ISOT Back to the Past, aka Poland Saves the World from World War II.

[Batrix2070]

Third German Reich
October 7, 1938
Berghof

Ah, the Alps, a true wonder and honey for the eyes. This view soothes the soul and allows you to enjoy life. The highest mountains in Europe are one of a kind. Hitler knew this well, which is why he had his personal residence here.

He sat alone in his chair, set up on the terrace. He sat and contemplated all that had happened over the past weeks. Next to him on the table were newspapers, reports and letters from subordinates, but none of them were currently in or around the residence.

He wanted to be alone, to think over the Polish ultimatum. Fortunately, they did not give a deadline in which to give an answer. Cunning beasts, they pretend that it's a simple proposal and that it's discussable. In practice, he knows full well that either he will accept it in full or they will force him to accept it in full. Come back, it is Germany that is being forced. He Poland is not needed for anything.

Hardly surprising, after all, for the Poles is a monster to kill. Six million Poles were killed, and these cockroaches not only survived but moved the border westward and are now much richer and therefore more powerful than Germany. Moreover, unlike France or England, they are not afraid of war and threaten him that as soon as he moves on Czechoslovakia, he will have war at once.

Damn, so little was missing and those Poles must have ruined everything. Thought Hitler while gazing at the mountains opposite. He didn't know much, but what he did know was disturbing. War with Poland, he once thought, was a formality. Now, he wasn't so sure.

He remembered like it was yesterday, the day Ribbentrop returned from a three-day tour of Poland. He brought back lots of photos, news and just that damn ultimatum.

Ribbentrop was then unusually quiet, saying only that the Poles had a proposal. Hitler felt that the minister had experienced some kind of transformation. So he opened the envelope the diplomat handed him and read its contents.

The first time he thought it was some kind of eggs, so he read it a second time, and then a third and fourth. When he was convinced that he could see well, he took a deep breath in before slowly exhaling after which he banged his hand on the table.

"Do you know what the hell that means? This is some bullshit, these fucking moronic, Slavic pigs think they can dictate terms to me!"

"Mein Fuhrer! Please calm down!" cried Ribbentrop "It's not what you think!"

"It is not as I think?" mocked Hitler "Then how is it, chestnut one?"

"This..." began Ribbentrop searching for words, "is an offer to arrange relations peacefully. The Polish leaders, have made it very clear to me that this is the kindest and gentlest one they have to make to the Germans."

"Kindest? Most gracious!"? After all, it's impudence, to demand that another country change its policy because another country orders it! On what grounds do you make such a claim?"
"From the fact that they showed me what happened without them going back in time, how painful it is for them to this day, despite the passage of 80 years since those events. I will say bluntly mein Fuhrer, only the fact that they are held in check by Catholic morality makes them want to communicate with us. Otherwise, they would have exterminated all of Germany without hesitation, without asking if they could." Ribbetrop explained.

"Show." ordered Hitler, wanting to know what they wanted to kill them for. Well, and he showed, he showed the nightmare, he showed the defeat, he showed everything the Poles had experienced in the next fifty years. He saw Warsaw burning and destroyed, he saw Poles executed, Polish possessions looted and the ultimate end of the entire Nazi party and the Thousand Year Reich. Moreover, he saw modern Poland, its army, its wealth and, above all, the memory of what happened.

Indeed, it was the kindest offer they could make to those who had been the executioners of their ancestors. Hitler did not know what he would do if the situation were reversed, but he knew one thing. The desire to inflict harm on the oppressors would be immense.

But that's not what bothered most, but the fact that they are from the future. A future in which Nazism is dead, Germany is even smaller than it was. But the worst part was that these guys know him very well, they know he's bluffing, they know he's pushing for war, they know what the state of the Reich really looks like. And they also have the power to use this knowledge.

What to do here? What to do here? That was the question he was facing. To accept this proposal is to agree to capitulate and squander the chance to be number one. Rejecting it, on the other hand, would bring additional destruction, death and defeat. Moreover, one visit to them, broke Ribbentrop. From a warmonger, he turned into a dove of peace. He advised against the march on Prague, "It's suicide!" he said every time someone mentioned it.

