Case White

At the start of the war, the German military – whilst not yet at full strength – was a formidable fighting force. It was led by capable officers, with powerful and mobile land units and well-trained soldiers. The Germans fielded about 1.8 million troops and 2600 tanks – in contrast the Poles could only muster 180 tanks. Additionally, it would be supported by a seasoned Luftwaffe (air force) armed with over 2000 modern fighters and bombers (against 420 Polish aircraft) and which had gained experience fighting in the Spanish Civil War.

It anticipated quick, powerful blows at different points on the Polish border which, once breached, would allow its forces to quickly spread out across Poland, before converging on the Polish capital, Warsaw. German forces would invade Poland from the north, south, and west, with additional Slovak forces advancing alongside the Germans in northern Slovakia. As German forces advanced, the Polish would be pushed back from their border positions to more established lines of defence, further to the east.

German order of battle.

The German plan for the invasion of Poland - codename Fall Weiss, (English - "Case White") divided its forces into two army groups:

• Army Group North (Heeresgruppe Nord) - Divided into three, smaller components: Army Group Reserve Troops, 3. Armee and 4. Armee. Its initial objectives were to capture the "Polish corridor" and drive southwards towards Warsaw from East Prussia.
• Army Group South (Heeresgruppe Süd) – Divided into four smaller components: Army Group Reserve Troops, 8. Armee, 10. Armee and 14. Armee. Its initial objective was to drive from Silesia towards Warsaw and to destroy the Polish forces around Kraków. The Slovak Army Group Bernolak - over 50,000 soldiers in three divisions – was essentially part of Army Group South.

Of the 2546 German combat tanks, only 446 (17.5%) were modern designs (Panzerkampfwagen 35 (t), 38 (t), III, and IV).

German Panzer Division formation 1939.

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Army Group North (Heeresgruppe Nord)

Army Group Reserve Troops

• Panzer-Division – Commanded by Generalleutnant Ferdinand Schaal: Included Panzer-Regiment 8, Infanterie-Regiment (motorised.) 86, II Artillerie-Regiment (motorised) and 29, I./ Aufklärungs [reconnaissance]-Regiment 8.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Dr.phil.h.c. Friedrich von Rabenau: Included Infanterie-Regiment 170, 186, 213and Artillerie-Regiment 173.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Hugo Höfl: Included Infanterie-Regiment 301, 312, 413and Artillerie-Regiment 206.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Moritz Andreas: Included Infanterie-Regiment 309, 337, 338and Artillerie-Regiment 208.

3. Armee

Commanded by General der Artillerie Georg von Küchler and was based in East Prussia.

3rd Army Reserves

• Infanterie-Division – Commanded by Generalmajorl Richard Baltzer: Included Infanterie-Regiment 311, 346, 389and Artillerie-Regiment 217.
• Kavallerie-Division - Commanded by Oberst Kurt Feldt: Included Reiter-Regiment 1, 2, Radfahr - Abteilung 1, reitende Artillerie - Abteilung 1.

German troops marching in Poland.

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1. Armeekorps - Commanded by Generalleutnant Walter Petzel m.F.b.

• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Max Bock: Included Infanterie-Regiment 2, 23, 44and Artillerie-Regiment 11.
• Infanterie-Division - Char. Commanded by Generalleutnant z.V. Siegfried Haenicke: Included Infanterie-Regiment 151, 162, 176and Artillerie-Regiment 161.
• Panzerverband Ostpreußen (AKA Panzer-Division Kempf) - Commanded by Generalmajor Werner Kempf: Included Panzer-Regiment 7, SS-Standard (motorised.) "Deutschland",[equivalent of a regiment] and SS-Artillerie-Standart/SS-TV.
• Grenzschutzabschnittskommando 15 - Commanded by Generalmajor Wolf Schede: Included 4 Grenzwacht Regiments.

XXI. Armeekorps - Commanded by Generalleutnant Nikolaus von Falkenhorst.

• / Panzer-Regiment 10 - Commanded by Oberstleutnant Friedrich-Wilhelm Sieberg.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Kuno-Hans von Both: Included Infanterie-Regiment 3, 24, 45 and Artillerie-Regiment 21.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Hans Suttner: Included Infanterie-Regiment 325, 356, 400 and Artillerie-Regiment 228.

