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Poland 1939: The Outbreak of World War II
A "chilling" and "expertly" written history of the 1939 September Campaign and the onset of World War II ( Times of London ).
For Americans, World War II began in December of 1941, with the bombing of Pearl Harbor; but for Poland, the war began on September 1, 1939, when Hitler's soldiers invaded, followed later that month by Stalin's Red Army. The conflict that followed saw the debut of many of the features that would come to define the later war-blitzkrieg, the targeting of civilians, ethnic cleansing, and indiscriminate aerial bombing-yet it is routinely overlooked by historians.
In Poland 1939 , Roger Moorhouse reexamines the least understood campaign of World War II, using original archival sources to provide a harrowing and very human account of the events that set the bloody tone for the conflict to come.
For Americans, World War II began in December of 1941, with the bombing of Pearl Harbor; but for Poland, the war began on September 1, 1939, when Hitler's soldiers invaded, followed later that month by Stalin's Red Army. The conflict that followed saw the debut of many of the features that would come to define the later war-blitzkrieg, the targeting of civilians, ethnic cleansing, and indiscriminate aerial bombing-yet it is routinely overlooked by historians.
In Poland 1939 , Roger Moorhouse reexamines the least understood campaign of World War II, using original archival sources to provide a harrowing and very human account of the events that set the bloody tone for the conflict to come.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2019
190 people are currently reading
2537 people want to read
About the author
Roger Moorhouse
41 books171 followersLiving the Dream. Historian and author of an international bestseller - "Berlin at War" was #1 in Lithuania :-) - as well as a few other books, such as "Killing Hitler", "The Devils' Alliance" and "First to Fight" - the last of which won the Polish Foreign Ministry History Prize in 2020.
I write mainly about Nazi Germany and wartime Poland, but I fear that might scare some people off, so I'll just call myself a writer of history books.
My current book (published in the UK in August 2023) is "The Forgers", which is the fascinating story of the Ładoś Group - a ring of Polish diplomats and Jewish activists operating out of wartime Switzerland - who were forging Latin American passports to help Jews escape the Holocaust. It is a VERY interesting subject - so I would urge you to get a copy!
I hope you enjoy my books. Any questions or queries or just wholesome praise, do let me know...
I write mainly about Nazi Germany and wartime Poland, but I fear that might scare some people off, so I'll just call myself a writer of history books.
My current book (published in the UK in August 2023) is "The Forgers", which is the fascinating story of the Ładoś Group - a ring of Polish diplomats and Jewish activists operating out of wartime Switzerland - who were forging Latin American passports to help Jews escape the Holocaust. It is a VERY interesting subject - so I would urge you to get a copy!
I hope you enjoy my books. Any questions or queries or just wholesome praise, do let me know...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
February 2, 2023
As the outbreak of WWII has receded almost completely into before living memory history it is amazing how much we have still to learn. For a war more documented then any other it is extraordinary how much of it we are casually ignorant of. Poland's war against Hitler, conducted while it's allies (Britain and France in case you had forgotten) did nothing (even though they had gone to war ostensibly because of Hitler's aggression Poland) was a brutal war from the begining. Despite the grotesque mismatch in men and material Poland managed to inflict delays and defeats. From the beginning it was war of annihilation against Poland - when the invading Germans tore down and burnt customs posts it was more then symbolic, it was clear declaration that as far Hitler was concerned Poland had ceased to exist. No one, at least of all the West, remembers that the indiscriminate bombing of civilians to spread fear and encourage defeat, was a tactic given full reign by Goering's air force during the Polish campaign. It was not a tactic developed by the Americans or British and horrifying and misguided as the destruction of German cities was we know Hitler would have done same to us, if he could, and without any qualms.
Of course Poland didn't just have to worry about Germany they had to worry about it's ally, the Soviet Union which seized (with German agreement) vast swathes of Poland, the Baltic States and other bits and pieces of land. There is probably nothing quite as shameful as the complicity of so many in the West for so many years in allowing this aggression to be glossed over. Putin's Russia is still sending its citizens to prison for saying anything honest about this.
I think this is a superb account of the war in Poland in 1939. It is not a detailed military history with the minutes of campaigns. It is very much the human face of war and it is the history I wanted to read. If it had been a military history I would never have read it. That type of history has a place and an importance but it is not for me. If you are interested in WWII then you should read this book. Moorhouse is an excellent historian who has written well and knowledgeably on WWII in Germany and Poland.
I can't help but reflect how different things might be in Ukraine if Europe as a whole had a population and leaders as risk averse and as determined not to hold onto any moral principals as those of 1939.
Of course Poland didn't just have to worry about Germany they had to worry about it's ally, the Soviet Union which seized (with German agreement) vast swathes of Poland, the Baltic States and other bits and pieces of land. There is probably nothing quite as shameful as the complicity of so many in the West for so many years in allowing this aggression to be glossed over. Putin's Russia is still sending its citizens to prison for saying anything honest about this.
I think this is a superb account of the war in Poland in 1939. It is not a detailed military history with the minutes of campaigns. It is very much the human face of war and it is the history I wanted to read. If it had been a military history I would never have read it. That type of history has a place and an importance but it is not for me. If you are interested in WWII then you should read this book. Moorhouse is an excellent historian who has written well and knowledgeably on WWII in Germany and Poland.
I can't help but reflect how different things might be in Ukraine if Europe as a whole had a population and leaders as risk averse and as determined not to hold onto any moral principals as those of 1939.
July 19, 2020
Finally, a book that actually explains Poland's attempted defense against Germany, rather than just glossing over it. I really enjoyed this book. It was thoughtfully-written, well-researched, and presented in a manner that made it interesting for the reader.
I've read a good few WWII histories, and even some of the more comprehensive studies do not devote much space to the incidents related to the invasion of Poland, at least not from the Polish point of view, so this book was refreshing. I learned quite a lot about the first few days of the invasion and feel this would be an excellent book for history teachers to use when giving a more complete overview of the early events that led to WWII. Of course, this book is also great for anyone with a general interest in this period or Poland.
This book pulls together the facts that aren't discussed very often, as well as the kind of humanistic stories that remind you that war is more than something that happens between governments. You get to experience the loss and heartache, the confusion and displacement up close when you read this book. Perhaps we could all use a dose of that right now.
Highly recommended.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I've read a good few WWII histories, and even some of the more comprehensive studies do not devote much space to the incidents related to the invasion of Poland, at least not from the Polish point of view, so this book was refreshing. I learned quite a lot about the first few days of the invasion and feel this would be an excellent book for history teachers to use when giving a more complete overview of the early events that led to WWII. Of course, this book is also great for anyone with a general interest in this period or Poland.
This book pulls together the facts that aren't discussed very often, as well as the kind of humanistic stories that remind you that war is more than something that happens between governments. You get to experience the loss and heartache, the confusion and displacement up close when you read this book. Perhaps we could all use a dose of that right now.
Highly recommended.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
September 3, 2019
First to Fight – Setting the record straight
Ludwig Podolański had celebrated his 18th birthday on the 2nd August 1939, he could not celebrate with his family, as his unit had been mobilised. By the 24th August 4th Engineers Battalion had been moved to their forward position and on the 1st September was fighting in the defence of the country he loved. At 18 years old he witnesses horrors we can only imagine, his friends and comrades, some his own age dead, and as they slowly retreated back civilians of all ages killed. He was eventually captured on 19th September, became a Prisoner of War, before escaping and rejoining the Polish Army in 1940 now in France.
