Invasion of Poland from the Polish Perspective | Animated History
Summary
TLDRThe video script narrates the invasion of Poland from a Polish perspective, detailing the country's struggle against overwhelming odds during WWII. It highlights Poland's efforts to secure its sovereignty, the betrayal by allies, and the nation's valiant but ultimately unsuccessful defense. The script also touches on the role of the Polish military, civilian resistance, and the tragic outcome of the invasion, setting the stage for further Polish involvement in the war.
Takeaways
- 🎥 The video script narrates the invasion of Poland from a Polish perspective, highlighting the experiences of a veteran and the broader context of the Second World War.
- 🏰 Poland, having emerged from the Great War, found itself surrounded by hostile neighbors and superpowers, leading to a sense of vulnerability and the need for defensive alliances.
- 🤝 Poland sought security through alliances with France and a non-aggression pact with the USSR, but these diplomatic efforts were ultimately undermined by the aggressive actions of Nazi Germany.
- 🔄 The script describes a series of diplomatic maneuvers by Poland's foreign minister, including securing non-aggression pacts, which were later negated by the resurgence of Germany under Hitler.
- 🗺️ Poland's military strategy, Plan West, was designed to delay the German advance and relied heavily on the support of Britain and France, which did not materialize as expected.
- 🛡️ Despite being poorly equipped and facing overwhelming odds, the Polish military put up a fierce resistance, including notable victories such as the Battle of Mokra.
- 🐎 The Polish cavalry, contrary to outdated perceptions, was a modern force equipped with advanced weaponry and played a significant role in the defense.
- 🚂 Polish armored trains were an unexpected asset, causing significant disruptions to German supply lines and communications.
- 🏙️ Warsaw's civilian population contributed significantly to the city's defense by constructing anti-tank ditches and barricades, turning the city into a fortress.
- 🌍 The invasion of Poland marked the beginning of World War II and was a turning point that led to the eventual collapse of Polish resistance and the establishment of German and Soviet occupation.
- 🏁 The Polish government in exile continued to fight for the restoration of Poland, organizing a resistance movement and contributing to the Allied war effort.
Q & A
What was the situation of the veteran sitting by the fireplace in the suburbs of Warsaw?
-The veteran, a former soldier who fought alongside the German Empire in the Great War, was now facing the irony of the same forces coming to destroy his home. Despite his willingness to fight, his maimed condition left him without use to the army, symbolizing the desperation and betrayal Poland felt during the invasion.
What was Poland's geopolitical situation after World War I?
-Poland, reestablished after World War I, was a nation surrounded by potential threats. It was the largest among the newly formed countries in Eastern Europe but was overshadowed by the superpowers of Germany to the west and the Soviet Union to the east, both of which had territorial disputes with Poland.
What was the significance of the Non-Aggression Pact between Poland and the USSR in 1932?
-The Non-Aggression Pact with the USSR in 1932 was significant as it provided a temporary easing of tensions between Poland and the Soviet Union, a state that had been seething from its loss in the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-1920. It was seen as a move to secure Poland's future as a sovereign state.
Why did Poland's annexation of Zawoja in Czechoslovakia prove to be a strategic error?
-Poland's annexation of Zawoja was a strategic error because it was seen as an act of aggression by Britain and France. This move caused these countries to reconsider their support for Poland, leaving it more vulnerable to German demands and eventual invasion.
What was the Polish strategy 'Plan West' and why was it dependent on Britain and France?
-Plan West was Poland's military strategy to delay German forces at the frontiers while falling back to a defensive line along major rivers, hoping to hold the line until their allies launched an invasion of Germany. Its success was entirely dependent on Britain and France upholding their guarantees and providing military support, which they did not do effectively.
How was the Polish military equipped and organized at the start of the German invasion?
-At the start of the invasion, the Polish military was organized into various units including 26 infantry divisions, eight cavalry brigades, and a small number of armored and motorized units. The soldiers were motivated but poorly equipped with obsolete communication systems and a lack of motorized transport. They had a limited number of modern aircraft and tanks, many of which were outdated by 1939 standards.