And isn't accepting this ultimatum suicidal? After all, the Poles blatantly said that they would interfere in German internal affairs. Hitler felt it in his bones, this proposal is just bait, as soon as they eat it Poland will tell them to do something else, and more and so on until they take full control of the Reich.

He clicked his tongue, unsatisfied. He is trapped, what should he do?

Then he heard noises from inside his residence, after a while his maid came in. "Mein Fuhrer, some visitor to see you. He says it's a very important and urgent matter."

Hitler turned slightly just to look at her, a young, dark-haired woman. Checked from top to bottom by his security guards whether she should definitely fulfill this role. They found nothing against her, and at the same time she proved trustworthy.

"Let him come in." Replied Hitler, he decided that for the time being he would not think of anything. The woman nodded and went to fetch her visitor. He waited a moment before she returned. "Mein Fuhrer, here he is."

Hitler turned around again and was amazed to see the visitor. The man only smiled mysteriously. "Mr. Hitler, I see that you are in trouble. My country can help you get out of them. Would you like to listen?"

Hitler wanted.

 

[ATP]

Let me quess.Soviet friends.They have numbers,could mobilize 100 dyvisions in 1938,when Poland have 4new and 10 old.
Since they do not cared about loses,they could win on mountain of corpses.

Or brits.They really tried hard to gave Hitler everytching he wanted till 1939.Prfoblem is - their army was joke,and need pretext to attack Poland anyway.

Certainly not USA - their army was smaller then what Romania had,and unable to cross Atlantic anyway.

To be honest,only good choice for Hitler is abdicate and made democratic elections.His supporters would win,but he officially would not have any power.
Basically,behave like Kaczyński in Poland - ruling behind the scenes.

 

[Batrix2070]

Let me quess.Soviet friends.They have numbers,could mobilize 100 dyvisions in 1938

Which currently have no officers, Stalin just killed them off. And those who are left have too many duties to realistically fulfill. And the officer schools have not yet started training, and given that those first trained were of very mediocre quality. It's safe to divide their combat power to 10 divisions.
It will be like the Winter War, only in the style of the showdown the Russians are currently showing on Ukraine.
To quote a Ukrainian soldier from that war, we are fucking lucky that they are so fucking stupid.

Since they do not cared about loses,they could win on mountain of corpses.

Corpse Mountain? How is she supposed to rise after their positions are bombarded with Krabs and thermobaric weapons?

Or brits.They really tried hard to gave Hitler everytching he wanted till 1939.Prfoblem is - their army was joke,and need pretext to attack Poland anyway.

Maybe, or maybe the Soviets. Who knows?

To be honest,only good choice for Hitler is abdicate and made democratic elections.His supporters would win,but he officially would not have any power.
Basically,behave like Kaczyński in Poland - ruling behind the scenes.

But Hitler is too stupid/proud for something like that.

 

[Batrix2070]

United Kingdom
October 8, 1938
London

"This is a scandal!" cried Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of Great Britain, angrily, reading today's edition of The Times. Where did this outburst of anger come from? Namely from the interview visible on the front page. The title itself was provocative.

DID PRIME MINISTER CHAMBERLAIN LEAD TO WAR?! ​

INTERVIEW WITH POLISH PRIME MINISTER MATEUSZ MORAWIECKI.​

After President Duda's famous speech (see page 4 for more on the Polish President himself) at the press conference following the signing of the Polish-Romanian agreement (what effect this will have, answers Sir Athur Lake on page 6), each of the journalists attending the conference received a special invitation to Poland, where they can meet and interview any of the Polish officials.

Our special correspondent Edmund Blair decided to take advantage of this offer and came to Warsaw, having previously communicated his acceptance of the offer. (For more on what Poland's capital looks like as well as Poland itself in 100 years, see page 8) He conducted a series of interviews with various Polish dignitaries. Each of them had, to quote our colleague, an unusually large number of tart words about His Majesty's current government.​

Below was the very interview with the Polish Prime Minister from which it was clear that the current political course taken by the Chamberlain government was disastrous. Of course, there were also no less, critical remarks against the French, nevertheless, as Morawiecki himself stated. The main culprit is Chamberlain himself.

