Win the war
Lim Word
© Lim Word, 2018
ISBN 978-5-4493-5027-5
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
After the “Munich Collusion” with one of the centers of power in Europe, Great Britain, Germany, the Sudetenland with all defensive installations, populated by 90% ethnic Germans, are transferred. Poland does not want to miss Soviet aircraft to help the Czech Republic. Further, on March 14, 1939, Hitler summoned the Czechoslovak president Emile Gahu to Berlin and proposed a protectorate. The president has to agree
Resistance is rendered only by one garrison, with the commander of which the higher authorities did not manage to contact in time: twenty-four German soldiers were killed and wounded during a forty-minute battle. In the photo – Czech soldiers patrol the German quarter (prior to the famous agreement)
In addition to 3.5 million ethnic Germans, Germany receives “Skoda” factories and six hundred fully ready-to-use tanks, not bad at that time, 38 (t). England returns to the occupied country (hence, already Germany), taken out before that for storage of gold reserves – 1.4 billion marks. Slovakia becomes an independent state after it transfers southern territories to Germany’s ally, Hungary, 87% inhabited by the Hungarians.
Parade of the German fascist troops in Prague, 1939.
Ethnic Germans of ex-Czechoslovakia in national costumes meet German troops
The trophy tanks of Czechoslovak production LT vz.35 before shipment to Germany. Weight 10.5 tons, the forehead of the body, the tower 25 mm., Lateral booking 16 mm. The gun is 37 mm., two machine-guns. Total for 1939 produced 424 cars
The Czech tank T-38, 25-mm. armor, 37 mm. gun, suspension is close to the system “Christy”. More than 600 units were produced. A fairly successful armored vehicle is used in all subsequent Wehrmacht campaigns, until 1942.
Hungarian wets of Italian production “Ansaldo” are part of the Czech city of Khust, 1938.
At the height of the Sudeten crisis, Poland enters its troops in the Teshin region, which belongs to Czechoslovakia. These territories have long been inhabited by Czechs. The plentiful influx of Polish guest workers and already entrenched immigrants from Galicia changes the ethnic composition of the region, although it does not equalize it: 80,000 Poles, 120,000 Czechs, 27,000 inhabitants of other nationalities. Poland can capture the Teshin region – and therefore does so. In the photo – a Polish tank of English production Vickers Mk. E Type B in the Czech city. The weight of the armored vehicle is 7.2 tons, armor is 13 mm., 37 or 45 mm. a gun
Since October 1, 1938, Czech troops have withdrawn from the border. Poland receives 227 thousand inhabitants, usually speaking a mixed dialect and 805 sq. Km. km. territory. In the photo – ethnic Poles of Teshinskaya Oblast in festive costumes meet Polish troops
The territories of Poland, acquired by Germany at the expense of Germany under the Treaty of Versailles (Western Prussia and part of Silesia, see the map above), prevent the Reich from uniting with East Prussia, the “cradle of German militarism”, its sacred center. After negotiations on the creation of a land corridor, or at least the transit of goods through Poland without bureaucratic obstacles, September 1, 1939, the invasion begins simultaneously from Germany, Slovakia and Prussia. The Polish Air Force, having existed for three days, shoots down 130 Luftwaffe aircraft. From September 22, the bombing of Warsaw begins: 1,150 aircraft drop 4,500 tons of bombs, and on September 28 the Polish military command (the civil government takes refuge in France) signs an act of surrender. Photo – view from the cockpit of the German bunker “Junkers-88” to the Polish city (possibly the suburbs of Warsaw)
German troops in Poland, 1939. In modern historical literature, the thesis of the weak mechanization of the infantry units of the Wehrmacht is being discussed. However, this is not quite true
A significant part of ethnic Poles consider themselves to be a branch of an ancient German race, or descendants of Iranian-speaking Sarmatians, but not Slavs. For some unknown reason, the unification of forces that has increased since 1938, 90 million Germany, and 35 million Poland, for their march to the East, will not take place. Otherwise, the USSR and its Anglo-Saxon allies could hardly count on winning the war. A production photograph – a German soldier, probably treats something, a guarded Polish girl
Since September 17, Soviet troops have entered Poland. Their goal is to return the Western Belorussia and Western Ukraine, captured during the Russian-Polish war of 1920, to protect the Belarusians, Ukrainians and Jews who are there, respectively. The main idea: if Poland shows enough courage in confronting Hitler, it is actively assisted by France and England, the Wehrmacht meets with a worthy rebuff, the status quo is observed on the part of the USSR. The obvious victory of the Germans, inclined, of course, to occupy the entire territory, means the entry into the game of the Red Army. Part of Poland – the Vilna (Vilnius) region with 490 thousand inhabitants are transferred to Lithuania. Some territories pass to the satellite of Germany – Slovakia. Refused to accept Soviet citizenship 78,000 refugees (including Jews) from Germany occupied by Poland, are deported back, or receive 20 years of camps. Losses of the parties: Poland – irretrievably 63 000 soldiers and officers in the battles with the Wehrmacht, 420 000 in German captivity, 230 000 in the USSR (ordinary and non-commissioned officers are dismissed at home, in 1942 most of them, in agreement with England, bypassing Iran, joins the British forces, forming the army of General Anders or Sikorsky), as well as 357 aircraft of different types. Germany – 15 000 killed, as well as 319 armored cars and 285 aircraft (as a result of air crashes, air defense and fighter operations). Soviet troops (RKKA) – 2,000 dead, 17 tanks and 10 aircraft. Poland: irretrievable losses in battles with the Red Army – 3000. Slovak army: 18 people. In the photo – the Soviet tank BT-7 in the Polish city, 1939.
Soviet troops in Western Belorussia. The Republic reunites and gets rid of violent polonization, it’s true. But, at the same time, about 100,000 wealthy (hard-working) peasants, entrepreneurs and landowners, according to Stalin’s decision, are sent “for reforging” to the Gulag. Approximately the same statistics for Western Ukraine. In the center of the photo is the Soviet armored vehicle BA-10. Weight 5 tons, crew 4 people, armor 10 mm., Gun 45 mm., Two machine guns. In subsequent battles with the Wehrmacht, this machine will prove to be quite mediocre. Manufactured 3,400 items
Lithuanian tanks, probably of their own production, on the border with the Polish Republic. The servicemen are waiting for the order to start the occupation. The prize for this campaign, with the permission of the Germans – the Vilnius region, as well as the payment for former humiliations and ultimatums from Poland
Ideas