What was the role of the Polish cavalry during the invasion?
-Contrary to popular misconceptions, the Polish cavalry did not charge into battle with only sabers and lances. They were modern troops equipped with bolt-action rifles, anti-tank rifles, and machine guns. They played a significant role, including destroying at least 50 German tanks and inflicting around 800 casualties at the Battle of Mokra, one of the few Polish victories during the invasion.
Why did the French halt their offensive into Germany despite initial success?
-Despite initial success in their offensive into the Saar region of Germany, the French halted their advance and eventually retreated to the Maginot Line. The exact reasons are complex but are tied to a combination of factors including strategic decisions, the broader context of the war, and a reluctance to engage in a full-scale war with Germany.
How did the Polish defenders of Warsaw resist the German siege?
-The Polish defenders of Warsaw resisted the German siege through a combination of military tactics and civilian efforts. They had prepared a network of anti-tank ditches and improvised barricades, transforming Warsaw into a fortress. Despite being heavily outnumbered and outgunned, they managed to repel several German attacks and endure a week of constant bombardment.
What was the ultimate fate of Poland after the invasion by Germany and the Soviet Union?
-After the invasion by Germany and the subsequent Soviet invasion, Poland was partitioned between the two powers according to the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. The Polish government went into exile and continued the fight from abroad, organizing a resistance movement within the occupied country. Despite the devastating loss, the fight for Poland continued throughout World War II.
How did the Polish military's situation change after the Soviet Union's invasion?
-The Soviet Union's invasion complicated the Polish military's situation drastically. With the leadership fleeing to Romania and the remaining forces unsure how to react to the dual invasion, the Polish resistance crumbled. Some units continued to fight, but they could not withstand the combined might of Germany and the Soviet Union, leading to the eventual fall of Poland.
Outlines
🏡 The Polish Veteran's Struggle
The script opens with a poignant scene of a war veteran in Warsaw's suburbs, reflecting on his inability to fight due to his injuries, despite his willingness to defend his home. The video's theme is introduced as 'The Invasion of Poland', focusing on the Polish perspective of the Second World War's onset. The narrator, Griffin Johnson, sets the stage by discussing Poland's geopolitical challenges post-WWI, its alliances with France, and the non-aggression pacts with the USSR and Germany. The narrative then shifts to the rise of Hitler's Germany and the strategic blunders by Poland that led to its isolation, culminating in the need for a reworked defense plan against Germany.
🚩 Poland's Military Readiness and Strategy
This paragraph delves into the specifics of Poland's military situation in 1939. Despite the UK and France's insistence on no provocation, Poland's military, under Marshall Ritz Schmuckel, attempted to mobilize. The strategy, Plan West, aimed to delay the German forces while retreating to a defensive line along major rivers, hoping for allied support. The paragraph outlines the structure of the Polish forces, their equipment, including tanks and aircraft, and the challenges they faced, such as outdated communication systems and a lack of motorized transport. It contrasts the Polish military's capabilities with Germany's, highlighting the imbalance.
💥 The German Invasion and Polish Resistance
The script recounts the German invasion's commencement and the Polish military's disarray. Despite the initial success of the Polish cavalry and armored trains, the rapid German advance and the false flag operations led to a swift collapse of Polish defenses. The UK and France's eventual declaration of war on Germany brought a glimmer of hope to the Polish, but the lack of substantial military support and the French halting their advance dashed Polish expectations. The narrative highlights the Polish resistance, particularly in Warsaw, where civilian efforts bolstered the city's defenses, but also the city's eventual siege and the Polish struggle against overwhelming odds.
🏰 Warsaw's Defense and the Soviet Betrayal
This section narrates the defense of Warsaw, detailing the city's transformation into a fortress by civilian volunteers and the Polish defenders' resilience against German attacks. It describes the innovative tactics used by the Polish, such as setting fire to streets and hurling burning mattresses, to counter the German tanks. However, the situation took a tragic turn with the Soviet invasion, which波兰 initially welcomed but soon realized was an additional threat rather than aid. The paragraph captures the despair as Polish leadership fled, leaving the forces disoriented and the country's defense in shambles.
