German order of battle for the invasion of Poland


This article details the order of battle of German military units during the invasion of Poland in 1939.
The German army's forces for the invasion of Poland with the codename Fall Weiss were divided into Army Group North and Army Group South. Army Group C was on the western border of Germany defending against a potential French attack. This Order of Battle is for 0447 on September 1, after which things started to get shuffled.

Oberkommando des Heeres

Oberkommando des Heeres was the High Command of the Heer. It controlled everything related to the Heer: Personnel, Training, Recruitment, Armaments, Transportation, Supplies, Medical Services, etc. An ongoing problem was that each service branch was its own "kingdom" resulting in massive inefficiency.
Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres - Generaloberst Walter von Brauchitsch
Heeresgruppe Nord was commanded by Generaloberst Fedor von Bock. Its initial objectives were to capture the "Polish corridor" and drive southwards towards Warsaw from East Prussia.

Army Group Reserve Troops

Directly subordinated to Heeresgruppe Nord were:
3. Armee was commanded by General der Artillerie Georg von Küchler. It was based in East Prussia.
4. Armee was commanded by General der Artillerie Günther von Kluge. It was based in Western Pomerania.
Heeresgruppe Süd was commanded by Generaloberst Gerd von Rundstedt. Its initial objective was to drive from Silesia towards Warsaw, and to destroy the Polish forces around Kraków.

Army Group Reserve Troops

Directly subordinated to Heeresgruppe Süd were:
8. Armee was commanded by General der Infanterie Johannes Blaskowitz. It was based in northern Silesia.
10. Armee was commanded by General der Artillerie Walter von Reichenau. It was based in southern Silesia.
14. Armee was commanded by Generaloberst Wilhelm List. It was based in Moravia and Slovakia.
See Slovak invasion of Poland
Undergoing Organization and Training
Infanterie-Regiment Großdeutschland - Oberstleutnant Hunold von Stockhausen, Commanding.

Heeresgruppe C

Heeresgruppe C was commanded by Char. Generaloberst z.V. Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb. Its only duty was to protect the western border of Germany from any French attacks until stronger units could be sent back from the east. It was accomplished by deception. The units were generally under strength, most of the infantry unit were missing their heavy weapons platoons, and some entire battalions. There was almost no mobility, except for horses and bicycles. Some of the units were headquarters only to give the impression of a larger presence.

Army Group Reserve Troops

Directly subordinated to Heeresgruppe C were:
5. Armee was commanded by General der Infanterie z.V. Curt Liebmann. It was based along the Luxembourg and Belgium border.
1. Armee was commanded by General der Infanterie Erwin von Witzleben. It was based along the French border.
7. Armee - Commanded by General der Artillerie Friedrich Dollmann. It was based along the French border.

Luftwaffe

Luftwaffe - Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe Generalfeldmarschall Hermann Göring
On August 30 the Polish Navy, realizing what was about to happen, sent 3 destroyers to the UK. The group was spotted the 30th in the southern Ostsee by the U 31 and again, in the Skagerrak, by U 19 on the 31st. Since the war hadn’t started they were unmolested. With the destroyers gone some of the ships deployed to the Ostsee were recalled and some sent to the Nordsee. The fleet was in the process of shifting its deployment when the war broke out.
Kriegsmarine - Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine Generaladmiral Erich Raeder
Under Direct Control of Seekriegsleitung
Marinegruppenkommando West - Oberbefehlshaber Marinegruppenkommando West - Admiral Alfred Saalwächter
Marinegruppenkommando Ost - Oberbefehlshaber Marinegruppenkommando Ost - Generaladmiral Conrad Albrecht