Map of the Campaign In Poland, 15-22 September 1939

Campaign In Poland, Deployment Of The Wehrmacht, 1 September 1939

Campaign In Poland, Disposition Of Oposing Forces, 31 August 1939

Campaign In Poland, Industry and Communications,1939

Used with the kind permission of the United States Military Academy – West Point

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The Invasion of Poland (1939) precipitated World War II. It was carried out by Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small German-allied Slovak contingent. In Poland the invasion is also known as “the September Campaign” (“Kampania wrześniowa”) or “the 1939 Defensive War” (“Wojna obronna 1939 roku”). In Germany it is sometimes referred to as “the Poland Campaign” (“Polenfeldzug”) or “the Polish-German War of 1939″. For the German General Staff, it was codenamed “Fall Weiss,” or “Case White”.
The invasion of Poland marked the start of World War II in Europe, as Poland’s western allies, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand,[6] declared war on Germany on 3 September, soon followed by France, South Africa and Canada, among others. The invasion began on 1 September 1939, one week after the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, and ended 6 October 1939, with Germany and the Soviet Union occupying the entirety of Poland. Although the United Kingdom and France declared war on Germany soon after Germany attacked Poland, very little direct military aid was provided (see Phoney War and Western betrayal).
Following a German-staged “Polish attack” on 31 August 1939, on September 1, German forces invaded Poland from the north, south, and west. Spread thin defending their long borders, the Polish armies were soon forced to withdraw eastward. After the mid-September Polish defeat in the Battle of the Bzura, the Germans gained an undisputed advantage. Polish forces then began a withdrawal southeast, following a plan that called for a long defense in the Romanian bridgehead area, where the Polish forces were to await an expected Allied counterattack and relief.
On 17 September 1939, the Soviet Red Army invaded the eastern regions of Poland in cooperation with Germany. The Soviets were carrying out their part of the secret appendix of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which divided Eastern Europe into Nazi and Soviet spheres of influence. Facing the second front, the Polish government decided the defense of the Romanian bridgehead was no longer feasible and ordered the evacuation of all troops to neutral Romania. By 1 October, Germany and the Soviet Union completely overran Poland, although the Polish government never surrendered. In addition, Poland’s remaining land and air forces were evacuated to neighboring Romania and Hungary. Many of the exiles subsequently joined the recreated Polish Army in allied France, French-mandated Syria, and the United Kingdom.
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– map of Georgeoupolis, 20 May
Map of Heraklion, 20 May
– Map of Kastelli, 20–26 May
– Map of the Maleme counter-attack, 21–22 May

– Maleme, 5 Brigade, 20 May
– Maleme, 22 Battalion, Map of 20 May

– Maleme, intended and actual landing areas of Assault Regiment, Map of 20 May

See also: Battle of Crete – Operation Mercury Maps (2)

See also: Battle of Crete – Movies and Propaganda

See also: Battle of Crete – Operation Mercury Maps

See also:
Full text of “Crete”, By Daniel Marcus Davin

Credits: NZ Electronic Text Centre – with the permission of the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Wellington

42nd Street Map, 27 May

Babali Hani Map, 28 May

Beritiana-Stilos Map, 28 May

Canea, Mao of 26 May

Canea-Galatas sector Map, 22 May

Counter-attack at Galatas Map, 25 May

Force Reserve, 27 May

Galatas, Map of 24 May

Galatas, Map of 25 May

See also: Battle of Crete – Movies and Propaganda

See also: Battle of Crete – Operation Mercury Maps

See also: Full text of “Crete”, By Daniel Marcus Davin

Credits: NZ Electronic Text Centre – with the permission of the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Wellington.

The German military genius for maneuver warfare is well illustrated by an often overlooked operation of
World War II, the invasion of Scandinavia in 1940. Operation Weserübung also warrants examination because
it was joint in execution and demonstrates that the German army, navy, and air force—Wehrmacht, Kriegsmarine,
and Luftwaffe—could fight as a team even if rivalry among the headquarters of the services made
Hitler the operation’s unified commander by fault. A combination of speed, surprise, and daring enabled the
German armed forces to defy the Royal Navy by transporting troops directly to their objectives along the
Norwegian coast. Furthermore, quickness and dash baffled the hapless Norwegians and beleaguered Allied
forces. The lessons of this operation were not lost on the British for the balance of the war and remain
relevant today as a case study in joint warfare and the operational art.

An excerpt from “Operation Weserübungnd the Origins of Joint Warfare” by  Major Richard D. Hooker, Jr., USA and Second Lieutenant Christopher Coglianese, USA.  Detailed article with maps of the campaign.

Full text of the article here: Operation Weserubung

Campaign In Norway, Norwegian Dispositions And Initial German Operations, 9 April 1940

With permission from the Department of History at the United States Military Academy

See also: The Campaign in Norway Maps – Operation Weserübung – April 9, 1940

The British campaign was coincidentally commenced simultaneously with Nazi Germany’s invasion of Denmark and Norway in Operation Weserübung of April 9
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Naval Movements Map, 7th-9th April: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Norway/maps/UK-NWE-Norway-1a.jpg

Narvik: Battles, 10th and 13th April Maps: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Norway/maps/UK-NWE-Norway-2.jpg

Naval Movements Map, 9th-13th April: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Norway/maps/UK-NWE-Norway-1b.jpg

The Environs of Steinkjer Map: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Norway/maps/UK-NWE-Norway-3.jpg

South Norway Map: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Norway/maps/UK-NWE-Norway-4.jpg

The Approaches to Trondheim Map: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Norway/maps/UK-NWE-Norway-5.jpg

Romsdal and Gudbrandsdal Map: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Norway/maps/UK-NWE-Norway-6.jpg

British Air Operations in Norway: Bomber Limits and Fighter Bases Map: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Norway/maps/UK-NWE-Norway-7a.jpg

German Air Operations in Norway: Bomber Limits and Fighter Bases Map: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Norway/maps/UK-NWE-Norway-7b.jpg

The Road to the North: Mosjöen to Mo Map: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Norway/maps/UK-NWE-Norway-8a.jpg

The Road to the North: Mo to Bodö Map: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Norway/maps/UK-NWE-Norway-8b.jpg

The Capture of Narvik Map: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Norway/maps/UK-NWE-Norway-9.jpg

The Approaches to Narvik Map: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Norway/maps/UK-NWE-Norway-10.jpg

Naval Movements, 8th-13th June Map: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Norway/maps/UK-NWE-Norway-11.jpg

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Recommended reading: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Norway/UK-NWE-Norway-Preface.html - The Campaign in Norway by T.K. Derry

See also: http://historicalresources.wordpress.com/2008/08/12/address-by-joachim-von-ribbentrop-to-diplomatic-and-press-representatives-in-berlin-on-april-10-1940-explaining-the-german-invasion-of-norway/ - Address by Joachim von Ribbentrop to diplomatic and press representatives in Berlin on April 10, 1940, explaining the German invasion of Norway