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Chapter 10: "Lost illusions"
23th till 26th October, Sandomierz, Military Camp
And so on 22th the battle of Warsaw began. The Germans started with aircraft-attacks and the Luftwaffe very efficiently defeated the restants of the Polish Aircraft. the armies were also affected by the constant bombardments but they came better through the airattack than the aircraft. The attacks continued the whole two days of 22th and 23th October and then finally the German army entered the act.
German land-offensive of 24th october was not less efficient than the Air-offensive of the previous two days. The combined armoured and infantery armies occupied the same day Ostroleka, Lublin, Lwow and Suwalki. And also 28 German divisions met the Polish army the same day what actually started the Battle of Warsaw.
The Poles were in disadvantage, technologically and numerically but also the organization level of the Poles was weak due to many days short of supplies. The air-attacks demoalized and further weakened the army although the effects of those were less than expected. Poles had not much defensive advantage apart from the river. The long awaited winter had not arrived yet at the moment of the German attack.
Lewandowski sat all the time during those days at his receiver. There was obviously enough possibility that the Germans would also move further before Warsaw fell and so annex also Sandomierz base and other eastern cities, but lewandowski did not really care; he should have been there in Warsaw to help his friends in that army, to fight for Poland. Now he just sat here in a small, unimportant base, not able to do anything but listening to relais of the battle.
Obviously, not only the battle he received news from. Also the Polish government kept informing about the situation. Lewandowski spat on the ground: nice government: while the people and soldiers fought against the invader, the government sat already save in Turkey from which they soon would move to either France or England - the colonel assumed. Not much point for a government of a country that soon would be obliterated...
The whole 24th was however still hopefull. The Poles withstood till the night and the Germans made certainly quite a few casualties. The 25th the situation changed though when the Luftwaffe gave extra backing for the German troops. That was the final blow and Rydz-Smigly commanded retreat to Lublin in the evening: Warsaw was lost...
That caused wuite a lot of panic also in Sandomierz. The Headquarters has been lost to Germans. Rydz-Smigly still tried to organize something with his army but the Germans now controlled in fact the whole Polish apparate. The few eastern cities were of no importance. Poland was lost with the fall of Warsaw. On the 26th october the Poles capitulated and Poland dissappeared from the map...
The following cities surrendered instantly, the army was disbanded, many officers arrested. A few managed to stay out of German hands - especially those in the periphery like colonel Lewandowski. Together with a few others he left after the fall of Warsaw and moved to the south. He heard of Polish capitulation a day later in Przemysl. The next day they crossed the - now hardly controlled - border with Romania. They were save as the Romanians till now didn`t arrest Polish officers:
The war was over - at least for Poland. The White eagle had fallen for the German Beast. The only hope was now the west...
Lewandowski could not do much to aid his motherland in the following years. Desillusioned about the possibilities in the partizan-movement he finally decided to move west after all and went to Canada to join his family. He continued dreaming of a free Poland and did all he could by supporting all kind of aid-movements in the west for Poland - without any serious result but he could not do much anyway. The tragedy of the years was a burden for his health and Lewandowski spent much of the war unable to even leave his bed. He died in the winter of 1944-1945 without ever see a liberated Poland again...
The battle of Warsaw
The story of Poland has ended.... for now
23th till 26th October, Sandomierz, Military Camp
And so on 22th the battle of Warsaw began. The Germans started with aircraft-attacks and the Luftwaffe very efficiently defeated the restants of the Polish Aircraft. the armies were also affected by the constant bombardments but they came better through the airattack than the aircraft. The attacks continued the whole two days of 22th and 23th October and then finally the German army entered the act.
German land-offensive of 24th october was not less efficient than the Air-offensive of the previous two days. The combined armoured and infantery armies occupied the same day Ostroleka, Lublin, Lwow and Suwalki. And also 28 German divisions met the Polish army the same day what actually started the Battle of Warsaw.