While Roger Moorhouse does not use Ludwik Podolański, he uses the story of Poland and how they were the first to fight. Drawing out the stories of others, of places and of the Germans too. For far too long the Story of the Second World War has been told with a western perspective, and what actually happened in Poland is ignored. Often, we hear how good Blitzkrieg and the Polish used cavalry to attack the tanks. Moorhouse, breaks a few taboos and sets the record straight. Yes, the Poles did use cavalry, but the Germans also happened to fear said cavalry. Blitzkrieg was not all conquering and got held up in places.
There is an excellent chapter ‘The Temerity to Resist’, where Moorhouse lays out what became not only the grim fate of the Polish forces but of the civilians also. Bydgoszcz became a by-word for “ethnic-cleansing”, which all happened away from the cameras and journalists.
This book also highlights how Germany orchestrated the war, using many techniques that are still used today. Painting the German’s of innocent victims of Polish aggression, whereas the SS had volunteers trained how to use Polish weapons, and a rudimentary grasp of Polish. How they staged the brave German customs officers, dead, forgetting to mention that they were actually concentration camp inmates.
When the German enablers, the Soviet Union rolled into Eastern Poland on the 17th September, a new type of war was about to begin. The Germans made no distinction between combatants and civilians, and as Moorhouse states “Almost every town and village in Poland witnessed an atrocity in the autumn of 1939, against civilians and prisoners of war, Poles and Jews alike.
It became clear that Hitler was raging a race war, and everyone already is aware their murderous attitude towards Jews, what people tend not to know is that Poles were murdered en masse. Poland lost six million citizens between 1939 and 1945, three million Jews and three million Poles.
What this book do is shine a light on what happened after the war, how West Germany portrayed the Wehrmacht was in the main honourable and the atrocities were down to the Waffen SS. Pity the evidence present here shows that to be a lie. But also, how Britain and France appeased Stalin at the end of the war added to the shame of not coming to Poland’s aid at the beginning of the war. As Moorhouse points out that many post-war historians have never looked in depth at the attack on Poland, as answers would be sought about the failure of the Polish guarantee and the pact of Marxist historians not to look at what the Soviets did in Poland.
While the Germans were conducting a race war in the part of Poland, the Soviets were conducting a class war in Eastern Poland. In fact, some of the carriages that the Soviets used to transport Poles to the Kazak Steppe or murder at Katyn would later be used by the Nazis when they decided to exterminate Europe’s Jewry on a factory scale.
This is an excellent history that shows you when two totalitarian regimes become allies it those who are unfortunately in their way that will be crushed. Like all children and grandchildren of Polish soldiers, I know my September war, the exile, the continued occupation of Poland between 1939 and 1989. Fifty years of occupation while the world watched and muttered warm words.
This is a story that has needed to be told for many years and thanks to Roger Moorhouse he has shone a light on a subject that has often been ignored. It also helps to shatter the old British lie that we “stood alone” no Britain did not, the only country that stood alone was Poland and you allowed that to happen.
Read this book and there is something to learn on every page.
Ludwig Podolański had celebrated his 18th birthday on the 2nd August 1939, he could not celebrate with his family, as his unit had been mobilised. By the 24th August 4th Engineers Battalion had been moved to their forward position and on the 1st September was fighting in the defence of the country he loved. At 18 years old he witnesses horrors we can only imagine, his friends and comrades, some his own age dead, and as they slowly retreated back civilians of all ages killed. He was eventually captured on 19th September, became a Prisoner of War, before escaping and rejoining the Polish Army in 1940 now in France.
While Roger Moorhouse does not use Ludwik Podolański, he uses the story of Poland and how they were the first to fight. Drawing out the stories of others, of places and of the Germans too. For far too long the Story of the Second World War has been told with a western perspective, and what actually happened in Poland is ignored. Often, we hear how good Blitzkrieg and the Polish used cavalry to attack the tanks. Moorhouse, breaks a few taboos and sets the record straight. Yes, the Poles did use cavalry, but the Germans also happened to fear said cavalry. Blitzkrieg was not all conquering and got held up in places.
There is an excellent chapter ‘The Temerity to Resist’, where Moorhouse lays out what became not only the grim fate of the Polish forces but of the civilians also. Bydgoszcz became a by-word for “ethnic-cleansing”, which all happened away from the cameras and journalists.
This book also highlights how Germany orchestrated the war, using many techniques that are still used today. Painting the German’s of innocent victims of Polish aggression, whereas the SS had volunteers trained how to use Polish weapons, and a rudimentary grasp of Polish. How they staged the brave German customs officers, dead, forgetting to mention that they were actually concentration camp inmates.
When the German enablers, the Soviet Union rolled into Eastern Poland on the 17th September, a new type of war was about to begin. The Germans made no distinction between combatants and civilians, and as Moorhouse states “Almost every town and village in Poland witnessed an atrocity in the autumn of 1939, against civilians and prisoners of war, Poles and Jews alike.
It became clear that Hitler was raging a race war, and everyone already is aware their murderous attitude towards Jews, what people tend not to know is that Poles were murdered en masse. Poland lost six million citizens between 1939 and 1945, three million Jews and three million Poles.
What this book do is shine a light on what happened after the war, how West Germany portrayed the Wehrmacht was in the main honourable and the atrocities were down to the Waffen SS. Pity the evidence present here shows that to be a lie. But also, how Britain and France appeased Stalin at the end of the war added to the shame of not coming to Poland’s aid at the beginning of the war. As Moorhouse points out that many post-war historians have never looked in depth at the attack on Poland, as answers would be sought about the failure of the Polish guarantee and the pact of Marxist historians not to look at what the Soviets did in Poland.
While the Germans were conducting a race war in the part of Poland, the Soviets were conducting a class war in Eastern Poland. In fact, some of the carriages that the Soviets used to transport Poles to the Kazak Steppe or murder at Katyn would later be used by the Nazis when they decided to exterminate Europe’s Jewry on a factory scale.
This is an excellent history that shows you when two totalitarian regimes become allies it those who are unfortunately in their way that will be crushed. Like all children and grandchildren of Polish soldiers, I know my September war, the exile, the continued occupation of Poland between 1939 and 1989. Fifty years of occupation while the world watched and muttered warm words.
This is a story that has needed to be told for many years and thanks to Roger Moorhouse he has shone a light on a subject that has often been ignored. It also helps to shatter the old British lie that we “stood alone” no Britain did not, the only country that stood alone was Poland and you allowed that to happen.
Read this book and there is something to learn on every page.
June 19, 2023
By his own estimate, Moorhouses's account of the 1939 invasion must be the richest in Polish sources (and written in English). It would certainly explain the passion felt in judging the flaws & strengths of the Second Republic's armed forces' planning. Most of all, it brings home the suffering of the civilians, whether under the bomb in Warsaw or under the Luftwaffe's strafing along the country roads.
December 21, 2023
My three-star rating has nothing to do with the book's quality but my exhaustion from reading one author. For me, First to Fight: The Polish War 1939 is Roger Moorhouse's third book this year. Unconsciously, I learned his tactics to engage readers, most notably playing on the contrast: the Polish army fought bravely, but... or Germans advanced swiftly, but... He used the exact words to describe Warsaw and Lviv before and after the invasion.
Or, possibly, I need a break from war horrors. The dehumanization of Poles by Nazis and Russians made single cruel acts look innocuous. I was stunned by a story of how two German soldiers, bored by a Jew trying to please them, locked him in a hall-flooded basement of his home, blocked the door with furniture, and ordered his wife not to free the husband. A nurse found a boy on the street with one teabag in his hand: the boy wanted to help a Warsaw hospital. The most horrific truth of all is that we haven't learned anything since WW2. The same brutality level manifests itself right now in Ukraine and Gaza and more minor conflicts. The elegant talk of civilization marching forward is just words, and the invention of AI hasn't made us more compassionate or our politicians more prone to solving problems peacefully.
