Different idea about 2000 NATO offensive?

[Adm.Lee]

I think you're underestimating the anti-German feeling and minimising the importance propganda and political indoctrination would have several years into the war.

Don't forget that in Polish eyes, it was the Germans who started the war by invading.

I don't think I am underestimating that feeling, but also recognizing the anti-Russian & anti-Soviet feelings. As of the end of 1999, the Germans aren't now in Poland, but the Soviets still are. If the Grand Plan works, there won't be either in Poland. Since we can be sure the Polish government-in-exile is anti-Communist, I'm suggesting that they weight that more strongly.

Anti-German and anti-NATO propaganda by the Polish Communist government and Pact, and the invasion by the Germans, should be a contributing factor why the Polish soldiers don't all defect. [War-weariness should be another.]
I am willing to consider that a flaw in the plan was that the PFC hoped that only American and/or British troops would be the forces involved in the 2000 offensive, but NATO didn't/couldn't/wouldn't make that happen. The presence of the German forces following the American XI Corps fed into anti-German feeling, and some Poles that might have switched sides, didn't.

Sidebar: I wonder who in Krakow, the PFC might have tried to sway to their side Who would they see as leaning their way, and who could promise to switch over (whether or not he meant it) Kutrzeba or Bohusz-Szyszko I haven't read the module in a long time, but the former seems like the guy to do that. What about Filipowicz

[Raellus]

Don't underestimate anti-Russian, anti-Soviet sentiment either. Their track record regarding interaction with Poland isn't so great either. Don't forget that the Soviet Union invaded and occupied the eastern not-quite-half of Poland in '39 and then set up a one-party, police, puppet state starting in '44, after kicking back on the east bank of the Vistula and watching the Home Army uprising in Warsaw get stomped by the worst of the German military.

Poland was one of the more uppity of the Soviet satellites.

And I'm sure that Soviet requests (read: demands) for material and military assistance in its war against China would cause some resentment. Heck, in the eyes of many Poles, the USSR started the war.

The offer of self government given by the PFC and its American allies might have been very attractive to many Poles tired of Soviet domination.

[simonmark6]

There is an old Polish tale about the last days of September 1939. A squad of Polish soldiers were surrounded and their NCO crawled up to them.

I've got good news boys," he said, "the Russians are a hundred meters to the East and the Germans are a hundred meters to the West so we get to choose who we fight."

The soldiers grabbed their guns and headed West, one said, "Ah well, buisiness before pleasure."

[Abbott Shaull]

One also has to remember the German Autobahn system would help/hinder things too depending on how things were working for each side.

One of the things I do remember looking up the old map related to the 14th ACR or 11th ACR. It showed where in relation their base was compare to the border.

I also do remember that this was the Northern flank of CentAG.

[Adm.Lee]

The Fulda Gap for example is described in many references as vital to the sucess of any operation in central Europe. Why this is and how the rest of the area channels movement is well work considering.

The Fulda Gap is on the inter-German (DDR/FRG) border. It's a valley between two wooded hill masses, and points more or less directly west into the Ruhr. Thus the US put the 11th ACR at one end to screen it, and V (or VII) Corps at the other end. Most of the time that I played GDW's Third World War or VG's NATO wargames, a Soviet drive there was not a terrific idea. Bashing through the Benelux and British worked much better. {Dumping 3 divisions of paratroopers on the ReForGer sites worked MUCH better!}

[Legbreaker]

Very true, however I'm sure we all understand the importance of terrain and how easily it can be ignored when all we look at is two dimensional maps...

[Adm.Lee]

That's why I consult wargame maps as often as possible.