He felt that his pride and arrogance had blinded him to the true picture and that it would have been better if Churchill had ruled instead of Chamberlain. At the latter, the British prime minister's veins almost burst from nerves.

That stubborn donkey Bulldog? Better instead of him! He'll show that damn Polack where he and his country belong. Oh he will show. He thinks they can walk in and threaten war on anyone. To say outright that the UK has failed and is not trustworthy.

"That's what I thought too Prime Minister when I saw this. I see that the gentlemen of the Times like to poke fun at themselves." spoke up the Foreign Minister, Edward Wood better known as Lord Halifax.

"That's not what I mean, I'm more annoyed with this Morawiecki. He has the gall to claim that I am the main culprit and that only the emergence of Poland saved me from making the most misguided decision of my entire career." replied Chamberlain, outraged at the statement.

"Well, in a way he's not wrong." noted Halifax

"Well, he's not wrong, he's right. The problem lies in the fact that how on earth was I to know how whacked Hitler is?" replied Chamberlain

"Well, Hitler did not sin with honesty, if you remember, Prime Minister." replied Halifax "Anyway, now that you look at it, his decisions that he made during that already dormant row over the Sudetenland make a lot more sense. He doesn't want peace, he wants war." He added after a moment's thought. "So, I think he's trying to accuse you of being blind, too wrapped up in keeping the peace."

"Let him accuse himself of what he wants, the facts are that..." began Chamberlain before stopping himself.

"That Hitler was making a fool of you?" finished Halifax

Chamberlain nodded slowly before agreeing. "Yes, he was making a fool of me and the Empire."

Silence fell for a moment before Chamberlain changed the subject. "Never mind, it was, it's gone. If Poland wants to play with Germany, let it play. We have another problem."

"Yes, that's right. And the problem is, how do we stop Poland from taking over the continent?" Halifax added, recalling an old maxim of the British. That is, no continental power can take control of the balance of power over the continent; whenever a country comes too close to gaining European hegemony, the British goal is to stop it by allying with the second strongest and, by the hands of the latter, nullify the power's intentions.

So much theory, in practice it is much more difficult. Poland, according to the special envoy who is tasked with finding out what happened and what relations should be established, shows enormous economic potential. Much greater than the entire British Empire, which wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the fact that he is so great that if you gathered all the world's powers in one great coalition, it would be smaller than Poland's.

Ironically, until now it was Britain as the most powerful country in the world with its potential that outweighed the balance in its favor and now? No matter how many countries they would drag into the coalition, they would all be weaker together. For Chamberlain, the report he got was like a slap in the face that sobered him up and brought him down to earth. It's a completely different challenge than stopping Germany. On Germany what a way has already been worked out, Paris and Moscow backed by London are more than enough to knock them down.

But how to deal with someone who is much stronger than a coalition of powers? Of course, Poland does not have advantages alone, it has considerable problems of demographics, resources and contacts. Nevertheless, the British prime minister was well aware that there are no insurmountable problems, and that Poland has some really strong cards up its sleeve. Especially since Britain's greatest asset, in the case of a country as landlocked as Poland and with access to a sea like the Baltic, is actually a disadvantage rather than an advantage.

Because the only possibility lies in blocking Poland's access to the Atlantic, and that's all there is to it. Which, all in all, is an advantage for Poland, because no British Admiral is stupid enough to enter the Baltic. Which means that Poland can build its fleet with impunity, and given that its potential is higher than that of Germany, it means no less than that they are not only capable of building an adequate fleet to destroy the RN and even force London into forcible naval armaments which the Empire must lose.