The Poles were in disadvantage, technologically and numerically but also the organization level of the Poles was weak due to many days short of supplies. The air-attacks demoalized and further weakened the army although the effects of those were less than expected. Poles had not much defensive advantage apart from the river. The long awaited winter had not arrived yet at the moment of the German attack.
Lewandowski sat all the time during those days at his receiver. There was obviously enough possibility that the Germans would also move further before Warsaw fell and so annex also Sandomierz base and other eastern cities, but lewandowski did not really care; he should have been there in Warsaw to help his friends in that army, to fight for Poland. Now he just sat here in a small, unimportant base, not able to do anything but listening to relais of the battle.
Obviously, not only the battle he received news from. Also the Polish government kept informing about the situation. Lewandowski spat on the ground: nice government: while the people and soldiers fought against the invader, the government sat already save in Turkey from which they soon would move to either France or England - the colonel assumed. Not much point for a government of a country that soon would be obliterated...
The whole 24th was however still hopefull. The Poles withstood till the night and the Germans made certainly quite a few casualties. The 25th the situation changed though when the Luftwaffe gave extra backing for the German troops. That was the final blow and Rydz-Smigly commanded retreat to Lublin in the evening: Warsaw was lost...
That caused wuite a lot of panic also in Sandomierz. The Headquarters has been lost to Germans. Rydz-Smigly still tried to organize something with his army but the Germans now controlled in fact the whole Polish apparate. The few eastern cities were of no importance. Poland was lost with the fall of Warsaw. On the 26th october the Poles capitulated and Poland dissappeared from the map...
The following cities surrendered instantly, the army was disbanded, many officers arrested. A few managed to stay out of German hands - especially those in the periphery like colonel Lewandowski. Together with a few others he left after the fall of Warsaw and moved to the south. He heard of Polish capitulation a day later in Przemysl. The next day they crossed the - now hardly controlled - border with Romania. They were save as the Romanians till now didn`t arrest Polish officers:
The war was over - at least for Poland. The White eagle had fallen for the German Beast. The only hope was now the west...
Lewandowski could not do much to aid his motherland in the following years. Desillusioned about the possibilities in the partizan-movement he finally decided to move west after all and went to Canada to join his family. He continued dreaming of a free Poland and did all he could by supporting all kind of aid-movements in the west for Poland - without any serious result but he could not do much anyway. The tragedy of the years was a burden for his health and Lewandowski spent much of the war unable to even leave his bed. He died in the winter of 1944-1945 without ever see a liberated Poland again...
The battle of Warsaw
The story of Poland has ended.... for now
And so this AAR ends.....
And then it all was suddenly over... the Germans got enough of all this crap and finally decided to make an end of it... the ai has won again....and I didn`t made the 3 months I hoped to stay alive (still better than Poland IRL)....
To answer the questions left ifnot answered yet by the game...
@Lord Martin
I cannot join Germans as long they fight me and the only peace they accept is one that does not include an independant Poland....
@Longinus
it did... 2 days
there was indeed, see the effects on the 2nd map...
@Simons3
I tried.....
@all
thanks for reading Now be nice and buy the game yourself and try to keep the Poles fighting for a little bit longer....
And then it all was suddenly over... the Germans got enough of all this crap and finally decided to make an end of it... the ai has won again....and I didn`t made the 3 months I hoped to stay alive (still better than Poland IRL)....
To answer the questions left ifnot answered yet by the game...
@Lord Martin
I cannot join Germans as long they fight me and the only peace they accept is one that does not include an independant Poland....
@Longinus
it did... 2 days
there was indeed, see the effects on the 2nd map...
@Simons3
I tried.....
@all
thanks for reading
Now be nice and buy the game yourself and try to keep the Poles fighting for a little bit longer.... 
What a tragic ending.
I'm sad you couldn't survive the German onslaught and lost
Thanks for writing this AAR
I'm sad you couldn't survive the German onslaught and lost
Thanks for writing this AAR
Kasperus, many thanks for taking the trouble to write this AAR. I have certainly enjoyed it.
