Germany Invades Poland Help

[Bear]

I've always been interested in the events right before Germany invaded Poland. However I don't know much about what exactly happened and who carried out the operation. Is it true that Germans dressed in Polish uniforms caused some havoc which then brought about the invasion. I imagine that these men had to be hand selected. Were they Wehrmacht or SS. Does anyone know any names of these individuals.

Any detailed info would be appreciated.

thanks,
bear

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Bear, you are thinking of the attack on Gliewitz radio station on August 31st 1939. The Germans were all SS men and the "Polish" soldiers were murdered concentration camp victims outfitted with Polish Army uniforms. The "attack" took place and a few anti German slogans were shouted out "on air". But I think I have read that the tranmitter was a local one, and few people actually heard this fake pretext for invasion.

More info here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_..._radio_station

Cheers, Ade.

[Bear]

Thanks for the information Ade...

I guess this is the man that started the war.

SS-Sturmbannfuhrer Alfred Helmut Naujocks

I will look for his book 'The Man Who Started the War'.

thanks again,
barry

[Peter J.]

Gentlemen, the Gliewitz incident is well documented and also seen as the starting point of WW2. However, this is not intirely correct. The following story is not known to the general public and it also shows the low awareness of the first real commando group the world was about to encounter, the Brandenburgers.

The initial starting point of the attack against Poland was set to 04.15 August 26 1939. Due to intervention from Mussolini, the attack was halted for another 4 days. On the night of August 25, Oberleutnant Albrecht Herzner and his men from "Sudendeutschen Freikorps", Volkdeutschen from Slovakia and one "Waffentechnische Wehrmachtangehörige", 70 men all together, began their march towards the Jablunka-Pass. On their way, they lost their communication, due to the terrain and messangers that were sent to inform them about the change of plans, either lost their way or got captured by the Poles.

To make long story short, they managed to achieve their goal in taking the railway station and capture 800 Polish soldiers! Not only that, another train arrived with another 1200 troops, who also were captured. Finally at 12.00 August 26, communication with the German HQ was re-established and they were ordered back.

In September 1939, Admiral Canaris made a recommendation for the Iron Cross to Oberleutnant Herzner, for his actions at Jablunka-Pass. This was rejected by Keitel. Germany was not at war at this time and consequently a war decoration was out of the question . This kind of logic would be seen at numerous occations later in the war, due to the secrecy of the Branderburger units.

KR
Peter

[Bear]

Thanks Peter,

I've heard of the Brandenburgers but don't have a clue of what they did before or during the war. I noticed that Admiral Canaris recommended Oberleutnant Herzner for the Iron cross so does this mean he was in the Kriegsmarine.

thanks again for the info,
barry

[JaimeH]

I just saw on the "History Channel" that it was Oskar Shindler (of "Shindlers List" fame) who was a member of the abwehr, supplied the stolen Polish uniforms. A bit of a suprise.

[Peter J.]

Hi Barry,

That's a logical question . Admiral Canaris was Chief of the German Abwehr (the intelligence service of the armed forces). I know it's tough to find good referense books about the Brandenburgers, but they have an amazing story to tell. I'm not in a position to elaborate on this topic, the book I have is in German and I'm having a hard time reading it

KR
Peter