My review of The Forgers by Roger Moorhouse
My review of The Devils' Alliance by Roger Moorhouse
Or, possibly, I need a break from war horrors. The dehumanization of Poles by Nazis and Russians made single cruel acts look innocuous. I was stunned by a story of how two German soldiers, bored by a Jew trying to please them, locked him in a hall-flooded basement of his home, blocked the door with furniture, and ordered his wife not to free the husband. A nurse found a boy on the street with one teabag in his hand: the boy wanted to help a Warsaw hospital. The most horrific truth of all is that we haven't learned anything since WW2. The same brutality level manifests itself right now in Ukraine and Gaza and more minor conflicts. The elegant talk of civilization marching forward is just words, and the invention of AI hasn't made us more compassionate or our politicians more prone to solving problems peacefully.
My review of The Forgers by Roger Moorhouse
My review of The Devils' Alliance by Roger Moorhouse
July 17, 2023
Excellent military history - I learned so much about this tragedy.
August 10, 2020
As the sun rose on September 1, 1939, Hitler’s forces crossed the Polish frontier from the north, west, and south, hurtling forward in their truck and tanks and on foot, while the Luftwaffe scoured the skies, bombing seemingly with impunity. After little more than two weeks, with Polish armies in disarray and lacking any assistance from their western allies, Stalin delivered the coup de grâce, and the Red Army invaded from east on September 17. As Soviet and German forces met on Polish soul and professed their eternal brotherhood – conveniently forgetting the former rabid antipathy – Poland entered a dark, totalitarian age. By the end of WWII, one in five of its population had been killed.
Thus, Poland was – according to a slogan devised by its wartime propagandists – the “First to Fight”. Its defensive campaign started the Second World War: a five-week struggle that prefaced 300-week slaughter. Occupied by Europe’s two totalitarian powers, Poland was exposed to all the horrors modern conflict could create. While the Nazi unleashed race war in the west, the Red Army imported class war in the east. The Polish people was sifted and sorted by either side, with those undesirable arrested, deported, or killed.
The Polish campaign had significance much beyond Poland’s borders: it drew France and Britain in the war. Both countries had guaranteed Poland’s territorial integrity in Spring 1939 in the vain attempt to pause German expansion. Thus, the Western Allies’ defence of the occupied country transformed the war from a central European squabble into a conflict of global significance.
Surprisingly, Poland’s brief but brave war of 1939 has been mostly ignored outside the country. After the war, when the extent of German crimes was known to the world, the invasion of Poland was regarded as “insignificant”, a quaint prelude to the major murderous act. The Soviets, meanwhile, did everything possible to pretend that they did not invade Poland in 1939. The post-war history, which presented the USSR and its people as the victims of the war, could not tolerate an honest acknowledgement of the fact that Stalin had helped Hitler start the conflict, and the Red Army’s invasion was dressed up as humanitarian intervention.
In his book, Roger Moorhouse brilliantly narrates this forgotten story of the Second World War’s first campaign. Starting with a detailed account of the intense Nazi propaganda against Poland and the orchestrated attack on the Gleiwitz radio station, Moorhouse proceeds to describe the heroic defence of Westerplatte, the Soviet invasion, the Western Allies’ reaction, and the situation in Warsaw, which, in 1939, was one of central Europe’s most impressive capitals.
First to Fight is a very interesting and compellingly written work about an WWII event that deserves much more recognition than it has been given.
Thus, Poland was – according to a slogan devised by its wartime propagandists – the “First to Fight”. Its defensive campaign started the Second World War: a five-week struggle that prefaced 300-week slaughter. Occupied by Europe’s two totalitarian powers, Poland was exposed to all the horrors modern conflict could create. While the Nazi unleashed race war in the west, the Red Army imported class war in the east. The Polish people was sifted and sorted by either side, with those undesirable arrested, deported, or killed.
The Polish campaign had significance much beyond Poland’s borders: it drew France and Britain in the war. Both countries had guaranteed Poland’s territorial integrity in Spring 1939 in the vain attempt to pause German expansion. Thus, the Western Allies’ defence of the occupied country transformed the war from a central European squabble into a conflict of global significance.
Surprisingly, Poland’s brief but brave war of 1939 has been mostly ignored outside the country. After the war, when the extent of German crimes was known to the world, the invasion of Poland was regarded as “insignificant”, a quaint prelude to the major murderous act. The Soviets, meanwhile, did everything possible to pretend that they did not invade Poland in 1939. The post-war history, which presented the USSR and its people as the victims of the war, could not tolerate an honest acknowledgement of the fact that Stalin had helped Hitler start the conflict, and the Red Army’s invasion was dressed up as humanitarian intervention.
In his book, Roger Moorhouse brilliantly narrates this forgotten story of the Second World War’s first campaign. Starting with a detailed account of the intense Nazi propaganda against Poland and the orchestrated attack on the Gleiwitz radio station, Moorhouse proceeds to describe the heroic defence of Westerplatte, the Soviet invasion, the Western Allies’ reaction, and the situation in Warsaw, which, in 1939, was one of central Europe’s most impressive capitals.
First to Fight is a very interesting and compellingly written work about an WWII event that deserves much more recognition than it has been given.
May 12, 2021
3½ stars rounded up.
Moorehouse argues in the beginning of the book, that because major countries had reasons to downplay the whole 1st chapter of WW2, it has been neglected in the history of World War 2. Yet I would argue that most of the smaller countries are neglected in favor of major countries and major players. Usually you would read more about Churchill's drinking habits than about any of the smaller countries in any book covering the whole WW2. But considering my bookshelf is mostly about WW2 I can agree that the subject is fairly superficially covered in most books.
Moorehouse's book First to Fight/Poland 1939 tries to tell the story of Poland in war and manages to do it quite decently. The focus is on the war, the main actors are mainly Polish military men and civilians and the occasional invader(both German and Soviet). There's plenty of anecdotes but they are there to prove a point, not just for general merriment. Politics aren't really a focus of this book and only briefly covered. The book is fairly short (270 pages) and although I'm more and more enjoying the shorter books, I felt this could've used 50-100 pages more just to cover the politics of Poland before WW2. Instead we got to read about Chamberlain et al. more than maybe was necessary considering the focus and length of the book.
The book could've used more and better maps, my lack of knowledge of Polish cities (especially them having multiple of names depending who controls them now) made the battles occasionally a bit hard to follow.
It's not the only book you would need or want about the conflict, more like a bite sized appetizer before the more complete work.
Moorehouse argues in the beginning of the book, that because major countries had reasons to downplay the whole 1st chapter of WW2, it has been neglected in the history of World War 2. Yet I would argue that most of the smaller countries are neglected in favor of major countries and major players. Usually you would read more about Churchill's drinking habits than about any of the smaller countries in any book covering the whole WW2. But considering my bookshelf is mostly about WW2 I can agree that the subject is fairly superficially covered in most books.
Moorehouse's book First to Fight/Poland 1939 tries to tell the story of Poland in war and manages to do it quite decently. The focus is on the war, the main actors are mainly Polish military men and civilians and the occasional invader(both German and Soviet). There's plenty of anecdotes but they are there to prove a point, not just for general merriment. Politics aren't really a focus of this book and only briefly covered. The book is fairly short (270 pages) and although I'm more and more enjoying the shorter books, I felt this could've used 50-100 pages more just to cover the politics of Poland before WW2. Instead we got to read about Chamberlain et al. more than maybe was necessary considering the focus and length of the book.
The book could've used more and better maps, my lack of knowledge of Polish cities (especially them having multiple of names depending who controls them now) made the battles occasionally a bit hard to follow.
It's not the only book you would need or want about the conflict, more like a bite sized appetizer before the more complete work.