German advance guards and scouts are shown in a Polish town that has suffered severe bombardment during the invasion of Poland.

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Führungsstab z.b.V. 1 (also known as Kommandostab (a headquarters unit) Wodrig, Korps Wodrig) - Commanded by Generalleutnant Albert Wodrig.

• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Joachim von Kortzfleisch: Included Infanterie-Regiment 1, 22, 43 and Artillerie-Regiment 1
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Ludwig von der Leyen: Included Infanterie-Regiment 27, 48, 89 and Artillerie-Regiment 12.

Gruppe Brand - Commanded by Generalmajor Albrecht Brand.

• Kommandantur der Befestigungen bei Königsberg - Commanded by Generalmajor Albrecht Brand: Included Infanterie-Regiment "Gumbinnen", Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment 152 and 2 Grenzwacht-Regiments.
• Brigade Goldap - Commanded by Oberst Hans-Erich Nolte: Included Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment 161, II, Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment 162, II and Landwehr-Artillerie-Regiment 161.
• Brigade Lötzen - Commanded by Generalmajor Otto-Ernst Ottenbacher: Included Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment 161, 162, Landwehr-Artillerie-Regiment 161 and 1 Grenzwacht-Regiment.

Vehicles of the German 10th Panzer Division during the Invasion of Poland.

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4. Armee

Commanded by General der Artillerie Günther von Kluge and was based in Western Pomerania.

4th Army Reserves

• Infanterie-Division – Commanded by Generalleutnant Walter Graf von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt: Included Infanterie-Regiment 9, 67, 68 and Artillerie-Regiment 23.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Woldemar Freiherr Grote: Included Infanterie-Regiment 323, 386, 397 and Artillerie-Regiment 218.
• Grenzschutzabschnittskommando 1 - Commanded by General der Flieger z.V. Leonhard Kaupisch: Included 2 Grenzwacht-Regiments.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Karl von Tiedemann: Included Infanterie-Regiment 322, 368, 374 and Artillerie-Regiment 207.
• Grenzschutzabschnittskommando 2 - Char. Commanded by Generalleutnant Friedrich (Fritz) Büchs: Included 4 Grenzwacht-Regiments
• Grenzschutzabschnittskommando 12 - Commanded by Generalmajor z.V. Hermann Metz: Included Grenz-Infanterie-Regiment “Crossen”, “Meseritz”, “Schwerin” and 3 Grenzwacht-Regiments.

1. Armeekorps - Commanded by General der Infanterie Adolf Strauß.

• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Walter Lichel: Included Infanterie-Regiment 8, 29, 50 and Artillerie-Regiment 3.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Franz Böhme: Included Infanterie-Regiment 4, 94, 96 and Artillerie-Regiment 32.

German Panzer I during the Invasion of Poland.

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III. Armeekorps - Commanded by General der Artillerie Curt Haase.

• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Konrad Sorsche: Included Grenz-Infanterie-Regiment 121, 122, 123 and Artillerie-Abteilung (motorised) 101.
• Brigade Netze - Commanded by Generalmajor Eccard Freiherr von Gablenz: Included 2 Grenzwacht-Regiments.

XIX. Armeekorps - Commanded by General der Panzertruppe Heinz Guderian.

• Panzer-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Leo Freiherr Geyr von Schweppenburg: Included 3 Panzer-Brigade (Panzer-Regiment 5, 6), Panzer-Lehr (Panzer Teaching) a school unit of highly trained instructors, Abteilung, 3. Schützen-Brigade (Schützen-Regiment 3) and Artillerie-Regiment 75 (motorised).
• Infanterie-Division (motorised) - Commanded by Generalleutnant Paul Bader: Included Infanterie-Regiment 5 (motorised), 25 (motorised), 92 (motorised) and Artillerie-Regiment 2 (motorised).
• Infanterie-Division (motorised) - Commanded by Generalleutnant Mauritz von Wiktorin: Included Infanterie-Regiment 69 (motorised), 76 (motorised), 80 (motorised) and Artillerie-Regiment 56 (motorised).

German Panzer I's during the Invasion of Poland

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German Infantry Division, 1939.

