Poland 1939: The Birth of Blitzkrieg

by Steven J. Zaloga, Howard Gerrard (Illustrator)

Overview

Osprey's examination of the German invasion of Poland, whichbegan World War II (1939-1945) in Europe, pitting the newly modernized army of Europe's great industrial power against the much smaller Polish army and introducing the world to a new style of warfare – Blitzkrieg. Panzer divisions spearheaded the German assault with Stuka dive-bombers prowling ahead spreading terror and mayhem. This book demonstrates how the Polish army was not as backward as it is often portrayed and fielded a tank force larger than that of the contemporary US Army. Its stubborn defence did give the Germans some surprises and German casualties were relatively heavy for such a short campaign.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781841764085
Publisher:	Osprey Publishing, Limited
Publication date:	08/19/2002
Series:	Campaign Series , #107
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	7.22(w) x 10.88(h) x 0.27(d)

About the Author

Steven J. Zaloga has a BA in history from Union College and an MA from Columbia University. He did graduate research on the 1939 campaign at Universitet Jagiellonski in Krakow, Poland, during the 1970s. He is currently a senior analyst for the aerospace research firm, Teal Group Corp, and an adjunct staff member with the Strategy, Forces and Resources division of the Institute for Defence Analyses in Washington, DC. He has written over 50 books on military history and technology, as well as many television documentaries.

Table of Contents

Introduction/Chronology/Opposing Commanders/Opposing Armies/Opposing Plans/The German Assault/The Battle of Warsaw/The Soviet Invasion/The Aftermath/The Battlefield today/Further Reading/Index