June 4, 2021
A 13 hour audiobook. A modern scholarly view of the Nazi invasion of Poland? 13 hours devoted to it rather than a few pages that are common in most ww2 history books? Sign me up!
It's only been the past 30 years where the review of noteworthy Polish records was not contingent on a Communist government determining what can records can be accessed, studied, and published (without censorship or demanding a pro Soviet view (to this day many Russian sources claim their invasion of Eastern Poland was a liberation rather than a pre-planned conquest and partitioning).
This book deals with the lead up to the invasions and the start of the occupation by both the Nazis and Soviets. Essentially very late August until the second week of October 1939, with some historical back story added in.
I'm tempted to say it's biased in favor of Poland in how the details are presented, but thats countered by decades of misrepresentations, and downright lies against Poland on behalf of both her invaders, and even her allies. Each country coming up with propoganda and versions of the truth most suitable to their own preferences.
I really enjoyed this book, it gave this phase of Polands struggle in WW2 a much needed, and overall in depth overview.
It's only been the past 30 years where the review of noteworthy Polish records was not contingent on a Communist government determining what can records can be accessed, studied, and published (without censorship or demanding a pro Soviet view (to this day many Russian sources claim their invasion of Eastern Poland was a liberation rather than a pre-planned conquest and partitioning).
This book deals with the lead up to the invasions and the start of the occupation by both the Nazis and Soviets. Essentially very late August until the second week of October 1939, with some historical back story added in.
I'm tempted to say it's biased in favor of Poland in how the details are presented, but thats countered by decades of misrepresentations, and downright lies against Poland on behalf of both her invaders, and even her allies. Each country coming up with propoganda and versions of the truth most suitable to their own preferences.
I really enjoyed this book, it gave this phase of Polands struggle in WW2 a much needed, and overall in depth overview.
September 7, 2025
This is an excellent and detailed study of the Polish campaign of 1939. I found it especially valuable for the light it shed on the often overlooked Soviet back stab. This was far from being the protective occupation to protect the rights of Belarussian minorities that Stalin claimed: there was plenty of real fighting, and terrible atrocities committed by the Soviets. The Poles were of course in a hopeless situation but nevertheless fought heroically and sometimes inflicted sharp (though temporary) reverses on the Germans: these are given due weight. The strategic situation meant that France and Britain could not have done much to help – but, shamefully, they did next to nothing, whilst making fulsome promises of action which they knew they could not or would not keep.
The scale of German atrocities in Poland – harrowingly detailed herein – were astonishing. During the 1940 invasion of the West, there is documentation of some twenty five atrocities in total committed by the Germans. In the Polish campaign, they committed sixteen – not in total, but for every single day of the conflict. Those which are described make for hard reading.
Sympathising with the justice of the Polish cause, and acknowledging her heroism, does not blind the author to three uncomfortable facts: Polish participation in the cynical dismemberment of Czechoslovakia in 1938, Polish atrocities committed against ethnic Germans, and the demand once Germany was eventually defeated that the western allies proceed immediately to attack the Soviet Union and precipitate World War Three. Ethnic Germans were indeed a fifth column inside Poland, and there are well documented reports of them firing on retreating Polish troops. In the chaos of war, the treatment of fifth columnists was swift, harsh, and sometimes unjust. Undoubtedly, the innocent and the under age were often killed too. It is to the author’s credit that he does not overlook this sad fact.
Some years ago, sipping ouzo in a bar on a Greek island, I fell into a long and interesting conversation with a well read (and very anti Communist) Pole. He got quite heated at the shameful failure (in his eyes) of the West to launch an immediate surprise attack on the Soviet Union as soon as Hitler was dead. This, of course, is insane: it is completely unrealistic to suppose that a ruined, exhausted, and bankrupt Europe would have been able to launch another global war, even if its people had wanted to, which they didn’t. But, said the Pole, you went to war for Poland’s freedom, and when the war ended, Poland was not free. An uncomfortable truth which I had reflected on before: as an undergraduate at Oxford in the 1980’s, many of the college servants who waited on us at dinner were old Polish soldiers who had fought Hitler but refused to go home to serve Stalin. I wondered what stories they could tell, but – alas – I never asked them. They must all be long gone now, but I thought of them as I read this, and raised a glass to the memory of the soldiers of the White Eagle.
The scale of German atrocities in Poland – harrowingly detailed herein – were astonishing. During the 1940 invasion of the West, there is documentation of some twenty five atrocities in total committed by the Germans. In the Polish campaign, they committed sixteen – not in total, but for every single day of the conflict. Those which are described make for hard reading.
Sympathising with the justice of the Polish cause, and acknowledging her heroism, does not blind the author to three uncomfortable facts: Polish participation in the cynical dismemberment of Czechoslovakia in 1938, Polish atrocities committed against ethnic Germans, and the demand once Germany was eventually defeated that the western allies proceed immediately to attack the Soviet Union and precipitate World War Three. Ethnic Germans were indeed a fifth column inside Poland, and there are well documented reports of them firing on retreating Polish troops. In the chaos of war, the treatment of fifth columnists was swift, harsh, and sometimes unjust. Undoubtedly, the innocent and the under age were often killed too. It is to the author’s credit that he does not overlook this sad fact.
Some years ago, sipping ouzo in a bar on a Greek island, I fell into a long and interesting conversation with a well read (and very anti Communist) Pole. He got quite heated at the shameful failure (in his eyes) of the West to launch an immediate surprise attack on the Soviet Union as soon as Hitler was dead. This, of course, is insane: it is completely unrealistic to suppose that a ruined, exhausted, and bankrupt Europe would have been able to launch another global war, even if its people had wanted to, which they didn’t. But, said the Pole, you went to war for Poland’s freedom, and when the war ended, Poland was not free. An uncomfortable truth which I had reflected on before: as an undergraduate at Oxford in the 1980’s, many of the college servants who waited on us at dinner were old Polish soldiers who had fought Hitler but refused to go home to serve Stalin. I wondered what stories they could tell, but – alas – I never asked them. They must all be long gone now, but I thought of them as I read this, and raised a glass to the memory of the soldiers of the White Eagle.
June 10, 2020
Amateur military history buffs no doubt will find this well-researched study engaging, as it recounts the 1939 Polish campaign which to date has received little coverage in the English literature. Better yet, the author incorporates Polish sources as well as German ones, so that the reader hears the Polish perspective on events as well as the German one. In this way, the author is able to debunk many myths about the conduct of the war between 1939-1940.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a copy of an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a copy of an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 10, 2022
Moorhouse has written an emotional charged, social history of the 1939 War for Poland. While it is certainly useful in terms of showcasing many Polish voices which tend to get ignored, if you're a deep student of military and political history (as in any of these four: analyst, military historian, military officer, or statesman) then this book is primarily a collection of human interest stories with not much in the way of thoughtful analysis as to the how or why.
First off, to finish the criticisms, nothing presented here is essentially new. Both Zaloga and Forzcyk prior have written excellent, analytical, and narrative military and political histories of the conflict, which featured some of the same voices, while being far more clear and in depth on the military, strategic, and political side of the tale from a predominantly Polish perspective.
Richard Hargreaves did similar for the German side in his work on the topic, as well. And Williamson, while his work was a short one, is a synthesis of the two sides, while managing to still present a much fuller military and political picture than Moorhouse.
Now, for the praise.
For those not too inclined to really want to delve deep into detailed tactical and operational descriptions of the military side, or wade through chapters of the buildup to conflict, or the deep historical issues and factions involved, and who want a more, intensely, human tale: then this is hands down the book to own and read. Moorhouse puts a human face on the War, and reminds the readers of the unimaginable suffering of the Polish people.