Juan Latorre

Army Group South (Heeresgruppe Süd)

Army Group Reserve Troops

• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Karl Kriebel: Including Infanterie-Regiment 92, 171, 234and Artillerie-Regiment 156.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Oskar Blümm: Including Infanterie-Regiment 179, 199, 217and Artillerie-Regiment 157.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generallutnant z.V. Dieter von Boehm-Bezing: Including Infanterie-Regiment 452, 461, 472 and Artillerie-Regiment 252.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Max von Viebahn: Including Infanterie-Regiment 457, 466, 477 and Artillerie-Regiment 257.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Walter Wollmann: Including Infanterie-Regiment 458, 478, 479 and Artillerie-Regiment 258.

VII. Armeekorps - Commanded by General der Infanterie Eugen Ritter von Schobert.

• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Friedrich Bergmann: Including Infanterie-Regiment 40, 63, 91 and Artillerie-Regiment 27.
• Infanterie-Division – Commanded by Oberst Georg Braun m.F.b.: Including Infanterie-Regiment 169, 188, 196 and Artillerie-Regiment 168.

XXII. Armeekorps - Commanded by General der Kavallerie z.V. Ewald von Kleist.

• 62nd Infantry Division - Commanded by General Walter Keiner. Consisted of the 164th, 183rd, and 190th Infantry Regiments.
• 213th Infantry Division - Commanded by General Rene de l'Homme de Courbiere. Consisted of the 318th, 354th, and 406th Infantry Regiments.
• 221st Infantry Division - Commanded by General Johann Pflugbeil. Consisted of the 350th, 360th, and 375th Infantry Regiments
• Gebirgs-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Ludwig Kübler: Including Gebirgs-Jäger[z]-Regiment 98, 99, 100 and Gebirgs-Artillerie-Regiment 79.
• Gebirgs-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Valentin Feurstein: Including Gebirgs-Jäger-Regiment 136, 137 and Gebirgs-Artillerie-Regiment 111.

Short barrelled Panzer IV's in Poland during the invasion.

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8. Armee

Commanded by General der Infanterie Johannes Blaskowitz, it was based in northern Silesia.

8th Army Reserves

• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Kurt von Briesen: Including Infanterie-Regiment 6, 26, 46 and Artillerie-Regiment 30.
• Grenzschutzabschnittskommando 13 - Commanded by Generalleutnant z.V. Max von Schenckendorff: Including 2 Grenzwacht-Regiments.
• Grenzschutzabschnittskommando 14 – Commanded by Char. General der Kavallerie z.V. Kurt Ludwig Freiherr von Gienanth: Including Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment 183 and 2 Grenzwacht-Regiments.

X. Armeekorps - Commanded by General der Artillerie z.V. Wilhelm Ulex.

• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Friedrich Olbricht: Including Infanterie-Regiment 31, 32, 102 and Artillerie-Regiment 24.

XIII. Armeekorps - Commanded by General der Kavallerie Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von und zu Weichs an der Glon.

• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Conrad von Cochenhausen: Including Infanterie-Regiment 20, 41, 85 and Artillerie-Regiment 10.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Herbert Loch: Including Infanterie-Regiment 21, 55, 95 and Artillerie-Regiment 17.
• SS-Infanterie-Regiment (motorised) „Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler“ – Commanded by SS-Oberstgruppenführer Josef "Sepp" Dietrich.

German motorised infantry during the invasion of Poland.

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10. Armee

Commanded by General der Artillerie Walter von Reichenau, it was based in southern Silesia.

10th Army Reserves

• leichte Division -Generalmajor Friedrich-Wilhelm von Loeper: Including Panzer-Regiment 11, Panzer-Abteilung 65, 6. Schützen-Brigade (Schützen-Regiment 4) and Artillerie-Regiment 76 (motorised).

A column of German Panzer I's and infantry advancing in Poland.

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IV. Armeekorps - Commanded by General der Infanterie Viktor von Schwedler.

• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Erik-Oskar Hansen: Including Infanterie-Regiment 10, 52, 103 and Artillerie-Regiment 4.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Paul von Hase: Including Infanterie-Regiment 42, 72, 97 and Artillerie-Regiment 115.

XI. Armeekorps - Commanded by General der Artillerie Emil Leeb.

• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Friedrich-Carl Cranz: Including Infanterie-Regiment 30, 51, 54 and Artillerie-Regiment 18.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Günther Schwantes: Including Infanterie-Regiment 59, 73, 74 and Artillerie-Regiment 19.

