You are here

FAU Collections » FAU Research Repository » FAU Theses and Dissertations

POLISH DEFENSE PLANNING, 1919-1939: MYTH VS. REALITY

Download pdf | Full Screen View

Date Issued:
1987
Summary:
The army of interbellum Poland has often been described as antiquated; its leadership as incompetent. Despite Germany's 1939 "Blitzkrieg" victory, such conclusions are unsound. Indeed careful analysis will show that they are based more on popular misconceptions, than on hard facts. While Poland's military establishment had many faults, the 1939 catastrophe was caused, not be overconfident generals, or cavalry charges against tanks, but rather by the failure of Poland's western allies to fulfill their treaty obligations. To support such an assertion, this thesis will investigate military, political, economic and diplomatic influences on "Plan West" (Plan Zachod) --the Polish strategy for a war with Germany. The combination of these elements will show that Poland's military forces were prepared for war, and even had a chance for victory in 1939.
Title: POLISH DEFENSE PLANNING, 1919-1939: MYTH VS. REALITY.
157 views
52 downloads
Name(s): DUNN, JOHN P.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Portnoy, Samuel, Thesis advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 1987
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 217 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: The army of interbellum Poland has often been described as antiquated; its leadership as incompetent. Despite Germany's 1939 "Blitzkrieg" victory, such conclusions are unsound. Indeed careful analysis will show that they are based more on popular misconceptions, than on hard facts. While Poland's military establishment had many faults, the 1939 catastrophe was caused, not be overconfident generals, or cavalry charges against tanks, but rather by the failure of Poland's western allies to fulfill their treaty obligations. To support such an assertion, this thesis will investigate military, political, economic and diplomatic influences on "Plan West" (Plan Zachod) --the Polish strategy for a war with Germany. The combination of these elements will show that Poland's military forces were prepared for war, and even had a chance for victory in 1939.
Identifier: 14404 (digitool), FADT14404 (IID), fau:11205 (fedora)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1987.
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Subject(s): Poland--History, Military--1918-
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14404
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.