Not just from Germans, but also from the Soviets, native Ukrainians, and even some of their Jewish population who cheered on the Soviet invaders from September 17th onwards. And Moorhouse does an excellent job of excoriating the bloviating Allies who, frankly, did nothing while Poland bled and burned.
Thus this is not a light, nor easy read. While there are military voices here, many are average folk, and the horror they witnessed is astounding. As one Pole shouted before committing suicide: This is the fourth partition of Poland!
For all that this book is not heavy with military, strategic, or political analysis, it's still a damned heavy read. Emotionally, this can be a hard book to get through.
And perhaps, that's why it's worth a look.
While not entirely my cup of tea, it's remaining in my library as a reminder of the awful cost of warfare, and a reminder that every day people are always the ones to suffer the most.
A harrowing read.
I can recommend this one.
First off, to finish the criticisms, nothing presented here is essentially new. Both Zaloga and Forzcyk prior have written excellent, analytical, and narrative military and political histories of the conflict, which featured some of the same voices, while being far more clear and in depth on the military, strategic, and political side of the tale from a predominantly Polish perspective.
Richard Hargreaves did similar for the German side in his work on the topic, as well. And Williamson, while his work was a short one, is a synthesis of the two sides, while managing to still present a much fuller military and political picture than Moorhouse.
Now, for the praise.
For those not too inclined to really want to delve deep into detailed tactical and operational descriptions of the military side, or wade through chapters of the buildup to conflict, or the deep historical issues and factions involved, and who want a more, intensely, human tale: then this is hands down the book to own and read. Moorhouse puts a human face on the War, and reminds the readers of the unimaginable suffering of the Polish people.
Not just from Germans, but also from the Soviets, native Ukrainians, and even some of their Jewish population who cheered on the Soviet invaders from September 17th onwards. And Moorhouse does an excellent job of excoriating the bloviating Allies who, frankly, did nothing while Poland bled and burned.
Thus this is not a light, nor easy read. While there are military voices here, many are average folk, and the horror they witnessed is astounding. As one Pole shouted before committing suicide: This is the fourth partition of Poland!
For all that this book is not heavy with military, strategic, or political analysis, it's still a damned heavy read. Emotionally, this can be a hard book to get through.
And perhaps, that's why it's worth a look.
While not entirely my cup of tea, it's remaining in my library as a reminder of the awful cost of warfare, and a reminder that every day people are always the ones to suffer the most.
A harrowing read.
I can recommend this one.
November 11, 2019
I've read several general histories of WWII in which Poland's war in 1939 was quickly dismissed as a foolish anachronism: Heroic, perhaps, but a badly led, out-of-date effort that was doomed to fast defeat. That narrative suited the Germans, who had a swift victory to celebrate. It suited the Russians, who claimed that they had merely moved in because Poland had already collapsed. And it suited the French and British, whose strategy was set on fighting a long war and who did not want to disrupt that plan to assist Poland.
Moorhouse's account is a well-researched effort to give a voice to the Poles of 1939. The country may not have had a chance, but the Polish soldiers fought nevertheless, and had some local successes; and the civilians often volunteered to join the battle. From archives, letters, memoirs and testimonies, this is the telling of a desperate struggle. It was a bitter war in which both invading armies were guilty of numerous atrocities. (And those were only a sign of worse to come.) The book translates grand strategy in the numerous small events, told in painful detail, that affected people's lives.
The structure of this book is mostly chronological, and its strikes a balance between politics and strategy on the one hand and the personal experiences on the other. What is missing, perhaps, is more background on Polish society and politics in the 1930s, so that we do not only witness it in its destruction.
Moorhouse's account is a well-researched effort to give a voice to the Poles of 1939. The country may not have had a chance, but the Polish soldiers fought nevertheless, and had some local successes; and the civilians often volunteered to join the battle. From archives, letters, memoirs and testimonies, this is the telling of a desperate struggle. It was a bitter war in which both invading armies were guilty of numerous atrocities. (And those were only a sign of worse to come.) The book translates grand strategy in the numerous small events, told in painful detail, that affected people's lives.
The structure of this book is mostly chronological, and its strikes a balance between politics and strategy on the one hand and the personal experiences on the other. What is missing, perhaps, is more background on Polish society and politics in the 1930s, so that we do not only witness it in its destruction.
June 13, 2020
An excellent one volume history of the first Polish campaign of World War II. Covers the political positions and maneuvers preceding the outbreak of war through to the collapse and escape of many of the Polish survivors to the West.
It doesn't ignore the Soviet portion of the Polish campaign as Stalin invaded from the East after Germany invaded from the West. Given this campaign is usually glossed over in other accounts the details provided on many mostly unknown episodes are more than welcome.
The author's writing is not as dry as some and the book is well served by lots of notes. 4.5 stars and a great read if you are interested in this campaign
It doesn't ignore the Soviet portion of the Polish campaign as Stalin invaded from the East after Germany invaded from the West. Given this campaign is usually glossed over in other accounts the details provided on many mostly unknown episodes are more than welcome.
The author's writing is not as dry as some and the book is well served by lots of notes. 4.5 stars and a great read if you are interested in this campaign
April 1, 2021
With ‘Poland 1939’ (the 2020 American version of the 2019 ‘First to Fight,’ published the Great Britain) Roger Moorhouse has done the written history of the beginning of the Second World War in Europe as great service. Long relegated to footnotes or worse (myths/propaganda lies of Polish Calvary charges again German tanks), the September campaign in Poland is worth getting right and to be fully understood. Moorhouse sweeps away the historical nonsense and previously limited depth, and build up a full story of Polish valor in the face of overwhelming numerical and material odds; He sets straight the record about the German Blitzkrieg that simply wasn’t; Makes clear that the Soviets weren’t simply preserving peace, but taking their allotted (by the Secret protocol of the Ribbentrop-Molotov agreement) piece of Polish ‘flesh;’ And he makes clear the that tone of war changed in that month of 1939, to something that was but a foretaste of horrors to come. This is a must read for any serious buff of WWII. 5 hearty stars.
August 17, 2021
A more accurate title is likely “Poland, September 1939.” Every other WWII book brushes over German aggression in Poland, whereas Moorehouse provides the most detailed account I’ve seen. Polish resistance is horrible and heartbreaking and beautiful. There is so much more this book makes me want to read about.
September 20, 2025
I managed to finish this just in time for my trip to Poland, so I went armed with new knowledge! As someone who finds Military history very hard going and dull, this was written in a way that kept someone like me interested throughout.
Reading this was a real eye opener for me. We are taught in school, the Nazi's invaded Poland, so we (UK) joined the war, in history lessons we are then painted as hero's for winning the war and liberating the concentration camps. Nobody ever mentioned the fact we left Poland for ages fighting on it's own, I didn't even know that at the beginning, the Russians were on the same side as the Nazi's. It also gave an overview of Polish history, again of which I knew very little. This book made me feel very uneducated.
However now I feel that I have a grasp on the situation and this helped when I was touring some of the wonderful museums that Poland has. I would really recommend The Warsaw Rising Museum as that was fascinating. It was also amazing to see how Warsaw and Wroclaw were rebuilt brick by brick.
This was a recommendation from Chat GPT for a history book that read like fiction, and it certainly fit that description.
Reading this was a real eye opener for me. We are taught in school, the Nazi's invaded Poland, so we (UK) joined the war, in history lessons we are then painted as hero's for winning the war and liberating the concentration camps. Nobody ever mentioned the fact we left Poland for ages fighting on it's own, I didn't even know that at the beginning, the Russians were on the same side as the Nazi's. It also gave an overview of Polish history, again of which I knew very little. This book made me feel very uneducated.