Motorised German infantry during the invasion of Poland.

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XIV. Armeekorps (motorised) - Commanded by General der Infanterie Gustav von Wietersheim.

• Infanterie-Division (motorised) - Commanded by Generalleutnant Moritz von Faber du Faur m.F.b.: Including Infanterie-Regiment 33 (motorised), 66 (motorised), 93 (motorised) and Artillerie-Regiment 13 (motorised).
• 29th Motorized Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Joachim Lemelsen: Including Infanterie-Regiment 15 (motorised), 71 (motorised) and Artillerie-Regiment 29 (motorised).

XV. Armeekorps (motorised) - Commanded by General der Infanterie Hermann Hoth.

• leichte Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Georg Stumme: Including Panzer-Abteilung 66, Kavallerie-Schützen-Regiment 6, 7 and Artillerie-Regiment 78 (motorised).
• leichte Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Adolf-Friedrich Kuntzen: Including Panzer-Abteilung 67, Kavallerie-Schützen-Regiment 8, 9 and Artillerie-Regiment 80 (motorised).

Panzer I's and II's during the invasion of Poland.

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XVI. Armeekorps (motorised) - Commanded by General der Kavallerie Erich Höpner.

• Panzer-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Rudolf Schmidt: Including 1. Panzer-Brigade (Panzer-Regiment 1, 2), 1. Schützen-Brigade (Schützen-Regiment 1) and Artillerie-Regiment 73 (motorised).
• Panzer-Division - Commanded by Generalmajorl Georg-Hans Reinhardt: Including 5. Panzer-Brigade (Panzer-Regiment 35, 36), Schützen-Regiment 12 and Artillerie-Regiment 103 (motorised).
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Peter Weyer: Including Infanterie-Regiment 11, 53, 116 and Artillerie-Regiment 14.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Rudolf Kämpfe: Including Infanterie-Regiment 12, 17, 82 and Artillerie-Regiment 31.

Although the German army had advanced tanks and modern vehicles, a large amount of their armed forces relied on horse drawn transport. Here troops traverse a river in Poland.

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14. Armee

Commanded by Generaloberst Wilhelm List, it was based in Moravia and Slovakia.

14th Army Reserves

• Infanterie-Division – Commanded by Generalmajor Ferdinand Neuling: Including Infanterie-Regiment 327, 372, 444 and Artillerie-Regiment 239.
• Grenzschutzabschnittskommando 3 - Commanded by Generalleutnant z.V. Georg Brandt: Including 3 Grenzwacht-Regiments.
• Grenzschutzabschnittskommando 30 - Commanded by Generalmajor Erwin Engelbrecht: Including III./ Infanterie-Regiment 135, III./ Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100 and Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 137.

VIII. Armeekorps - Commanded by General der Infanterie Ernst Busch.

• Panzer-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Heinrich von Vietinghoff genannt Scheel: Including 8. Panzer-Brigade (Panzer-Regiment 15, 31), Schützen-Regiment 13 (motorised), 14 (motorised) and Artillerie-Regiment 116 (motorised).
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Rudolf Koch-Erpach: Including Infanterie-Regiment 28, 38, 84 and Artillerie-Regiment 8.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Hans von Obstfelder. Consisted of the 7th, 49th, and 83rd Infantry Regiments.
• 239th Infantry Division - Commanded by General Ferdinand Neuling: Including Infanterie-Regiment 7, 49, 83 and Artillerie-Regiment 28.
• SS-Standart (motorised) "Germania" - SS-Standartenführer – Commanded by Karl-Maria Demelhuber.

A German Panzer III in Poland.

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XVII. Armeekorps - Commanded by General der Infanterie Werner Kienitz.

• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Eugen Ott: Including Infanterie-Regiment 19, 61, 62 and Artillerie-Regiment 7.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Albrecht Schubert: Including Infanterie-Regiment 131, 132, 134 and Artillerie-Regiment 96.
• Infanterie-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Friedrich Materna: Including Infanterie-Regiment 130, 133, 135 and Artillerie-Regiment 98.