Of course, Chamberlain realizes that the Poles lack naval traditions, they may have no less resource problems than Germany did before the Great War, but the fact is that they are a hundred years further along than Britain is now. And technological superiority is the great thing that will offset the problem of tradition. Well, after all, they won't be in a resource crunch forever. After all, Poland most likely knows about deposits that the Empire is not aware of.

Let's not forget that it is Poland and not Britain that is closer to the whole of Central and Eastern Europe, and looking objectively at the map and the fact that the first country they allied with was Romania, the answer is clear where Poland will move to build its raw material and supply base. Of course, they can instigate the countries in the future Polish hinterland, but in Chamberlain's opinion this will only slow down the Polish march to take over.

Britain is far away and actually they have always had a problem influencing countries in that region, another thing is that they didn't even really want to. Only Czechoslovakia looks to them for help, but actually they don't even care. What matters is peace and balance, throwing the Czechs or Poles to the Germans to counter France or the Soviets is beneficial.

Also, there is another important point to discuss and which Chamberlain is well aware of, very reluctantly but he realizes. The fact that the Empire has many enemies and thus interests and forces are scattered all over the globe. Poland, on the other hand, for the time being has only two, but both can be countered by allies who are more than willing to help.

The Briton had no illusions about France, they would be happy to help Poland control Germany. For them, Poland is no threat, or at least for now. Of course, they will defend themselves hand and foot against being dominated, and then they will certainly come to England for help. But only then and nowhere else. Japan, on the other hand, may gladly take the opportunity to stab the Soviets in the back whenever possible.

Moreover, Japanese imperialism is slowly becoming more and more problematic, and their slogans about Asia for Asians betray their snootiness about the Empire's colonies and protectorates in the Far East. That is, another convergence with Poland, because actually what interest do the Poles have in the British ruling the Far East and India?

After all, this is not just one country sharpening its teeth on British possessions either, Mussolini's Italy is getting tough in Ethiopia and Chamberlain is well aware that if the opportunity arose the Italians would move on Egypt and the Sudan to unite their colonies in Africa. For Poland it is also a benefit, they take another important route as well as resources for the Empire. Of course, there is the problem with Yugoslavia and Greece, Poland may consider these to be its sphere of influence and not want to cede them to the Italians but looking at their technological advantage. Chamberlain was more than sure they would sell the fascists more than a juicy carrot in exchange for the inviolability of these countries.

The Duce would have to be an extreme idiot not to seize this opportunity to strengthen his forces.

That is, in summary, if the Poles play their cards right, and this is not certain, although Chamberlain prefers to assume that they will. They can blow the Empire away with little effort, and here is the most important thing. War, in the long run will pay off for Poland, not Britain. For now they have their empire, resources and people much larger but at the same time they have to disperse these forces around the globe. Poland, for a change, all it actually has to do is a really long spear which it will then drive straight into the heart of the Empire.

The only way to avoid the loss of the Empire is to avoid war in Europe and, above all, not to allow Britain to fight Poland. Indirectly and directly. This is something they can not win, not with so many unknowns due to the lack of full knowledge of Polish capabilities. Despite the staff of the Embassy of future Britain, of course Chamberlain was outraged by the fact that the ambassador is a woman, but her knowledge is more useful than complaints about her gender. Unfortunately, despite their advantages, they have the disadvantage of not having a historian at the embassy capable of helping them, hence one must approach their revelations with caution.

Another way that is beyond Britain's capabilities is to assemble a coalition of the whole world against Poland. Of course, this is impossible because there are too many takers for the Empire to kick the bucket. Hence, the only way to avoid defeat is peace. War will simply accelerate and make Britain's collapse inevitable.

"Well, Lord Halifax. The only way to stop Poland is to prevent it from grabbing the juiciest pieces. And the first piece we need to snatch from Polish paws is Germany." replied the Prime Minister to the question.

Halifax nodded appreciatively. "Right, Germany must remain independent."

"Exactly, Hitler may be a shabby and a pathological liar. But even he, too, realizes the situation in which he finds himself." added the Prime Minister without haste.