However now I feel that I have a grasp on the situation and this helped when I was touring some of the wonderful museums that Poland has. I would really recommend The Warsaw Rising Museum as that was fascinating. It was also amazing to see how Warsaw and Wroclaw were rebuilt brick by brick.
This was a recommendation from Chat GPT for a history book that read like fiction, and it certainly fit that description.
December 29, 2019
In a week when Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, tried yet again to rewrite the history of the beginning of the Second World War in Europe, Roger Moorhouse’s First to Fight – a history of the conquest and partition of Poland in September 1939 by Hitler’s Nazi Germany and Stalin’s Soviet Union – is a timely reminder of what really happened. It is also a more than useful addition to all the general histories written about the Second World War in Europe, where the tragedy of what befell Poland in 1939 is usually reduced to a few paragraphs before the ‘real story’ begins, when Nazi Germany began its invasion of France and the Low Countries.
In March 1939, Hitler’s troops marched into Prague which rendered the Munich Agreement (‘peace in our time’) – signed with much fanfare in 1938 by Germany, the United Kingdom and France – a dead letter. Understanding that Poland would be next in Hitler’s sights – Hitler thought it a state with no right to exist – the United Kingdom and France extended a guarantee to Poland that every assistance would be lent if ever its independence was threatened. Unfortunately, this ‘guarantee’ was interpreted differently by Poland than by the United Kingdom and France. To Poland it meant the sending of men and matériel in a time of war; to the United Kingdom and France, the guarantee was meant only as a threat to Hitler – nothing but a line in the sand he was not supposed to cross. Sadly, for Poland, this all became too evident when Hitler, who was not to be deterred, invaded Poland on the 1st September 1939, with the United Kingdom and France in turn declaring war on Germany on the 3rd September 1939, but doing not much more.
If that wasn’t enough of a tragedy for poor Poland, in 1939 Stalin had seen the material benefits of a possible rapprochement with Nazi Germany, even though the two countries were supposedly ideologically opposed – a rapprochement which Hitler was all too happy to encourage. And so in August 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop non-aggression pact was signed, which contained a ‘secret protocol’ splitting Poland into two zones of influence: the west of Poland to Germany, the east to the Soviet Union. And so, while Poland was fighting for its life against Nazi Germany, on the 17th September 1939 the Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east and from then on the war – if it had not been already – for Poland was done.
First to Fight is an outstanding work of military history. We are taken from the first not-so-subtle act of subterfuge by Nazi Germany so it could claim it had been attacked by Poland first, to the spirited defence of Westerplatte – the first of many demonstrations that the Polish Army did not simply fold under the weight of Nazi aggression – and then on to the large-scale engagements where the Polish army, though technical inferior and suffering from strategic blunders made by its high command, sometimes succeeded even if in the long term their cause was doomed. Roger Moorhouse debunks many myths – myths that have often arisen from the wholesale acceptance of Nazi propaganda at the time. He also spares no effort in revealing racial war that was waged by the Wehrmacht and the Einsatzgruppen that led to numerous atrocities against Polish POWs and civilians alike, and the class war waged by the Soviet Red Army that led to the massacring of Polish officers during the war itself and later of a further 22,000 Polish officers and intelligentsia in the Katyn forests in the Soviet Union. Some of the first writing is reserved for the destruction of Warsaw, once known as the ‘Paris of the North’.
In all, this book is superb. My only reservation is that the structure of the beginning of the book appears a little clumsy, in that – much as novelists are often advised by editors to do – we are straight into the action with the first two chapters before returning to an extended history of how Poland in 1939 came to be, both geographically and at the mercy of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. My own preference would be for this extended history to be outlined from the very start – the writing being more than good enough to sustain this approach. But that’s a personal preference and takes nothing away from Roger Moorhouse’s achievement with this work.
In March 1939, Hitler’s troops marched into Prague which rendered the Munich Agreement (‘peace in our time’) – signed with much fanfare in 1938 by Germany, the United Kingdom and France – a dead letter. Understanding that Poland would be next in Hitler’s sights – Hitler thought it a state with no right to exist – the United Kingdom and France extended a guarantee to Poland that every assistance would be lent if ever its independence was threatened. Unfortunately, this ‘guarantee’ was interpreted differently by Poland than by the United Kingdom and France. To Poland it meant the sending of men and matériel in a time of war; to the United Kingdom and France, the guarantee was meant only as a threat to Hitler – nothing but a line in the sand he was not supposed to cross. Sadly, for Poland, this all became too evident when Hitler, who was not to be deterred, invaded Poland on the 1st September 1939, with the United Kingdom and France in turn declaring war on Germany on the 3rd September 1939, but doing not much more.
If that wasn’t enough of a tragedy for poor Poland, in 1939 Stalin had seen the material benefits of a possible rapprochement with Nazi Germany, even though the two countries were supposedly ideologically opposed – a rapprochement which Hitler was all too happy to encourage. And so in August 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop non-aggression pact was signed, which contained a ‘secret protocol’ splitting Poland into two zones of influence: the west of Poland to Germany, the east to the Soviet Union. And so, while Poland was fighting for its life against Nazi Germany, on the 17th September 1939 the Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east and from then on the war – if it had not been already – for Poland was done.
First to Fight is an outstanding work of military history. We are taken from the first not-so-subtle act of subterfuge by Nazi Germany so it could claim it had been attacked by Poland first, to the spirited defence of Westerplatte – the first of many demonstrations that the Polish Army did not simply fold under the weight of Nazi aggression – and then on to the large-scale engagements where the Polish army, though technical inferior and suffering from strategic blunders made by its high command, sometimes succeeded even if in the long term their cause was doomed. Roger Moorhouse debunks many myths – myths that have often arisen from the wholesale acceptance of Nazi propaganda at the time. He also spares no effort in revealing racial war that was waged by the Wehrmacht and the Einsatzgruppen that led to numerous atrocities against Polish POWs and civilians alike, and the class war waged by the Soviet Red Army that led to the massacring of Polish officers during the war itself and later of a further 22,000 Polish officers and intelligentsia in the Katyn forests in the Soviet Union. Some of the first writing is reserved for the destruction of Warsaw, once known as the ‘Paris of the North’.
In all, this book is superb. My only reservation is that the structure of the beginning of the book appears a little clumsy, in that – much as novelists are often advised by editors to do – we are straight into the action with the first two chapters before returning to an extended history of how Poland in 1939 came to be, both geographically and at the mercy of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. My own preference would be for this extended history to be outlined from the very start – the writing being more than good enough to sustain this approach. But that’s a personal preference and takes nothing away from Roger Moorhouse’s achievement with this work.
July 5, 2020
Fascinating read. For someone interested in learning about the start of WW2 through a polish perspective rather than British I would highly recommend.
Roger Moorhouse tackles the history we thought we knew and reveals what really happened during the Polish War of 1939. He writes with great detail and makes it an extremely engaging read.
Roger Moorhouse tackles the history we thought we knew and reveals what really happened during the Polish War of 1939. He writes with great detail and makes it an extremely engaging read.
February 5, 2025
This is the second book by Roger Moorhouse I've read and both have been excellent, well written, easy-to-read books.
This book centres on the battle for Poland in September 1939, the campaign that began World War II. It sets out to give the story from the Polish point of view - something that has been lacking in World War II histories generally for a variety of reasons. Moorhouse hasn't relied on well-worn cliches - horses against tanks being the most obvious - but has instead properly researched the campaign. He rightly gives names to the Poles who played their part in this, ultimately depressing tale.
Poland's geographic position, sited between two historic foes intent on wiping Poland from the map meant that she was never likely to survive a concerted effort to destroy her, and Moorhouse devotes adequate space to the German / Soviet pact that spelt her doom.