XVIII. Armeekorps - Commanded by General der Infanterie Eugen Beyer.

• Panzer-Division - Commanded by Generalleutnant Rudolf Veiel: Including 2. Panzer-Brigade (Panzer-Regiment 3, 4), 2. Schützen-Brigade (Schützen-Regiment 2) and Artillerie-Regiment 74 (motorised).
• leichte Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Dr.iur. Alfred Ritter von Hubicki: Including Panzer-Abteilung 33, Kavallerie-Schützen-Regiment 10, 11 and Artillerie-Regiment 102 (motorised).
• Gebirgs-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Eduard Dietl: Including Gebirgs-Jäger-R
• Regiment 138, 139 and Gebirgs-Artillery-Regiment 112.

Slovak Army Bernolak

• Polní armáda "Bernolák" (Field Army Bernolak) - Commanded by Generál 1. třídy Ferdinand Čatloš.
• Divise "Jánošík" - Generál 2. třídy Commanded by Antonin Pulanich: Pěší pluk 1, 4, 6, Dělostřelecký pluk 1.
• Divise "Škultéty" - Podplukovník Ján Imro, Commanded by Generál 2. třídy Alexandr Čunderlik: Pěší pluk 3, Dělostřelecký pluk 2 (Division was in Reserve).
• Divise "Rázus" – Commanded by Plukovník Augustín Malár: Pěší pluk 2, 21, Dělostřelecký pluk 3, 4.
• Pěší pluk 5

German half-tracks during the invasion of Poland.

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Luftwaffe (German Air Force)

In overall command was Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe Generalfeldmarschall Hermann Göring with the Chief of the General staff (Chef der Generalstabes der Luftwaffe) - Oberst Hans Jeschonnek.

A German Heinkel III on a bombing run over Poland during the invasion.

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Luftflotte 1 - Commanded by General der Flieger Albert Kesselring. Supporting Heeresgruppe Nord.

• Flieger-Division – Commanded by Generalmajor Ulrich Grauert.
• /[ab] Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 1,[ac] II./ Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 26, Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 27, I./ Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 53, I./ Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 152, Sturzkampfgeschwader (Dive Bomber) (Medium Bomber) 2, IV.(Stuka)/ Lehrgeschwader 1,[ae] I.(Jagd)[af]/ Lehrgeschwader 2, Zerstörergeschwader (Heavy Fighter Wing) 1[ag]
• Luftgau-Kommando[ah] I (Königsberg) – Commanded by Generalmajor Walter Mußhoff, I./ Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing)1,[ai] I./ Jagdgeschwader  (Fighter Wing)21
• Luftgau-Kommando III (Berlin) - Commanded by Generalmajor Hubert Weise: I./ Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing)2
• Luftgau-Kommando IV (Dresden) - Commanded by Generalmajor Wilhelm Maye: I./ Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing)3, I./ Jagdgeschwader  (Fighter Wing)20
• Luftwaffenkommando Ostpreußen - Commanded by Generalleutnant Wilhelm Wimmer: Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 3, I./ Sturzkampfgeschwader (Dive Bomber) (Medium Bomber) 1
• Lehr-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Helmut Förster: Lehrgeschwader 1 (3 Kampf Gruppe), Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 2

Luftflotte 2 - Commanded by General der Flieger Hellmuth Felmy. Supporting Heeresgruppe C.

• Flieger-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Richard Putzier:
• / Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 25, II./ Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 28, I./ Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 54
• Flieger-Division - Commanded by General der Flieger Alfred Keller:
• / Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 26, Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 27, Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 55
• Luftgau-Kommando VI (Münster) - Commanded by Generalmajor August Schmidt: Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing)26, I./ Jagdgeschwader  (Fighter Wing)52, II./ Zerstörergeschwader (Heavy Fighter Wing) 26
• Luftgau-Kommando XI (Hannover) - Commanded by General der Flieger Ludwig Wolff: II./ Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing)77, Zerstörergeschwader (Heavy Fighter Wing) 26

A flight of German JU 87D Stuka dive bombers during the Invasion of Poland.

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Luftflotte 3 - Commanded by General der Flieger Hugo Sperrle. Supporting Heeresgruppe C.

• Flieger-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Robert Ritter von Greim:
• Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 51, I./ Zerstörergeschwader (Heavy Fighter Wing) 52
• Flieger-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Otto Deßloch:
• Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 53, III./ Sturzkampfgeschwader (Dive Bomber) (Medium Bomber) 51, II./ Zerstörergeschwader (Heavy Fighter Wing) 76
• Luftgau-Kommando VII (München) - Commanded by Generalleutnant Emil Zenetti: I./ Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing)51, I./ Jagdgeschwader  (Fighter Wing)71
• Luftgau-Kommando XII (Wiesbaden) - Commanded by Generalmajor Friedrich Heiligenbrunner: Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing)53
• Luftgau-Kommando XIII (Nürnberg) - Commanded by Generalmajor Dr. Eugen Weißmann: I./ Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing)70

Luftflotte 4 - Commanded by General der Flieger Alexander Löhr. Supporting Heeresgruppe Süd.