🏹 The Aftermath and Continued Polish Resistance
The final paragraph summarizes the aftermath of the invasion, with Warsaw's surrender after three weeks of resistance and the high cost in terms of casualties. It highlights the Polish government's decision to continue the fight from exile and the formation of a resistance movement, which would later lead to the Warsaw Uprising. The paragraph encapsulates the Polish spirit's resilience and the determination to fight for the restoration of Poland, despite the betrayal by allies and the overwhelming odds.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Invasion of Poland
💡Maimed Soldiers
💡Non-Aggression Pact
💡Polish Perspective
💡Calamity and Betrayal
💡Defensive Alliance
💡False Flag Attacks
💡Plan West
💡Polish Air Force
💡Soviet Union
💡Warsaw Uprising
Highlights
A veteran soldier in Warsaw reflects on his service and the impending invasion by the German forces.
Introduction to the video by Griffin Johnson, focusing on the invasion of Poland from the Polish perspective.
The geopolitical context of Poland post-World War I, surrounded by enemies and the redrawing of Eastern Europe's map.
Poland's strategic alliances with France and the USSR to ensure its sovereignty.
The rise of Adolf Hitler and Germany's renewed aggression towards Poland.
Poland's annexation of Zawoja and the international response affecting its alliances.
Germany's demands on Poland, including the annexation of Danzig and the construction of a road and railway through the Polish Corridor.
Poland's military strategy, Plan West, to delay German forces and fall back to a defensive line along major rivers.
The false flag attacks by Germany and Hitler's radio broadcast to justify the invasion of Poland.
Details of the Polish military organization and equipment at the onset of the invasion.
The German invasion begins with the bombardment of Westerplatte and the rapid advance of German forces.
The role of the Polish cavalry brigades as elite units and their tactics during the invasion.
The British and French declaration of war on Germany and the lack of immediate military support for Poland.
The French offensive into Germany and its subsequent halt, leaving Poland without the anticipated aid.
The aerial defense of Warsaw and the resilience of the Polish Air Force against German bombers.
The siege of Warsaw by German forces and the city's transformation into a fortress by civilian volunteers.
The Soviet Union's invasion of Poland and the Polish High Command's loss of confidence in the defense of the country.
The surrender of the Warsaw garrison and the end of the Polish resistance against Germany.
The establishment of the Polish government in exile and its commitment to continue the fight for Poland's restoration.
Transcripts
in the suburbs of warsaw
a veteran sits alone by the fireplace
the dying embers illuminate his stoic
face
and the occasional flashes of light
pierce the threadbare curtains
covering the windows he would be out
there right now
if he could sadly the army has little
use
for maimed soldiers even in situations
as desperate as this having fought
alongside the forces of the german
empire in the great war
this veteran can scarcely believe that
they are now coming to destroy
his home
[Music]
hi i'm griffin johnson the armchair
historian
today's video the invasion of poland
from the polish perspective
the rarely covered story of calamity and
betrayal
that started the second world war
during the invasion miscommunication
within the polish ranks led to many
unnecessary casualties fortunately data
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history or follow the link in the
description below
born from the ashes of the great war
poland was a nation beset by enemies
the entire map of eastern europe had
been redrawn
after the war and although poland was
the largest
and strongest of these new countries it
was dwarved by the superpowers on the
horizon
to the west there was germany frustrated
by the polish corridor cutting off its
access to east
prussia to the east there was the soviet
union
seething from its loss in the 1919-1920
polish soviet war
desperate to secure its future as a
sovereign state poland
entered into a defensive alliance with
france in 1921
however this distant ally offered scant
protection
against soviet aggression and poland
began investing heavily in its eastern
defenses
it was only after poland's foreign
minister joseph beck
secured a non-aggression pact with the
ussr
in 1932 that tension seemed to ease
then the unthinkable happened germany