To survive, she needed assistance that simply wasn't available from her Western Allies - at least not in the way she needed it. I think Moorhouse's conclusions regarding the British and the French actions/inactions were fair and balanced.
The Poles fought, and fought bravely (the Poles performance later in the war in service with the RAF, British army and Royal Navy gives an indication of how well and how bravely), but as Moorhouse explains, everything was against her - from the layout of the land (and lack of natural obstacles and defensive terrain) and the weather in September 1939, to the more fundamental problems of weakness of economy (in the 5 years leading to the war, Poland spent on defence just 10% of what the Luftwaffe alone spent) and the sub-standard equipment this allowed for.
Added to these problems, Moorhouse doesn't gloss over the Polish mistakes and he evidences how the Polish High Command made some fundamental errors in set up and decisions during the campaign.
So in summary, this book is an excellent, well-rounded start in giving the Poles a voice they have long been denied. I think for my next book I'll see what Osprey's campaign series has to say on the subject....
This book centres on the battle for Poland in September 1939, the campaign that began World War II. It sets out to give the story from the Polish point of view - something that has been lacking in World War II histories generally for a variety of reasons. Moorhouse hasn't relied on well-worn cliches - horses against tanks being the most obvious - but has instead properly researched the campaign. He rightly gives names to the Poles who played their part in this, ultimately depressing tale.
Poland's geographic position, sited between two historic foes intent on wiping Poland from the map meant that she was never likely to survive a concerted effort to destroy her, and Moorhouse devotes adequate space to the German / Soviet pact that spelt her doom.
To survive, she needed assistance that simply wasn't available from her Western Allies - at least not in the way she needed it. I think Moorhouse's conclusions regarding the British and the French actions/inactions were fair and balanced.
The Poles fought, and fought bravely (the Poles performance later in the war in service with the RAF, British army and Royal Navy gives an indication of how well and how bravely), but as Moorhouse explains, everything was against her - from the layout of the land (and lack of natural obstacles and defensive terrain) and the weather in September 1939, to the more fundamental problems of weakness of economy (in the 5 years leading to the war, Poland spent on defence just 10% of what the Luftwaffe alone spent) and the sub-standard equipment this allowed for.
Added to these problems, Moorhouse doesn't gloss over the Polish mistakes and he evidences how the Polish High Command made some fundamental errors in set up and decisions during the campaign.
So in summary, this book is an excellent, well-rounded start in giving the Poles a voice they have long been denied. I think for my next book I'll see what Osprey's campaign series has to say on the subject....
February 4, 2023
An important book that gave me a greater perspective on the Polish defense at the start of World War II in Europe. The defenders of Poland fought hard but had no chance against the far better armed German and later Soviet militaries. While I knew of the atrocities of World War II, it was still a bit surprising to read how they started almost immediately with German soldiers attacking civilians by air and murdering them from village to village. One criticism is that for me personally I struggle without frequent use of maps when reading about military history. I realize there were no pitched battles, but having visuals would have made the reading flow better for me.
November 12, 2024
The book fulfils its promise of shedding more light on the infamous episode that formally started the second world war, when two totalitarian regimes colluded to rip apart a country, and France and UK betrayed their ally by doing nothing, despite promises of mutual defense. The book shows that the Polish defense was much more effective than traditionally portraited, such as the episode of cavalry against tanks. And also interesting details on the Soviet cunning, such as announcing to the world that it was invading Poland to defend minorities at risk after the collapse of the Polish government (the government was still in place). The reader's teeth will grind when confronting all the suffering of the valorous Polish people.
Read
October 12, 2020 Some books have a greater impact than others. Poland 1939 by Roger Moorehouse is an eye-opening book. The book goes into depth on the events surrounding the Nazi invasion of Poland in September 1939. While this chapter of WW2 has long been overlooked by history, it is filled with stories of battles, political fights, and bravery. While the entire book is great, some stories really make an impact. Roger Moorhouse talks at depth about how Nazi Propaganda has infiltrated what we are taught about the Poland Campaign. The Polish did not just roll over and admit defeat. They fought for every inch of Poland and deserve to be remembered today. As a lover of history, it affected me to see that I had been taught the wrong thing.
Poland 1939 really made me wish that our school curriculum was different. In Pelham, we spoke in Social Studies class for maybe 5 minutes about the Polish Campaign. This is an insult to the hundreds of thousands massacred in Poland when Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union invaded Poland. In reality, Poland lasted 3 weeks against two superior forces. I wish that the school would teach us how Poland laid traps, and used calvary to hold off German tanks for 3 weeks.
One of the other things this book made me realize is that we need to learn to check our sources. If the history textbooks wrote down something wrong about Poland, what else could be wrong. Public opinion can be very biased and should not be taken for fact. I realized that maybe some of the other subjects that are in the news, textbooks, and online may not be true. Poland 1939 helped me realize that I should be double-checking everything I read before I spread it.
One thing that this book made me wonder about was the Polish Resistance. The book ended right after the last Polish Forces fled to Lithuania and Romania. After the leaders had fled, the Mayor of Warsaw founded a Polish resistance group that eventually was named the Home Army. The book says it was one of the world's greatest resistance groups at the time, but does not say why. I was left wondering why the Polish had such a good resistance group.
One thing that I observed in this book was the Polish government bureaucracy. While the soldiers fought for every inch of their land, the government did nothing. In 1939, the Polish government was very paranoid and the government was set up so that everything had to go through Warsaw, Poland’s capital. This presented a big issue for the soldiers because if they wanted to get the positions of friendly troops they had to send multiple telegraphs to Warsaw. This was time-consuming and dangerous because the troops might get surrounded and not know it. This story made me see that there is a need for openness. If everything is locked away as a state secret then the people can not be well informed. If there's a war or disaster every person needs to know what to do. The only way to have everyone know what to do is to have effective communication.
Poland 1939 left me believing that the underdog could score small victories. One of the most incredible stories from the book was about the Polish Gold Reserves. The Polish government had millions in gold stored in Warsaw. The Nazis were doing everything they could to try and take hold of the gold. At the onset of the war, the government loaded all of the gold into a convoy and started to drive towards Romania. They were under constant attack from both Nazi and Soviet Forces. Eventually, they were able to get the gold to Romania, and from there on to London. This small, important victory showed how the underdog can come out on top in some battles. There were many other examples of battles that the Polish won during the war. Poland 1939 was inspiring in showing what the will of the people can do.
When I picked up Poland 1939 I thought it was going to be informative but not have much emotion. I was very wrong. Roger Moorehouse did an excellent job of making the reader feel both sad, excited, and if you live in the Allied Countries guilt. The entire Polish defense plan was built upon waiting for the allies to show up. They had lots of treaties which said that Britain and France would go to war against Germany if Poland was invaded. On September 1, 1939, Nazi forces rolled over the border into Poland. The Polish picked up their guns and waited for the Allies to arrive. In France and Britain, there was no action. Neither country wanted to go to war so they sat back and let Germany invade Poland. It was very disheartening to watch as the allies did nothing to help their friend. There was so much emotion in Poland 1939. Every chapter was a roller coaster of feelings.
Despite all of the bad events that took place that fateful September, I still believe there is hope for the world. It is impossible not to be inspired by the stories of the Polish Scouts defending every building and street in the country, the soldiers digging their trenches, and the Mayor of Warsaw refusing to leave his city. I hope that if anything as tragic as the invasion of Poland ever happens again the world will be ready. The Polish collapsed because the Allies were not there for them. I n the future, I think all countries should stand up for their friends, and not sit idly by. I also hope that our education in school changes. We should be taught the stories of the brave Polish heroes who defended their country. Poland 1939 is a must-read for anyone who cares about getting the truth about the beginnings of WW2.
