Clash of Empires: World War 2 The Invasion of Poland 1939

In this article we leap forward to the 20th century and the start of WW2 when Hitler ordered the invasion of Poland. Here we use the Clash of Empires Battle System to recreate the opening campaign of Germany’s Lightning War the innovative and lethal force of which would propel the German army from victory to victory until most of continental Europe was under Nazi control. Following the invasion of Poland Britain and France declared war on Germany while the USA proclaimed its neutrality but continued to provide Britain with essential supplies. Eventually Russia, Japan and America were drawn into the war. Thus, the scene is set for an epic clash of empires on a worldwide scale.

Background

The German invasion of Poland began on the 1st of September 1939. Anticipating an attack, the Poles adopted a plan of border defence to protect their industry in the west. The German Army under the command of Field Marshal Fedor von Bock (Army Group North) was deployed in 58 divisions of which fourteen were Panzer. They were opposed by the Polish Armed Forces under the Commander in Chief General Smigly-Rydz with 30 divisions, only one of which was motorized. German forces invaded Poland from the north, south and west. The main axis of attack led eastwards from Germany proper through the western Polish border with supporting attacks from East Prussia in the north and a co-operative tertiary attack in the south under the command of Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group South). All three assaults converged on the Polish capital of Warsaw. By attacking airfields, the Luftwaffe gained control of the air early in the campaign and began raids on Polish cities. Despite some Polish successes in minor border battles, the German advance was not slowed and by the 8th of September, they reached Warsaw. The Polish armies began a general retreat to the southeast, towards the so-called Romanian Bridgehead, where they prepared for a long defence. However, the Soviet Red Army’s invasion, by 33+ divisions, of Eastern Poland on the 17th of September, in accordance with a secret protocol of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, rendered the Polish plan of defence obsolete.  

The intention of the following battle scenario is to recreate the last phase of the Battle of the Bzura (Kutno pocket) which took place west of Warsaw, near the Bzura River. By the 12th of September fast moving German forces had penetrated the Polish armies cordon defence and in the Bzura region threatened the Polish Poznań and Pomorze armies with encirclement. Repeated attempts by the Poles to breakout and reach Warsaw were repulsed with heavy losses. German forces exerted pressure on all sides with a counterstrike led by 8th Army upon Polish positions with the support of more than 300 aircraft. Control of the air and ineffective Polish AA guns meant that the Luftwaffe attacked with relative impunity. The Poles fought with futile gallantry and suffered more than 50,000 casualties (dead or wounded) before being forced to surrender. The Soviet invasion of Poland on the same day made any further resistance pointless.

Using the Clash of Empires rules the battle strength and capabilities of the combatants can be shown as follows: -

German Forces

The German army is a very well equipped and trained fighting force. However, due to a lack of experience the army hasn’t yet reached a superior level of combat effectiveness and therefore is rated as Ordinary. After an initial Polish advance most of Rundstedt’s Army Group South is redirected to the Bzura region, which includes 8th Army, 10th Army and elements of 4th Army of Army Group North. This sizeable force consists of 12 Infantry divisions, 3 motorized divisions and 2 Panzer divisions. The Infantry divisions have a Combat Rating (CR) of ❶, which is a rating shared by the motorized divisions, but they are transported by trucks or other motor vehicles. The two Panzer Divisions are classed as Fully Mechanized and have a CR of ❺. These are combined arms formations which use tanks to attack the enemy en mass and are supported by mechanized and motorized infantry along with artillery, anti-aircraft and other integrated support elements. On the Combat Rating (CR) to Fighting Bonus (FB) Conversion Table in the rulebook this equates to +7 FB for the Infantry Divisions and +5 FB for the Fully Mechanized (Panzer) Divisions. The Infantry and mechanized divisions have integrated artillery support which based upon accumulated Army FB converts to a 1D6 Advantage Die. This means that the German Army at Bzura has a total FB of +12 and 1D6 for artillery bombardment. Contributing Battle Factors include +1 for Infantry in Armoured Personnel Carriers, +1 Light Tanks in Offence, +2 for Dive Bombers in Close Air Support and +1 for Engineers in Close Assault. This gives the German forces at Bzura a +5 modifier which is added to the Battle Dice score. The Germans outnumber their opponent so get a 1D6 Battle Advantage Die for opponent outnumbered and they also have air superiority.

Note on Mechanization

In the game mechanization refers more to organization and tactical deployment than composition. A Part Mechanized Division uses an integrated armoured force in a supporting role only, whereas the tanks and other armoured vehicles in a Fully Mechanized division are predominantly used in attack and en masse.

Air Superiority

In the game an army with air superiority has gained control of the sky and therefore can with relative impunity carry out attacks with bombs or machine-gun fire from low-flying aircraft. Major bombing missions and plane to plane combat are dealt with separately.

Air Support

German air support is being provided by 12 units of Ground Attack Stuka Dive Bombers whose Close Air Support specifications are (CR❷ FB+12) and 6 units of Messerschmitt BF109 Fighters (CR❶ FB+3). The latter are equipped as Fighter Bombers. Based upon accumulated Airforce FB these aircraft get a 1D6 Advantage Die for Strafing and Bombing.  

German Commander

The German Commander of Army Group South is Gerd von Rundstedt. A senior and experienced commander Rundstedt, in the game, is ranked as Competent and rolls 1D6+1 for Initiative.