that supposedly humbled shell of a
nation
suddenly burst back onto the scene led
by adolf hitler's
national socialist party this resurgent
an increasingly militant country
now had its eyes dead set on the
ethnically divided territories torn from
it by the treaty of versailles
but once again beck stepped up to defuse
the situation
wrangling another non-aggression pact
from germany in 1934
however this house of cards came
crashing down
just a few years later after hitler
seized the german ethnic
sudetenland in october in 1938 poland
used it as a precedent to annex
zawoja a polish ethnic region in
czechoslovakia
this was a monumental blunder and caused
both britain and france who saw the move
as an act of aggression to reconsider
their support of poland
seeing an opportunity open up germany
submitted a list of demands to poland
that included annexing the free city of
danzig
and constructing an extra territorial
road and railway through the polish
corridor
losing danzig would have cut off poland
almost entirely from the sea
and a german railway could have later
been used to justify the seizure of the
entire
corridor thus back refused hitler's
demands
denouncing them as tantamount to a
renunciation of polish sovereignty
beck also refused to negotiate with the
increasingly belligerent soviets
and spent most of the next year
campaigning for western support in the
event of hostilities
which he now saw as inevitable
as tensions escalated plans were drawn
up to defend against an attack
from the north and west however they had
to be immediately reworked
after germany completely annexed
czechoslovakia
in march of 1939 which stretched the
polish-german border
much further to the south suddenly
poland had to worry about
every point on the compass later that
month on march 31st
poland formed a tentative military
alliance with both britain and france
with the former promising to support
poland's independence
by august 1939 hitler was seeking
any pretext to justify an invasion of
poland
as panzers massed along the border
marshall edvard ritz schmuckel
commander-in-chief of poland's military
tried desperately to mobilize polish
forces
but his efforts were foiled by the uk
and france who insisted that the polish
offer no provocation to the germans and
so their army sat idle
until the 30th of august when ritz
schmiegel finally ordered a general
mobilization
just one day after general mobilization
was ordered in poland
german troops dressed in polish uniforms
launched a series of false flag attacks
against german military
and civilian targets hitler furiously
denounced these supposed polish attacks
in an evening radio broadcast that night
which he used to conceal his real
intentions
war was inevitable
prior to this point polish generals had
recognized the impossibility of a
conventional defensive posture
their strategy named plan west was
instead
to delay german forces at the frontiers
while falling back to a defensive line
along the major rivers
there they hoped to hold the line until
their allies launched an invasion of
germany
the success of plan west depended
entirely
on britain and france upholding their
guarantees
poland's military strategists headed by
martial ritz
did not think that their allies would
simply sit back and watch them succumb
to the third reich
yet there were some like chief of the
general staff
that's what stahevich who had doubts
about the plan's feasibility
inside the polish headquarters in warsaw
we can imagine a conversation
like this taking place
at the outbreak of war the polish army
had mobilized
only about 500 000 men of which half
were combat ready
throughout the war an additional 500 000
men would be raised
many of whom could have been mustered
much earlier had the british and french
not discouraged polish mobilization by
september
1939 the army was organized into
26 infantry divisions eight cavalry
brigades
one motorized brigade three mountain
brigades
two armored brigades and four
independent tank battalions
the soldiers were reasonably motivated
and disciplined but they were poorly
equipped
due to poland's relative poverty with
obsolete communication systems and a
lack of motorized
transport although unlike what
propaganda footage shows
the german army was not heavily
motorized or mechanized either
and both sides relied heavily on horses
on the ground poland's latest tank was
the 7tp
whose 37 millimeter gun could easily
knock out the panzer one or panzer ii
and even destroy the panzer iv
[Music]
unfortunately the 7tp was a rare sight
on the battlefield
only 161 were in service by 1939.