• Flieger-Division - Commanded by Generalmajor Bruno Loerzer:
• Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 4, Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 76, Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) 77, I./ Sturzkampfgeschwader (Dive Bomber) (Medium Bomber) 2, I./ Zerstörergeschwader (Heavy Fighter Wing) 76
• Fliegerführer z.b.V. - Commanded by Generalmajor Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen:
• (Schlacht)/ Lehrgeschwader 2, I./ Sturzkampfgeschwader (Dive Bomber) (Medium Bomber) 76, Sturzkampfgeschwader (Dive Bomber) (Medium Bomber) 77, I./ Zerstörergeschwader (Heavy Fighter Wing) 2
• Luftgau-Kommando VIII (Breslau) - Commanded by Generalmajor Bernhard Waber: I./ Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing)76, I./ Jagdgeschwader  (Fighter Wing)77

Mechanics work on a Bf 109E-3 in Poland, September 1939. Hs 123 biplanes of Training Wing 4 are in the background.

Additional Units

• Luftgau-Kommando XVII (Wien) - Commanded by Generalmajor Friedrich Hirschauer, Commanding
• Fliegerdivision (Parachute division) - Commanded by Generalmajor Kurt Student:
• (Parachute Regiment) 1, 2, Kampfgeschwader (Medium Bomber) z.b.V. 1, Kampfgruppe z.b.V. 9
• Luftlande-Infanterie (Glider infantry) Regiment of the 22. Infanterie-Division

A German Messerschmitt Bf.110 fighter in flight over Poland.

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Kriegsmarine

The overall commander was  Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine Generaladmiral Erich Raeder.

The Schleswig-Holstein in late 1930s.

Bundesarchiv

High command (Seekriegsleitung):

• Chef des Stabes der Seekriegsleitung - Konteradmiral (Counter Admiral) Otto Schniewind
• Chef der Flotte / Flottenchef (Fleet Chief)- Admiral Hermann Boehm
• Befehlshaber der Panzerschiff (Pocket Battleship) - Vizeadmiral (Vice Admiral) Wilhelm Marschall
• Befehlshaber der Aufklärungsstreitkräfte[ar] - Vizeadmiral (Vice Admiral) Hermann Densch
• Führer der Torpedoboote- Konteradmiral (Counter Admiral) Günter Lütjens
• Führer der Unterseeboote (Submarine)- Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Karl Dönitz
• Führer der Unterseeboote (Submarine) West - Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Karl Dönitz
• Führer der Unterseeboote (Submarine) Ost - Fregattenkapitän (Frigate Captain) Oskar Schomburg

Under Direct Control of Seekriegsleitung (Skl)

• Admiral Graf Spee - Panzerschiff (Pocket Battleship)- Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Hans Langsdorff: en route to South Atlantic
• Deutschland - Panzerschiff (Pocket Battleship)} - Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Paul Wenneker: North Atlantic
• Altmark - Troßschiff (Oil Tanker & Supply Vessel) - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) der Reserve Heinrich Dau: operating with Admiral Graf Spee
• Westerwald - Troßschiff (Oil Tanker & Supply Vessel) – Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) (Corvette Captain) R. Peter Grau: operating with Deutschland
• U 27 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Johannes Franz: North Atlantic
• U 28 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Günter Kuhnke: North Atlantic
• U 29 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Otto Schuhart: North Atlantic
• U 30 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Fritz-Juluis Lemp: North Atlantic
• U 33 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Hans-Wilhelm von Dresky: North Atlantic
• U 34 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Wilhelm Rollman: North Atlantic
• U 37 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Heinrich Schuch: North Atlantic[ax]
• U 38 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Heinrich Liebe: North Atlantic
• U 39 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Gerhard Glattes: North Atlantic
• U 40 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Werner von Schmidt: North Atlantic
• U 41 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Gustav-Adolf Mugler: North Atlantic
• U 45 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Alexander Gelhaar: North Atlantic[ay]
• U 46 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Herbert Sohler: North Atlantic
• U 47 - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Gunther Prien: North Atlantic
• U 48 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Herbert Schultze: North Atlantic
• U 52 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Wolfgang Barten: North Atlantic

Germans on the deck of the Schleswig-Holstein near Danzig during the Invasion of Poland. The photo effectively demonstrates the size of the battleships guns when compared to the men next to them.