"At the same time, we will prevent him from unleashing another brawl, with which we will also satisfy the demands of the rooms of the British people. Nothing like killing two birds with one stone, right?" Halifax noted.

"That's right," replied Chamberlain with a smile then tapped his finger on the paper, "That's why, Mr. Morawiecki. It would have been better if I had made this mistake of trusting Hitler. Then you would have gotten rid of me. However, this did not happen, thanks to your warnings I was enlightened against the mistake. But I am not foolish enough to twice, get into the same cabal. Now you have won, but this is just the beginning."

Halifax agreed with her superior, Poland has a lot to learn. For example, to sit quietly when no one asks her. Or at least he thought so at the time, unfortunately, as he later wrote in his memoirs. It was all illusions, our illusions.

 

[Batrix2070]

October 17, 1938
Third Republic of Poland
Warsaw
Żoliborz district

This was a secluded office, neatly decorated. A small compact room,simple but comfortable desk without a computer, a comfortable chair to sitbehind it. On the walls, meanwhile, were photos, family photos, of course. One was special and hung in such a way that it was impossible to miss.

It depicted two closely resembling men in togas, Benesh from what has learned the second man with the characteristic familiarity near his nose is the President's brother Lech, who died in the plane crash

Both brothers seemed happy, not yet knowing what waiting for them.

"You have known our country for many years, but you are asking for help for the first time. I don't remember from history lessons that Czechoslovakia was friendly towards PolandLet's be honest, you saw us as an obstacle and a rival to be destroyed. You did not want our friendship, but only a scapegoat to be sacrificed to Germany." spoke Prezes at last, after thinking about Benesh's request

Benesh croaked "We needed this city. We didn't want to expose ourselves to the Germans."

"I understand" countered Prezes, "Lack of rail lines to Slovakia. Need for safe transit to the Ocean. Fear of losing 1/3 of all territory and 40% of the entire economy. So you wanted to redirect German eyes to the East. While we were fighting the German Customs War, and the Bolsheviks in the East. You guys made money,got rich,and pressed on at Versailles. Not need our friendship, because it would have drawn attention to you Germany, Austria and dragged you into the war with the Soviets. At least you have enough decency not to come, so simply and demand help. Nevertheless, you do not ask respectfully, not offer friendship. We had to force you with the help of King Charles and more reasonable generals and politicians than you to come."

Benesh remained silent without saying a word, it was really humiliating. He wasrebuked by Charles like a little child. This reveler and drunkard, instructed him how to do politics. It was he, with the help of people who should be loyal to him, who put him on the train to Warsaw.

Not mean that it was so easy, on the contrary. He had to personally,go to the most important person in the Polish state. Not the Prime Minister, not the President. They both made it clear to him that he had toappear before the President. This wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the fact that the Prezes didn't know Czech and he didn't know Polish. Although the two languages are twinned, they are not mutually intelligible. So there was also with them an interpreter whose sole purpose was to translate when somethingthey could not understand.

Despite everything, he was able to catch the derision and general outline of what he was accused of. He was forced to listen to slurs from Poles. Damn Poles, but the only ones capable of stopping Germany andwilling to do so.

England, France put him to the wind, for nothing conspiracies, deals.It wasCzechoslovakia that was to be the first victim.

"I see that you realize. Good. Very good."replied the Prezes noticing the silence. "Nonetheless, for your butthurt, you will come to pay. Do not think otherwise, but for now. You have arranged help, Poland will come." Benesh exulted but the Prezes raised a finger

"Don't so soon, for now, I have one and only one request."

"Which ones?" asked Benesh, hiding his irritation.

"Agree to all the terms of the agreement, the Polish-Czechoslovak agreement onfriendship, cooperation and mutual assistance.Without any but, withoutany discussion. Just do it, and if it's bad for you, hand over power to the one who will do it without hesitation. Only then will justice be done." said the President

"What if I don't?" asked Bensh hastily, annoyed by this nailing to the wall, although he realized what the answer would be.

"Well, Czechoslovakia is more important than your ego. Right?" replied the Chairman.

