Can anybody recommend books, links and other reference material for the German and Russian invasions of Poland in 1939. I'm after both strategic overview as well as hopefully some tactical accounts of actual actions to give me a better understanding of the campaign in general. For example, the usual starting point is the Osprey Campaign book, however is it any good?
All offers appreciated.
Cheers guys.
The Osprey book is a good primer. When things get back to normal look for Guderain's "Actung Panzer", which gives the basics of panzer doctrine. It often turns up in the Works. There is also Zaloga's Blitzkeig Armour Camofalge and markings - 1939-40
IanS
Thanks Ian for the heads up, will check them up.
'The Polish Campaign 1939' by Zaloga and Madej is the best book currently available in English on the Polish armed forces for this conflict. The Osprey 'Polish Armour of the Blitzkreig' is also good and again by Zaloga. The following book I don't have but is the latest to be published on the campaign:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Case-White-Invasion-Poland-1939/dp/147283495X/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=QRSHK8K8TQKGD08BSYXF (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Case-White-Invasion-Poland-1939/dp/147283495X/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=QRSHK8K8TQKGD08BSYXF)
The following Blog is a treasure trove and well worth browsing. Very much aimed at Flames of War, but the info and scenarios etc would work for most rulesets:
http://anatolisgameroom.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20September%20campaign (http://anatolisgameroom.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20September%20campaign)
The Invincible Black Brigade by Jerzy Majka is a very good book. If you can pick it up at a sensible price. It was about £10-£15 when it came out Amazon now shows it at stupid money.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Invincible-Black-Brigade-Polish-Cavalry/dp/8361421254/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=polish+tanks&qid=1588368987&sr=8-6
The Polish tracks and wheels are also good if you can find them again at a sensible price. There are three of them
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vickers-7TP-Forced-Vickers-4-ton-Polish/dp/8361421505/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=polish+tank+camouflage&qid=1588369799&sr=8-1
Just ordered First to fight by Roger Moorhouse. So no idea how good it is
Thanks again for more sources, will add these to the list, author of Case White involved in a podcast on the invasion of Poland here.
Link: WW2 Podcast - Case White
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM8FqdYseiE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM8FqdYseiE)
Cheers
Jon
I realise this might be too late to be of use, but can I add "The German Campaign in Poland (1939)" by Major Robert M Kennedy. It is a Department of the Army pamphlet published in 1956. When I was searching for information about the campaign back in the 80's, this was a very useful source. My copy has a selection of fold out maps at the end, high level operational but good at showing how the campaign progressed.
Hi Gareth, we all have trowels and silly hats on here, lots of archeology goes on
Hi Gareth,
thanks for this and I think your first post on the forum? If so, welcome on board :)
Quote from: Gareth121 on 13 November 2020, 11:11:48 AM
I realise this might be too late to be of use, but can I add "The German Campaign in Poland (1939)" by Major Robert M Kennedy.
And, like many American military publications, is available for free (https://history.army.mil/html/books/104/104-20/CMH_Pub_104-20.pdf)!
:-bd
OSPREY - Poland 1939 German's lightning strike' - yes, very good.
Robert Forczyk - CASE WHITE The Invasion of Poland 1939 - five-star brilliancy.