a much more common sight was poland's
575
tks takets while completely adorable
these tiny vehicles were barely more
useful
than armored cars and often less
reliable
lastly the poles had also purchased 88
tanks from their british
and french allies prior to the war
in the skies the polish air force had
fewer than 400 modern aircraft
poland's latest fighter the p24 was
highly competitive with foreign planes
when it was introduced in 1936
but it was outclassed by the time of the
invasion
to make matters worse poland had
exported many p-24s to other countries
leaving few for national defense thus
the polish air force had to rely
primarily on obsolete p-11s
finally at sea the polish navy consisted
of just
five submarines and four destroyers as
well as various smaller vessels
luckily before the german attack most
destroyers retreated to england while
the submarines were ordered to mine the
polish coast around danzig and interdict
enemy ships attempting to stage
amphibious landings
at 4 45 a.m on september 1st
1939 the german invasion began with the
pre-dreadnought
schleswig-holstein bombarding a military
depot
in danzig warrant officer vwadiswolf
bharan
recalled of the attack the air rocked
fountains of sand
stones and smoke rose up shattered
trunks and branches of trees
pieces of human bodies and weapons flew
in the air
as the sun rose marshall ritz
schmiegel's worst fears were confirmed
as
german armored spearheads punched
straight through the confused polish
lines with barely a pause
army group north attacked the polish
corridor army group south attacked woods
krakow and warsaw and forces from the
german puppet state of slovakia
attacked poland's southern regions
lieutenant jan karsky
detailed his division's ordeal the
extent of death
destruction and disorganization this
combined fire caused in three short
hours was
incredible by the time our whips were
sufficiently collected
even to survey the situation it was
apparent that we were in no position to
offer any serious resistance
by the end of september 2nd the polish
defenses had fallen apart
nonetheless some units resisted fiercely
especially the polish cavalry brigades
considered the elite units of the polish
military
far from charging into battle solely
armed with sabers and lances
these modern cavalrymen also carried
bolt-action rifles
anti-tank rifles and machine guns giving
them access to some of the most
concentrated firepower of the early war
period
at the battle of makra the vowenska
cavalry brigade destroyed at least
50 german tanks and inflicted some 800
casualties in one of the only polish
victories of the war
when not fighting directly the polish
cavalry acted as a mobile reserve
galloping to the front lines and then
dismounting to fight as infantry
polish armored trains also mounted
considerable resistance and wreaked
havoc on enemy supply lines and
communications
using the country's extensive rail
network and forests
for cover discounted by the germans as
obsolete
the self-sustaining behemoths which came
in light and heavy varieties
bristled with artillery pieces and
machine guns
overall the 10 or so armored trains
fought in about 90 battles during the
invasion
september 3rd britain and france finally
declared war on germany
after repeated pleas from polish
diplomats
the polish people were overjoyed with
the news but no military support
was forthcoming polish forces continued
losing ground on all fronts and on
september 5th
army's krakow woods prusa and poznan
withdrew
beyond the viscula and dunietz rivers
abandoning
western poland unfortunately the rivers
had almost completely dried up
due to drought so they posed little
obstacle to the german advance
to make matters worse fleeing refugees
clogged the roads
hampering efforts to contain the enemy
breakthrough
desperate for any assistance poland
urged its allies to attack germany's
extremely weak western front
france responded by launching an
offensive into the tsar region of
germany
on september 7th just as the polls had
hoped early reports told the french
making remarkable progress
capturing towns and overwhelming all
german resistance
once the british joined in the germans
would have no choice but to divert
forces to the west and poland would be
saved
but then on the 13th the unthinkable
occurred the french despite their
crushing momentum
halted their advance days later they
pulled back
to the relative safety of the maginot
line the news came like a slap in the
face to the poles
without the help of their allies plan
west was utterly ruined one of the few
bright spots in this otherwise dark time
was the aerial defense of warsaw
between september 1st and the 6th polish
fighters and anti-aircraft guns downed
80 german bombers and damaged more than
20
others however the situation
deteriorated as the germans escalated
