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This is the cover. |
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Caption: 1 September. The Führer and General Keitel
Text: “At the command of the Führer and Supreme
Commander, the Wehrmacht took up the defense of the Reich. In
accordance with their orders to resist Polish aggression, German
troops crossed the German border to counterattack. Luftwaffe
squadrons simultaneously attacked military targets in Poland.”
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Caption: Jubilation in liberated Danzig
Text: “The navy took up station in the Baltic Sea.
Gauleiter Forster reported to the Führer that Danzig
had returned to the Reich. The free city was now part of the German
Reich.
The Führer replied: ‘Greater Germany greets you with
overflowing hearts. The law on reunification goes into effect
immediately’” |
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Caption: 2 September. The Luftwaffe attacks.
Text: “German troops achieved quick successes on every
front.
The German Luftwaffe carried out lightning-fast, devastating
strikes against military targets in Poland. Numerous Polish aircraft
were destroyed. Numerous military airfields were attacked. The
planes in the hangers or on the field went up in flames.”
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Caption: 3 September. Tanks roll.
Text: “Tschenstochau was overrun. The Warte River was
crossed east of Wielun. After its decisive attacks on 2 September,
the German air force totally dominated the air over Poland, and
was ready for further attacks.”
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Caption: 4 September. Crossing the Weichsel River
Text: “The Weichsel crossing was contested east of Pleß.
Pommeranian forces reached the Weichsel near Kulm. That cut off
the Polish forces in the northern part of the corridor. German
forces were attacking the fortress at Graudenz. Increased attacks
by the Luftwaffe contributed to the rapid successes.”
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Caption: 5 September. The Führer’s car heads to
the front
Text: “The German forces break through enemy resistance
everywhere, and continue pressing onward. The encircled Polish
corridor army to the north makes desperate attempts to break
out. The Graudenz fortifications are captured. The Führer
watches troops cross the Weichsel near Kulm. After a hard battle,
Mlawa is captured.”
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Caption: 6 September. On a Polish road
Text: “Army Group South has thrown the Poles back to
Krakow. The Upper Silesian industrial area is in German hands.
The German forces that crossed the Weichsel near Kulm and Graudenz
are pursuing the enemy. The enemy withdraws to the south from
Mlawa. Rapidly moving troops have reached the Narew River near
Rozan. 10,000 men and 60 heavy weapons have been captured in
the north.”
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Caption: 7 September. The Führer is coming.
Text: “The Poles are retreating everywhere, with the
Germans at their heels. Neu-Sandez is captured in the south.
Krakow is captured without resistance. Military honors are given
at Marshall Pilsudski’s grave. The Tuchel Heath to the north
is cleared up, the remaining Polish forces escaping across the
Weichsel. Bombs have set Warsaw’s West Train Station in flames.”
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Caption: 8 September. In liberated Lodsch
Text: “Mobile forces reach the mid-Weichsel, and approach
the southwestern suburbs of Warsaw. Other forces are nearing
Lublin. The troops at Lodsch head south to the Bzura River to
attack the weakening enemy.”
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Caption: 9 September. Polish prisoners of war
Text: “The province of Posen is occupied without enemy
resistance. At the Weichsel’s bend between Sandomir and Kutno,
motorized and tank units have had great successes. Elements of
numerous Polish divisions have been surrounded near Radom, and
are being attacked from all sides. Northwest of Warsaw, troops
have reached the south bank of the Bug River.”
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Caption: 10 September. The Führer at the Front
Text: “The great battle in Poland is nearing its height:
the destruction of the Polish army west of the Weichsel. Polish
forces in the East of Warsaw have opened fire with guns of every
caliber on our forces in the city’s west. The Polish military
harbor at Gdingen is nearly surrounded. Neustadt and Putzig are
in German hands.”
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Caption: 11 September. A destroyed railway station
Text: “In the provinces of East Prussia, Posen, and West
Prussia, our troops have occupied numerous cities, including
Posen, Thorn, Gnesen, and Hohensalza. Here, too, former German land
is again firmly in German hands. The West Train Station in Lemberg
is destroyed, as is the station in Bialystock.”
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Caption: 12 September. The Führer watches the
crossing of the San River.
Text: “West of the Weichsel, the great battle is nearing
its end. To the south, troops are crossing the San River. Between
Radom and Lyla Gora, the enemy abandons his weapons. The weapons
and supplies of at least four divisions are about to be captured.
The number of prisoners is still uncertain. “
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Caption: Captured Poles in a POW camp
Desperate attempts by the surrounded Polish troops near Kutno
to escape to the south are beaten back. The ring around them
is unbreakable. North of the Weichsel, our forces are nearing
the fortress at Modlin. Luftwaffe units are supporting our troops
at Kutno and attacking retreating enemy units to the east of
the Weichsel. Dive bombers have sealed off the eastern approaches
to Warsaw.”
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Caption: 13 September. Hitler and Göring at headquarters
Text: “The north and south wings of the army are pursuing
the enemy.
The surrounded Polish units south of Radom have ceased to
exist. We capture enormous quantities of soldiers, weapons and
supplies. All attempts by five Polish divisions and two cavalry
regiments near Kutno to break out fail.”
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Caption: 14 September. A captured Polish field battery
Text: “Preliminary reports are that 600,000 prisoners,
including many generals, have been captured at Radom, along with
143 heavy guns and 38 tanks. The attack on the divisions surrounded
near Kutno continues.
The 18th Polish Division, including the division staff, abandon
their weapons to the north of Ostrow. We take 6,000 prisoners
and 30 big guns.”
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Caption: The Führer at Warsaw
Text: “Warsaw is now surrounded. German troops from Modlin
are approaching Warsaw from the Northwest. Despite unfavorable
weather, the Luftwaffe makes successful attacks on the east side
of Warsaw, and on retreating Polish units. The final battle centers
around Warsaw.
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