War in Poland 1939 - false myths?

[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.