Histomil.com - Index page

Marinegruppenkommando West

Oberbefehlshaber Marinegruppenkommando West - Admiral Alfred Saalwächter

• Kommandierender Admiral der Marinestation der Nordsee - Admiral Rolf Carls
• Führer der Unterseeboote (Submarine) West - Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Karl Dönitz

At sea (North Sea)

• Nürnberg (light cruiser) - Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Otto Klüber (Flag Befehlshaber der Aufklärungsstreitkräfte - Vizeadmiral (Vice Admiral) Hermann Densch)
• Köln (light cruiser) - Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Theodor Burchardi [ba]
• Königsberg (light cruiser) - Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Kurt Caesar Hoffmann[ba]
• Leipzig (light cruiser) - Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Heinz Nordmann[ba]
• U 9 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Ludwig Mathes[bb]
• U 12 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Dietrich von der Ropp[bc]
• U 15 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Heinz Buchholz
• U 17 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Heinz von Reiche
• U 19 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Hans Meckel
• U 21 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Fritz Frauenheim
• U 23 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Otto Kretschmer
• U 26 - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Klaus Ewerth
• U 36 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Wilhelm Fröhlich[bd]
• U 56 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Wilhelm Zahn[be]
• U 58 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Herbert Kuppisch
• U 59 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Harald Jurst

At Wilhelmshaven

• Scharnhorst – Schlachtschiff (Battleship) - Kapitän (Captain) zur See Otto Ciliax: Kriegsmarinewerft for modifications
• Admiral Scheer - Panzerschiff (Pocket Battleship)} - Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Hans-Heinrich Wurmbach
• Emden (light cruiser) - Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Werner Lange
• Karlsruhe (light cruiser) - Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Friedrirch Rieve: refitting
• Zerstörerflottille (Destroyer Flotilla)[bf] - Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Friedrich Bonte:
• Paul Jakobi (Z 5) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Hans G. Zimmer: refitting (Flag 2. Zerstörerflottille (Destroyer Flotilla))
• Theodor Riedel (Z 6) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Gerhardt Bohmig
• Hermann Schoemann (Z 7) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Theodor Detmers
• Karl Galster (Z 20) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Theodor Bechtolsheim
• Zerstörerflottille (Destroyer Flotilla) - Fregattenkapitän (Frigate Captain) Erich Bey:
• Hans Lody (Z 10) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Hubert Freiherr von Wagenheim (Flag 4. Zerstörerflottille (Destroyer Flotilla))
• Zerstörerdivision (Destroyer Division) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Herbert Friedrichs:
• Dieter von Roeder (Z 17) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Erich Holtorf
• Hans Lüdemann (Z 18) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Herbert Friedrichs (Flag 5. Zerstörerdivision (Destroyer Division))
• Torpedobootsflottille (Torpedo Boat Flotilla) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Georg Waue:
• Iltis - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Heinz Schuur
• Jaguar - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Franz Kolhauf
• Leopard - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Karl Kassbaum (Flag 6. Torpedobootsflottille (Torpedo Boat Flotilla))
• Luchs - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Eckart Prolss
• Seeadler - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Werner Hartenstein
• Wolf - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Lutz Gerstung
• U 25 - Oberleutnant zur See Georg Heinz Michel: refitting

German light cruiser Nürnberg

www.world-war.co.uk

At Brunsbüttel

• Gneisenau (battleship) - Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Erich Förste: Flottenflaggschiff