Polish Forces

The Polish army is rated as Ordinary with its main drawback being its unpreparedness for dealing with mechanized warfare. Critical to this is their reliance upon obsolete equipment and tactics as shown by the fact that the bulk of the Polish cavalry is still mounted on horses. Trapped in the Kutno pocket is Army Poznań and Army Pomorze which consist of 8 Infantry divisions and 4 Cavalry units.  The Infantry divisions and Cavalry have a CR of ❶. On the Combat Rating (CR) to Fighting Bonus (FB) Conversion Table in the rulebook this equates to +4 FB for the Infantry divisions and +2 FB for the Cavalry units. This means that the Polish forces have a total FB of +6. The Infantry divisions have integrated artillery support, which based upon accumulated FB converts to a 1D3 Advantage Die. Contributing Battle Factors consist of a +1 for Infantry in Defence (dug in). However, the Poles are very poorly equipped compared to the Germans and have very few tanks and no discernible benefit from anti-tank or FLAK weaponry. Furthermore, the presence of enemy tanks means that the +2 modifier for Charging Cavalry in Close Assault is negated. This gives the Polish Forces at Bzura a +1 modifier which is added to the Battle Dice score.   

Polish Air Force

By this period in the campaign the Polish air force has been neutralized and therefore German aircraft can carry out bombing missions free from attack by enemy fighters.

Polish Commander

The Polish Commander is Tadeusz Kutrzeba who, in the game, is ranked as Average and therefore rolls 1D6 for Initiative.

Pre-set Scenario Condition: The Poles fail Intelligence and Reconnaissance Roll and therefore the Germans get surprise +2 to Initiative for a Counterstrike Battle.

WW2 Clash Battle Procedure:

After rolling for Initiative the Battle Roll for each army consists of the following procedure:

• Battle Dice 2D6 (highest scoring die only).

• Army Combat Rating (CR) to Fighting Bonus (FB).

• Calculate Battle Bonus. (Determined by Army Type and FB).

• Any other Battle Advantages such as Artillery Bombardment, Opponent outnumbered or Tactical Advantage.

• Total Battle Roll.

Highest scoring Battle Roll wins and the difference between the two scores determines the number of casualties.

Combat Rating to Fighting Bonus Conversion and Casualty Tables not shown.

World War 2 Battle Log

German Forces at Bzura

Initiative	Battle Dice (Battle Factors)	No. of Units and CR to Fighting Bonus	Battle Bonus	Battle Advantage Dice	Total Score
1D6 +3 4+3 = 7	2D6 (+5) 5 and 5 (Highest die only) 5+5 = 10	Inf ❶ x15 = +7 FB FM ❺ x2 = +5 FB Total = +12 FB	Odds Dice 2D6 5+4 = 9	Opponent outnumbered 1D6 Tactical Advantage 1D6 Artillery 1D6 Strafing and Bombing 1D6 5+4+3+3 = 15	10+12+9+15 = 46

Polish Forces at Bzura

Initiative	Battle Dice (Battle Factors)	No. of Units and CR to Fighting Bonus	Battle Bonus	Battle Advantage Dice	Total Score
1D6 = 5	2D6 (+1) 4 and 2 (Highest die only) 4+1 = 5	Inf ❶ x 8 = +4 FB Cav ❶ x 4 = +2 FB Total = +6 FB	Evens Dice  1D6 = 4	Average Defensive Position 2D6 Artillery 1D3 6+4+3 = 13	5+6+4+13 = 28

WW2 Army Battle Bonus Calculation

FB	Inferior	Ordinary	Superior
1-4	1D3(1D6)	1D3(1D6)	1D3(1D6)
5-8	1D3(1D6)	1D3(1D6)	1D6(2D6)
9-12	1D3(1D6)	1D6(2D6)	1D6(2D6)
13-16	1D6(2D6)	1D6(2D6)	2D6(3D6)
17-20	1D6(2D6)	2D6(3D6)	2D6(3D6)
21-24	2D6(3D6)	2D6(3D6)	3D6(4D6)
25+	2D6(3D6)	3D6(4D6)	3D6(4D6)

(#D#) = Enhanced Battle Bonus on odds or evens Battle Dice.

Results: - Differential = 18. Modifier Loser/Winner +3/-4 on Casualty Table.

Notes: - In the wake of a devastating artillery barrage and the pounding of Polish positions by the Luftwaffe the German tanks crash through the Polish defences and are closely supported by their own numerically stronger infantry. The poorly equipped Poles put up a gallant fight but are quickly overrun by the German mechanized divisions against which the Polish cavalry is impotent. Also, German fighters are on hand. These begin strafing the shocked and fleeing Poles. What remains of the Polish Poznań and Pomorze armies surrender. A great German victory for the loss of the equivalent of 1 division of German infantry killed or wounded as determined on the Casualty Table.

Figure 1. The main difference between Clash of Empires the WWII Conquest Game and other versions of Clash is that the three-dimensional nature of warfare in this new period makes it necessary to transfer to a separate battle map when contact is made between rival military forces. Here, at the Battle of Bzura 1939, the Poles face off against the Germans who have complete air superiority. The number of units is denoted by blank coloured poker chips.

Sources

Dupuy, R. E. and Dupuy, T. N. 1993: The Collins Encyclopaedia of Military History. Harper Collins Publishers.

Gilbert, A. 2000: The Campaigns of World War II: Germany’s Lightning War. David & Charles Book. Editorial and Design by Amber Books Ltd.

Hart, Dr S., Hart, Dr R. and Hughes Dr M. 2000: The German Soldier in WWII. Amber Books Ltd.

Mayer S. L. Various Contributors. 1977: Encyclopaedia of World War II. Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited.

Article Front Page Picture

German invasion of Poland, 1 September 1939. Artist: Unknown. After Alamy (IY05614556).