their bombing campaign
on september 10th enemy bombers carried
out 17
consecutive bombing raids overwhelming
the polish defenses
meanwhile enemy tanks were closing in on
the capital
the poles were prepared for this thanks
to the effort of over 150 000 civilian
volunteers who had labored for weeks to
prepare
a network of anti-tank ditches and
improvised barricades
transforming warsaw into a fortress
on september 8th the polish defenders
watched with a mix of fear
and steely resolve as german tanks
appeared on the horizon
the attack began in the south as panzers
overran
several suburbs but when the germans
attacked from the west the poles pushed
them back
from behind their makeshift barricades
when the germans came again
on the 9th with reinforcements in tow
the stubborn poles repelled them again
between these two assaults the poles
destroyed 80 tanks and successfully
denied the enemy
further access to the western suburbs as
the battle raged on the poles made up
for their shortage of anti-tank weapons
with sheer
ingenuity for example they covered a
street with turpentine and
lit it on fire when enemy tanks got
close enough some poles even lit
mattresses on fire and hurled them onto
the germans from balconies
yet everywhere around warsaw poland's
defenses were collapsing
on the 10th brits ordered a general
retreat toward the romanian bridgehead
to relieve army woods army's pozman and
pemorgia
counter-attacked the left flank of the
german forces attacking warsaw between
the 19th
and the 15th although they were
initially successful
low morale poor coordination between
units and enemy air superiority
turned the battle of zura into a
crushing defeat as the germans encircled
and destroyed them between the 15th
and 19th polish defenses along the narev
river collapsed on the 12th
allowing the germans to advance toward
warsaw from the east
and lay siege to the city three days
later
combined with the survivors of the
battle of zura the defenders of warsaw
now numbered 140 000 soldiers
opposing them were 175 000 germans
supported by 1000 artillery pieces and
over a thousand
aircraft for an entire week the poles
endured a night and day bombardment as
the germans prepared to storm the city
however on the 15th of september the
warsaw garrison
managed to repel all attacks on the
pragas suburb
and two full-scale attacks on the 23rd
and
26th
as the siege continued strange reports
began
arriving from the east soviet forces
were pouring across the border
and the germans were retreating before
them to the beleaguered defenders of
levof
this meant salvation after enduring a
grueling siege by german forces
the city opened its gates to the red
army without hesitation
but even as polish citizens prepared to
celebrate with their unlikely saviors
the horrible truth was revealed the
soviets were not here to help but merely
to take their share of the spoils
it was at this point that the polish
high command lost confidence in the
defense of the country
so it fled to the border of romania to
the small town of kuri
abandoned by their leadership the
remaining polish forces had no idea how
to react to the soviet invasion
some units continued fighting but they
could not stop the twin juggernauts from
squeezing the life
out of poland
[Music]
on september 27th after three weeks of
staunch resistance the warsaw
garrison finally surrendered in the face
of the near complete destruction
of the city
one later wrote we listened silently to
these grim words
there were no questions or comments our
minds recognized the inevitability of
capitulation
but our feelings could not be reconciled
to it was this
to be the end fighting continued on
october 6
as the germans and soviets eliminated
the last pockets of resistance
the brave but unsuccessful defense of
poland came at a steep
price poland sustained between eight
hundred and eighty thousand
and one million two hundred and fifty
three thousand casualties
germany sustained between forty four
thousand and fifty one thousand
four hundred and the ussr between three
thousand eight hundred
and thirteen thousand during the
invasion nevertheless
about 100 000 polish soldiers managed to
escape
and they would go on to join the allied
war effort seeing action throughout the
remainder of the second world war
in november 1939 the polish government
in exile
announced that it would fight for the
restoration of poland
despite their resentment towards britain
and france for failing to come to their
aid in the invasion
they agreed to cooperate with them and
organize a resistance movement within
their occupied country
this culminated in the heroic but doomed
warsaw uprising
a fascinating topic for a future video
despite their devastating loss in the
invasion
the fight for poland was far from over
[Music]
you
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