Benesh swallowed saliva, actually this Pole is right.There was no longer any reason for his subordinates to have any desire to play with him. Know very well that the West will not come to their aid and will only sell the mout to Hitler under the illusion of peace.

" I understand Mr. President." replied Benesh, the desperation of wanting to survive likenot make a mistake that broke his career wasstronger than his anti-Polonism.

At his luck, the President was content with the answer. Maybe will remain President of Czechoslovakia?

 

[ATP]

So,Moraviecki told about official History - but not british cabal which ruled England from shadows.Good,let them think,that they are still safe.
And later,when they lost,made public who are they and where they live.

So,England send envoy to Hitler.Interesting,how they would fuck it.Only danger for Poland - if some smart german general made putch now,and fulfill all polish demands.Almost impossible,they could kill Hitler in OTL,but failed to do so.

Czech - Benesz is soviet agent,is it smart to keep him?

Germany - i remember books about german super weapons written by Igor Witkowski,according to him germans had 2 projects of anti-gravitation used to build UFO -
1.Victor Schauberger - from 1934 worked for Hitler,before 1945 build unmanned prototypes which worked,but could not be controlled/flied in random directions/ ,but anti-grav worked.
One manned prototype in 19.2.1945 made 15.000 attitude and was 2.200km/h fast.
All have engine using water only.

2.Dzwon /die Glocke/ anti-grav engine using mercury.It probably never was turned into manned version,becouse engine worked,but killed anybody near it.
Main scientist - Walter Gerlach.

And,sometching more normal - space schuttle project by Eugene Sanger who worked on it from 1936./Thor hammer project,i think/

Only problem is - author,Igor Witkowski,from 2014 stopped writing about secred weapons and started about good aliens from Plejads who come and save us from american way of life and Holy Mary.
So,maybe it all was bullschit.

But even if it was fake - in your story,Poland could capturte german UFO !


P.S It would be even more interesting,if you send Poland from 2025,after PIS victory,to 1945.Becouse then soviets could actually bury us under bodies.Or,at least try it.

P.S.S what happened in 2023? i bet,that germans are both happy that they get their lands,and unhappy,that they get them with rabid nazis.
When both Poland and Ukraine are fucked.

 

[Batrix2070]

P.S It would be even more interesting,if you send Poland from 2025,after PIS victory,to 1945.Becouse then soviets could actually bury us under bodies.Or,at least try it.

Well, I don't think so. Just the entire core of the Red Army is cut off and WP 2025 is a completely different beast than two years earlier. In fact, it is a free victory over the Soviet Union.

 

[Batrix2070]

P.S.S what happened in 2023? i bet,that germans are both happy that they get their lands,and unhappy,that they get them with rabid nazis.
When both Poland and Ukraine are fucked.

17 September 2023
Third Republic of Poland

The day of September 17, marked as it always has. Another anniversary of the infamous attack on Poland by the Soviet Union. On that day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski came to a ceremony to mark the occasion and gave another speech reminding us that Russia never changes. And that just as 85 years ago it recognized that Poland was gone, so now it recognized that Ukraine was gone too.

But fortunately, this time. Russia had miscalculated. Nevertheless, everyone that day felt uncomfortable, as if someone had copied them. Regardless, everyone was rather happy, Ukraine was winning. Russia was in decline and the first hints of independence began to appear tentatively.

The European Union, on the other hand, was experiencing the crisis of the century when another series of corruption scandals occurred. Many began to wonder how badly the whole organism had rotted. Germany, on the other hand, plunged into recession, was having a difficult time.

In Poland, meanwhile, life went on. For nothing special happened that day. Right?

 

[ATP]

Well, I don't think so. Just the entire core of the Red Army is cut off and WP 2025 is a completely different beast than two years earlier. In fact, it is a free victory over the Soviet Union.

Well,depend when.If we choose 1.3.1945,then almost entire soviet army is send to 2025,and invade Germany.Imagine german faces,when million soviets start forcing Oder river !

So,Poland in this scenario have good chance.