At Kiel

• Schlesien {Linienschiff (Ship of the line)} - Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Kurt Utke
• Admiral Hipper (heavy cruiser) - Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Hellmuth Heye: refitting
• Blücher (heavy cruiser) - Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Heinrich Woldag}: finishing at Deutsche Werke, commissioned September 20
• Erich Koellner (Z 13) - Fregattenkapitän (Frigate Captain) Alfred Schulze-Hinrichs: outfitting
• Hermann Künne (Z 19) - Fregattenkapitän (Frigate Captain) Friedrich Kothe
• Wilhelm Heidkamp (Z 21) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Hans Erdmenger: outfitting
• Torpedobootsflottille (Torpedo Boat Flotilla) - Fregattenkapitän (Frigate Captain) Rudolf Heyke:
• Albatros - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Herbert Max Schultze
• Falke - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Günter Hessler
• Greif - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Wilhelm Verlohr
• Kondor - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Hans Wilcke
• Möwe - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Konrad Edler von Rennenkampf
• U 2 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Helmut Rosenbaum: refitting
• U 8 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Georg Peters: refitting
• U 10 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Georg-Wilhelm Schulz: refitting
• U 13 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Karl Daublebsky von Eichhain: rearming / departs September 2 (Nordsee)
• U 16 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Hannes Weingaertner: rearming / departs September 2 (Nordsee)
• U 20 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Karl-Heinz Moehle: rearming / departs September 1 (Nordsee)
• U 24 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Udo Behrens: rearming / departs September 2 (Nordsee)
• U 49 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Curt von Gossler: training
• U 51 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Dietrich Knorr: training
• U 53 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Ernst-Gunther Heinicke: training
• U 60 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Georg Schewe: training
• U 61 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Jurgen Oesten: training

At Hamburg

• Erich Giese (Z 12) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Karl Smidt

At Bremen

• Anton Schmitt (Z 22) - {Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Friedrich Böhme}: finishing at DeSchiMAG, commissioned September 24
• U 42 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Rolf Dau: training
• U 43 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Wilhelm Ambrosius: training
• At Neustad
• Unterseebootsschulflottille[bk] - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Heinz Beduhn:
• U 1 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Jurgen Deecke
• U 3 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Joachim Schepke
• U 4 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Harro von Klot-Heydenfeldt
• U 11 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Viktor Schultze: refitting?

At Neustad

• Unterseebootsschulflottille[bk] - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Heinz Beduhn:
• U 1 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Jurgen Deecke
• U 3 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Joachim Schepke
• U 4 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Harro von Klot-Heydenfeldt
• U 11 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Viktor Schultze: refitting?
• Marinegruppenkommando Ost
• Oberbefehlshaber Marinegruppenkommando Ost - Generaladmiral Conrad Albrecht
• Kommandierender Admiral der Marinestation der Ostsee - Admiral Rolf Carls

German submarine, U-24

www.lasegundaguerra.com

At sea (Baltic)

• Zerstörerflottille (Destroyer Flotilla) - Kapitän zur See (Captain at sea) Wilhelm Meisel:
• Georg Thiele (Z 2) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Max-Eckart Wolff
• Richard Beitzen (Z 4) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Moritz Schmidt (Flag 1. Zerstörerflottille (Destroyer Flotilla)
• Erich Steinbrinck (Z 15) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Rolf Johannesson
• U 5 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Gunter Kutschmann'
• U 6 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Joachim Matz
• U 7 - Oberleutnant zur See (Lieutenant at sea) Otto Salmann
• U 14 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Horst Willner
• U 18 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Max-Hermann Bauer
• U 22 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Werner Winter
• U 31 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Wilfred Prellberg: Ostsee
• U 32 - Korvettenkapitän (Captain Lieutenant) Paul Buchel: Ostsee / returning to Kiel
• U 35 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Werner Lott: Ostsee / returning to Kiel'
• U 57 - Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant) Claus Korth

At Danzig

• Schleswig-Holstein – Linienschiff (Ship of the line) - Kapitän zur See (captain at sea) Gustav Kleikamp
• Wolfgang Zenker (Z 9) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Gottfried Ponitz
• Bernd von Arnim (Z 11) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Kurt Rechel

At Pillau

• Friedrich Eckoldt (Z 16) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Alfred Schemmel
• Leberecht Maas (Z 1) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Fritz Bassenge (Flag Führer der Torpedoboote (Torpedo boat) Konteradmiral (Counter Admiral) Gunther Lütjens)

At Stettin

• Max Schulz (Z 3) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Claus Trampedac: damaged in collision and not operational.

At Swinemünde

• Bruno Heinemann (Z 8) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Fritz Berger
• Friedrich Ihn (Z 14) - Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) Rudolf von Pufendorf

Further reading