launched at that time. Even engaging all the peacetime units in north-east France would not have been suffic

40、ient and there would remain no troops to cover the mobilization of the reserve divisions. The Saar attack was launched on 7th September 1939, 4 days only after France declared war to Germany. The Sarre area is the single area where the probe could be launched. The neutrality of Luxembourg and Belgiu

41、m made this 180 km border (from the Rhine to Luxembourg) the single area were French and Germans were in direct contact.The combats by themselves were not really intense; they looked often more like traps, ambushes, a bit like guerrilla warfare against the cautiously advancing French troops. The Ger

42、mans let only active rearguards units and a huge number of AT and AP mines everywhere. The French troops are for the first time confronted to huge quantities of AP and AT mines. These weapons (especially the AP mines) are rather new and the soldiers dont really know how to deal with so many mines. A

43、ll the reports insist on the numerous mines hidden everywhere even AP mines in the trees. There were nonetheless losses (the French 21e DI alone for example had 329 losses) on both sides and the French captured also German troops.In front of the French troops in the sector of the Moselle the reinfor

44、cement of the German front is a reality :28th August 1939 : 6 divisions6th September 1939, after France declared war and just before the French move : 12 divisions 12th September 1939 : 14-16 divisions20th September 1939 : 18-20 divisionsSo yes the Germans moved additional troops to this part of the

45、 border against the French troops but of course it was far from sufficient to help the Polish troops. This first French attack was before all political but it had to be said that general Weygand is guilty of having told the Polish HQ that a major offensive was currently launched. The French politici

46、ans are also guilty for having a foreign policy completely incompatible with the insufficient means they allowed to the French Army (whose modernization and reorganization had roughly just begun).Later operations were intended (e.g. an attack was planned on Sarrelouis on 22nd September 1939) but had

47、 no justification at all since Poland was already defeated. The Polish collapse was faster than initially believed. The French HQ thought that Poland would resist at least 6 months.France needed 15 days to fully mobilize but launched the operations in the Sarre 4 days only after the declaration of w

48、ar. If France was to have launched a full scale offensive 15 days after it declared war this would have been around 18th September 1939 at the earliest. This was 4 days after the Polish government had opened negotiations on the terms of its flight to Rumania and the same day that it and its military

49、 High Command fled their own country and ordered all their forces to head for neutral borders.The rapid collapse of Poland left France in a very exposed position. France remained in 1939 roughly alone to face Germany, which had nearly twice its metropolitan population (including Germans from Austria

50、, Czechoslovakia, Poland etc.). Germany had also at that time a pact with the Soviets (which led to strikes and some sabotages organized by communists in France to target the French military industry).The Belgian and Dutch neighbours were at that time neutral; they did not allow the French troops to

51、 deploy on their territory before an invasion and had rather tiny armies. The British could eventually put only 4-5 divisions into Europe in September 1939 and would take 2 years to field a continental-scale army. The French were very cautious in September 1939, but one can see why. The evolution of

52、 the German army from 1939 to 1940 shows that the French HQ had really reasons to be cautious. Not ready in 1939 and also unable to really match the innovations in terms of organization of the German army in 1940. The modernization of the French army (in all the fields like the bombers for example)

53、should have enabled to be at level with the new German army in 1941 but the Germans attacked earlier.What the Polish asked for before all was air support and allied bombings. Everyone studying the state of the French Air Force in 1938-1939 knows that at that time nothing could be done for that. Even

54、 around Sedan on 14th May 1940 only about 30 French bombers could be engaged ! On 3rd September 10 British light bombers dropped propaganda tracts over Germany and on 4th September there is the first British bombing mission with several planes over the naval base at Heligoland (5 Blenheim bombers we

55、re lost). The first combat involving fighters takes place on8thSeptember 1939 between French Curtiss H75s and German Me109s with 2 German aircrafts reported shot down. The same day a Mureaux 115 (observation aircraft) is lost over Karlsruhe. During September 1939, 24 German aircrafts, 27 British air

56、crafts and 30 French aircrafts were shot down.In total, between September 1939 and April 1940, 176 German aircrafts were lost for 82 British and 57 French ones (= 139 allied aircrafts).Concerning the ground operations during the Phoney War, except the Sarre limited actions, they consisted in ambushe

57、s and deep patrols behind enemy lines. The German Stosstruppen and the French Corps Francs launched many deep reconnaissance patrols, prepared ambushes, took prisoners etc. behind the enemy lines. There were also artillery battles etc. The so-called Phoney War was not a completely quiet period of ti

58、me and had its number of killed and wounded men.Concerning the French Navy in 1939 there were several small actions : German freighter Chemnitz : captured by the submarine Poncelet on 28th September 1939German submarine U-49 : heavily damaged by torpedo boat Siroco on 20th November 1939 German merchantmen Halle (scuttled) and Santa Fe (captured) : found by a joint Franco-British group including Dupleix cruiser, counter-torpedo boat Le Terrible and counter-torpedo boat L