But,let say,1.7.45? only some soviet units would go to 2025,rest would be in occupied germany and soviet union.
And,both USA and England would support soviets becouse they need cannonfodder against Japan,so they woud sell us to them in hearbeat.

We are fucked,and lucky one would die.Only consolation - traitors like Tusk would not be spared,and Sralin after discovering who murdered him in 1953 woud go for another purge.

And,with captured technology,go for England and USA,too.we would meet our unfaitful allies in gulags,and laugh at them.

 

[Batrix2070]

November 8, 1938
Second Republic of Poland
Volyn Voivodship
Hoszcza

It was a special day, and there was a tense atmosphere throughout the post as well as in Hoszcza, a Polish town near the Polish-Soviet border. Everyone was expecting guests from the West. Guests from contemporary Poland.

Hoszcza itself was an important town on the military map of the Second Republic, it was the garrison of the KOP*** Battalion
"Hoszcza" which secured this section of the Polish-Soviet border. The town was not overly large, with barely a few thousand inhabitants.

Corporal Stefan Hadas, waited with his unit on the parade ground in front of the KOP barracks. They had heard rumors about what the equipment of the future looked like, and the closer the day got, the more absurd they became.

"I'm telling you, they can look at night just as well as day! They have such funny binoculars that they attach to their helmets," Ernest Wilmowski said excitedly.

"So bright, and there are pears growing in the willow tree." Zygmunt Domagała quipped.

"Silence!" commanded Hadas "They're coming!"

The troops quieted down, some even held their breath, the powerful whirr of the engine could be heard clearly as it approached. Moments later, the column which was led by huge monsters with the word JELCZ on their hoods, drove into the garrison area. Immediately after them, small in comparison, box-like vehicles with wheels attached to them drove in.
They pulled into a pre-prepared parking lot, then people began to come out of the truck loading zone. One couldn't help but notice that there weren't that many of them. Only from the small ones, a crowd began to come out.

As soon as the guests assembled, the official part began. Hadas stood and waited until all the official part of the ceremony had passed, the officers exchanged the obvious formulas, the orchestra played more state songs. In short, the usual formalities. That's not to say it was boring, Hadas gazed curiously at the future Border Guard Poles.
He was amazed to see women in uniform among them.

"I see that they are spinning poorly, if the women to the guard have to take." spoke up quietly Domagala.

"I wonder if these ladies know what they are signing up for? The Bolsheviks would love to grab a couple of them for their amusement." Konrad Michalski said.

"Quiet, we'll find out later!" ordered Hadas.

As soon as the roll call ended and it was announced that as of today, Hoscha and all the forces of order were incorporated into the Third Polish Republic. The KOP itself remained but already as a special formation within the Border Guard to protect the Polish-Soviet borderlands. Hadas and his men had a chance to get acquainted with the newcomers from the future.
More specifically, they had to give them a tour of their border post.

KOP post "Paszuki"

This post, was located near the village from which it took its name. The village itself, was a typical borderland village. Inhabited by Ruthenians, not yet Ukrainians, the road to and through it was a dirt road of really miserable quality, which should not be surprising in the entire Second Republic, there were few roads even paved and certainly not in the Borderlands. Only the fact that the first snow fell and the winter season began makes getting there by car not problematic.

The village itself was barely two kilometers from the border. In practice, one could easily see the Soviet Union from inside the village. There was no border crossing in the area, the dirt road broke off just outside the village. Not far from the post.

The KOP guard at the post whistled at the sight of Corporal Hadas getting out of the off-roader, as the future Poles called the car.

"Corporal, what is this marvel?" cried one of the soldiers, clearly fascinated by the vehicle.

"An all-terrain vehicle, of the brand... Toyota?" replied Hadas looking at Platoon Sergeant Wilhelm Kowalski of the Border Guard, who was driving the car.

"Yes, it's Toyota. Japanese equipment, Japanese quality." replied Kowalski

Meanwhile, another of the Guardians nodded as he saw the small wooden post. Earlier, he commented on the village of Paszuki.