Poland 1939 really made me wish that our school curriculum was different. In Pelham, we spoke in Social Studies class for maybe 5 minutes about the Polish Campaign. This is an insult to the hundreds of thousands massacred in Poland when Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union invaded Poland. In reality, Poland lasted 3 weeks against two superior forces. I wish that the school would teach us how Poland laid traps, and used calvary to hold off German tanks for 3 weeks.
One of the other things this book made me realize is that we need to learn to check our sources. If the history textbooks wrote down something wrong about Poland, what else could be wrong. Public opinion can be very biased and should not be taken for fact. I realized that maybe some of the other subjects that are in the news, textbooks, and online may not be true. Poland 1939 helped me realize that I should be double-checking everything I read before I spread it.
One thing that this book made me wonder about was the Polish Resistance. The book ended right after the last Polish Forces fled to Lithuania and Romania. After the leaders had fled, the Mayor of Warsaw founded a Polish resistance group that eventually was named the Home Army. The book says it was one of the world's greatest resistance groups at the time, but does not say why. I was left wondering why the Polish had such a good resistance group.
One thing that I observed in this book was the Polish government bureaucracy. While the soldiers fought for every inch of their land, the government did nothing. In 1939, the Polish government was very paranoid and the government was set up so that everything had to go through Warsaw, Poland’s capital. This presented a big issue for the soldiers because if they wanted to get the positions of friendly troops they had to send multiple telegraphs to Warsaw. This was time-consuming and dangerous because the troops might get surrounded and not know it. This story made me see that there is a need for openness. If everything is locked away as a state secret then the people can not be well informed. If there's a war or disaster every person needs to know what to do. The only way to have everyone know what to do is to have effective communication.
Poland 1939 left me believing that the underdog could score small victories. One of the most incredible stories from the book was about the Polish Gold Reserves. The Polish government had millions in gold stored in Warsaw. The Nazis were doing everything they could to try and take hold of the gold. At the onset of the war, the government loaded all of the gold into a convoy and started to drive towards Romania. They were under constant attack from both Nazi and Soviet Forces. Eventually, they were able to get the gold to Romania, and from there on to London. This small, important victory showed how the underdog can come out on top in some battles. There were many other examples of battles that the Polish won during the war. Poland 1939 was inspiring in showing what the will of the people can do.
When I picked up Poland 1939 I thought it was going to be informative but not have much emotion. I was very wrong. Roger Moorehouse did an excellent job of making the reader feel both sad, excited, and if you live in the Allied Countries guilt. The entire Polish defense plan was built upon waiting for the allies to show up. They had lots of treaties which said that Britain and France would go to war against Germany if Poland was invaded. On September 1, 1939, Nazi forces rolled over the border into Poland. The Polish picked up their guns and waited for the Allies to arrive. In France and Britain, there was no action. Neither country wanted to go to war so they sat back and let Germany invade Poland. It was very disheartening to watch as the allies did nothing to help their friend. There was so much emotion in Poland 1939. Every chapter was a roller coaster of feelings.
Despite all of the bad events that took place that fateful September, I still believe there is hope for the world. It is impossible not to be inspired by the stories of the Polish Scouts defending every building and street in the country, the soldiers digging their trenches, and the Mayor of Warsaw refusing to leave his city. I hope that if anything as tragic as the invasion of Poland ever happens again the world will be ready. The Polish collapsed because the Allies were not there for them. I n the future, I think all countries should stand up for their friends, and not sit idly by. I also hope that our education in school changes. We should be taught the stories of the brave Polish heroes who defended their country. Poland 1939 is a must-read for anyone who cares about getting the truth about the beginnings of WW2.
March 3, 2024
A great induction for the uninitiated, though on the Polish market, it doesn't especially distinguish itself against the several hundred books available on the same subject.
The political/diplomatic preludium to September 1939 was well explained. Descriptions of the order of battle and troop movements of the campaign would have benefited from in-text maps.
The political/diplomatic preludium to September 1939 was well explained. Descriptions of the order of battle and troop movements of the campaign would have benefited from in-text maps.
March 8, 2025
A cruel reminder of how fast the world can shift when two corrupt leaders combine forces. The author does a great job of depicting this dark point in history from Poland’s perspective. This is a must read for WWII buffs and anyone seeking knowledge of Poland’s courageous will to remain independent.
February 24, 2021
Too dry. DNF. Was so interested given Poland is undergoing political chang at this moment but.... i need a chapter by chapter book group to get through it. And a hard copy. The polish names are difficult to follow on audio.
Want to read
February 21, 2022College Library, Rm. 1191
D765 .M63 2020
D765 .M63 2020
October 20, 2024
We all collectively should apologise to p-land (also Boy Scouts with petrol bombs wecked as)
April 13, 2025
An interesting and overlooked chapter in WWII, the book was well rounded, easy to follow and full of contemporary notes, providing good insight into how Poland was so quickly overwhelmed while giving dues to the Polish people for fighting a desperate cause.
January 22, 2020
I'll be frank: I had to read this book for work. I was not anticipating enjoying a book about military history, about World War II, about the British and French roles as allies of Poland at the outbreak of the war.
But gradually I became sucked in. Bit by bit, Roger Moorhouse lays out for us what the invasion of Poland meant for the Poles. There are maps so you can see where the places are that he talks about, with diagrams so you can see how the Germans invaded from one side, while Stalin's Red Army put pressure on from the other side.
There is such attention to detail here that the book must have been a labour of love. There are horrors aplenty within it, as you would expect in any book devoted to detailing what happened when the might of the German Army stood like Goliath against the underfunded, under-resourced Polish Army, while the Red Army sneaked in on the other side of Poland, claiming to be liberators of the oppressed.
Every few pages there was some new description of one or more atrocities. I wept my way through this book. I wouldn't have taken it all in one go except that it was needed that I did for my work - I would have absorbed it more slowly by preference. It was very moving to read of the bravery of many of the Poles, against what were ultimately always going to be overwhelming odds, some notable victories notwithstanding.
What a wonderful job Roger Moorhouse has done in bringing together all this material from a variety of sources to show us in painstaking detail how truly terrible war is - and how politicians will always try to wriggle out of unpopular decisions. It made me embarrassed and rather ashamed to be British, when we called the Poles our allies but gave them little but words when they actually needed us there.
If a book like this was compulsory study, people would be a lot less keen to go to war. It is such a terrible, senseless waste of life, on all sides. I am thankful that I had the chance to read it.
But gradually I became sucked in. Bit by bit, Roger Moorhouse lays out for us what the invasion of Poland meant for the Poles. There are maps so you can see where the places are that he talks about, with diagrams so you can see how the Germans invaded from one side, while Stalin's Red Army put pressure on from the other side.
There is such attention to detail here that the book must have been a labour of love. There are horrors aplenty within it, as you would expect in any book devoted to detailing what happened when the might of the German Army stood like Goliath against the underfunded, under-resourced Polish Army, while the Red Army sneaked in on the other side of Poland, claiming to be liberators of the oppressed.
Every few pages there was some new description of one or more atrocities. I wept my way through this book. I wouldn't have taken it all in one go except that it was needed that I did for my work - I would have absorbed it more slowly by preference. It was very moving to read of the bravery of many of the Poles, against what were ultimately always going to be overwhelming odds, some notable victories notwithstanding.
What a wonderful job Roger Moorhouse has done in bringing together all this material from a variety of sources to show us in painstaking detail how truly terrible war is - and how politicians will always try to wriggle out of unpopular decisions. It made me embarrassed and rather ashamed to be British, when we called the Poles our allies but gave them little but words when they actually needed us there.
If a book like this was compulsory study, people would be a lot less keen to go to war. It is such a terrible, senseless waste of life, on all sides. I am thankful that I had the chance to read it.
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