Bedankt en tot ziens!
Bedankt en tot ziens!
great job there.
it really made me feel sorry for those poor polish soldiers, fighting bravely with so little hope. Good job holding off those nasty Germans as long as you did, I am sure it is quite a task.
Also, good to actually see the AI is capable of beating a player, this point is not lost of me eventhough the largely outnumbered you. EUII AI would of killed off your army , taken all your cities, then asked for 25 $ and millitary access in a peace offer . I know it has been said that the AI is vastly improved, but, to me, it all really depends on your interepretation of the word "vastly" , but I am not one to complain (much) about marginal improvements.
anyways, maybe next time try Belguim and see how long you can last that would be interesting
it really made me feel sorry for those poor polish soldiers, fighting bravely with so little hope. Good job holding off those nasty Germans as long as you did, I am sure it is quite a task.
Also, good to actually see the AI is capable of beating a player, this point is not lost of me eventhough the largely outnumbered you. EUII AI would of killed off your army , taken all your cities, then asked for 25 $ and millitary access in a peace offer
. I know it has been said that the AI is vastly improved, but, to me, it all really depends on your interepretation of the word "vastly" , but I am not one to complain (much) about marginal improvements.anyways, maybe next time try Belguim and see how long you can last
that would be interesting
A great AAR and a proof that the best stories are not necessarily tales of victory.
@Karhu
well, I was planning to write a polish AAR
already for 2 months so finally when I was allowed to I did with all pleasure. Even losing is not so bad in such a case
Graag gedaan
@KrisKannon
Belgium can last longer as they can withdraw to their colonies which I unfortunately didn`t have...
@Bismarck
hmm... not much chance I guess
@Truskar
Poles are very good in glorious endings
@Jan Zamojski
A little satisfaction to brighten up the day
Btw, welcome back. Haven`t seen you around for some time.
well, I was planning to write a polish AAR
already for 2 months so finally when I was allowed to I did with all pleasure. Even losing is not so bad in such a case
Graag gedaan
@KrisKannon
Belgium can last longer as they can withdraw to their colonies which I unfortunately didn`t have...
@Bismarck
hmm... not much chance I guess
@Truskar
Poles are very good in glorious endings
@Jan Zamojski
A little satisfaction to brighten up the day
Btw, welcome back. Haven`t seen you around for some time.
I loved the AAR! Three cheers for outlasting the Poles IRL! Although I do have to ask, didn't the Poles IRL have a number of tanks defending against "ze Germans," even if the tanks were of poor quality or dispersed among the infantry.
Where were the crazed calvary charges, Sabers rattling proudly against the Hulls of Pz. IIs?
Nice work!
- Mijk
Where were the crazed calvary charges, Sabers rattling proudly against the Hulls of Pz. IIs?
Nice work!
- Mijk
*Sniff* Poor Poland....so sad. I promised myself...I wouldn't cry...(runs off wailing)
I would like to see someone play Poland starting in 1936. Maybe they could have the tanks/aircraft/troops by 1939 to offer more then six weeks (or two months in this AAR) of resistance.
@Mijk
as for tanks I don`t know how much they had, but I guess some cavalry could have been there... would have made the AAR more heroic perhaps
@secondbsmn
that is surely possible... Poland could stay out of war entirely in theory when starting 1936... but that wasn`t the idea of my AAR at least...
as for tanks I don`t know how much they had, but I guess some cavalry could have been there... would have made the AAR more heroic perhaps
@secondbsmn
that is surely possible... Poland could stay out of war entirely in theory when starting 1936... but that wasn`t the idea of my AAR at least...
Originally posted by Mijk
Where were the crazed calvary charges, Sabers rattling proudly against the Hulls of Pz. IIs?
Nice work!
- Mijk
There were no cavalry charges cause in the 1939 scenario Polish army does not have even a single cavalry division, which is indeed weird. IRL Polish army mobilized 11 cavalry brigades for the 1939 campaign.
Though one has to admit they didn't have many opportunities for charging
.