More or less.
Ok. Well, Sokrates, I hope you are not mistaking me as anti-Polish, and trying to play down the skill of the individual Polish soldier. I was not trying to, by any means. However, it is well known that not only training and experience come into play during war. Other, more ambiguous factors come into play, like morale, courage, and determination. France fell, mainly because she had underestimated the German's, and their speed, and had over relied on infantry, rather than motorized vehicles. France, after seeing Polands large army fall, probably did not feel very confident that her own army could withstand the Nazis.
it put up such a fight because despite all these shortcomings it was one of the best fighting forces of Europe at that time with skilled determined personnel who performed miracles with what they had at the time, the very fact that the war would drag into 2 or 3 months without Russians is testament to this skill it had nothing to do with the desperation you imply because:
So you would not call retreating all the armies to the capital, a desperation move? Large supply columns, artillery, all being hurried back for a last stand. Was it merely skill that was slowing down the Germans, then? You would not call the countries leadership fleeing to Romania, a desperation move? Thats shite, and you know it. All these things factored into play. You obviously did not see similar manoeuvers by the French army, after the Germans had broken through. The French back had been broken, as soon as their Maginot Line was surrounded from all sides, the troops there stranded.
But, I do agree with you about the 2-3 month time frame, had the Russians not invaded from the East. Simply, the armies would have kept retreating further, and further towards the East, creating problems for the Germans of placing occupation troops along the way.
In 1939 no one had ANY idea whatsoever as to what Germans were up to, everyone expected Prussian occupation at the worst, which was a lawfull and disciplined affair without genocide or racism,
Yes. Although Hitler's intentions in the East were widely publicised, since the 20's, no Pole had ANY idea of what was coming, right?
And, I was not referring to extermination. But rather, very harsh occupation. For a country that had been free for 20 or so years, this was not a very nice prospect. People forget, nations forget, in times of peace. It is times of war that give new found appreciation to freedom.
If Poland had France's equipment the war might have ended in Berlin
What if? Yes. It might have. The German army, looking back, had not been as invincible as widely perceived. If France had struck, with British help from the West, and Poland from the East, with a more modern army, the war would have been over in a month or so.
I think you are missing the point though. The point is, that Hitler never had any intentions on keeping a promise, and actually respecting an alliance, AFTER, it had already given him what he wanted. Poland would have been eventually invaded, and taken over, as soon as Russia would have fallen. And then what? You are hated by the Germans, and you are hated by the Allies. Not a great position to be in, certainly.