"What a mess. Terrible poverty here!" he inspected the interior "They don't even have electricity, how do they communicate with the world?"

The Kopmen sitting at the post squawked, "What do you mean? With a goon, electricity is only for the Garrison in Hoszcz. Half the province has no access to electricity and you expect there to be electricity at the border." Then he added after a moment seeing the look on this Guard's face "Surprised?"

"Well, yes." Replied the Guardian "But with your accent, you don't sound like a Pole."

"Because I'm not one?" replied Kopmen "I'm German" he explained his accent "Private Heinrich Wolf." he added informing and shaking hands.

The guard reciprocated the greeting, "Ironically, theoretically I am also German. Senior Private of the Border Guard Michal Muller." he added after the greeting.

"Really?" quipped Wolf "You don't sound like that."

"Well if from childhood the only language you speak is Polish, it would be hard not to sound like a Pole," he said.

"Interesting, may I know why..." asked Wolf but then entered the post Platoon Sergeant Kowalski "Private Muller!" he called out

"And you second... What do you call you?

"Private Heinrich Wolf".

"Private Wolf," repeated Kowalski, "to the car. You need to take the aggregate off it, and put it in a safe place. To work." After which he left.

Wolf looked at Muller "Who was that?"

"My superior, Platoon Sergeant Wilhelm Kowalski." explained Muller

"Always so ruthless?"

"Yes."

"Aha," replied Wolf, "Well, nothing, let's go before he decides to remember us."

Muller agreed with Wolf.

The work to prepare the Post to receive the additional men, along with their equipment, stretched into the evening. Although most Poles were engaged to prepare the Post and integrate it into the defense structures of the Third Republic, the border guards were not neglected. Patrols along the border continued at all times, each consisting of half of Border Guards and Kopmen.

In this way, they were to get acquainted with each other in action, as well as learn from each other.
Wolf and Muller's patrol took place towards evening, they were just returning from their rounds to exchange with the new team. They had already managed to get acquainted, the conversation was getting overly sticky for the two.

"... And then the jar breaks." concludes Muller's story, Wolf grabbed his face not knowing whether he should laugh or vomit in disgust.

"Holy shit, what are you guys doing in this future? How... crazy do you have to be to do something like this, record it and still show it off to the world?" finally said Wolf when he found the right words.

"You have to be attentive." Muller replied.

"With what?" quipped Wolf, never having heard such a word before.

"You know, an attentive person. A person who wants to get attentiveness at all costs. Attention." Muller explained
Wolf caught the point. "That is, a narcissist."

"Well not really, narcissism is more about over-focusing on judgments and reacting very negatively if they are bad. Atencius simply wants to be talked about, no matter how, as long as he is talked about." countered Muller

"Aha," said Wolf, "All in all, it's like Hitler. Talks to be talked about."

"More or less, although the difference is that Painter wants to convince people of himself. Saying controversial things that don't convince, acutely would not help him in that way."

"Right," agreed Wolf, "Just speaking of Germans, since we are on the subject. Can you explain why you said you were German in theory? I know this much that Hitler miscalculated and lost and Poland reaches all the way to the Oder though at the expense of the Borderlands. How come you have no problems with Germany?"

Muller sighed before replying, "You see, after the war there was a series of forced resettlements. The Germans were expelled from these lands in large majority although many had already fled from the Red Army and never returned, the only ones left were those who were either autochthons or had declared their wish before a Polish office and were given permission to stay. One of them was my grandfather and grandmother. Nonetheless, during the communist period, efforts were made to denationalize Germans, and many left as there was an opportunity to do so for West Germany both during and after the communist era. Those who did not do so are usually such polonized Germans that we are more of a dyed-in-the-wool minority who do not know the speech of our grandparents than we are really Germans. Our grandparents were forced to learn Polish and in many homes Polish was spoken out of fear of Poles and in an attempt to erase the past. Some after the fall of communism decided to reverse this, taking advantage of the fact that we already have a democratic and free Poland like my colleague Jakub but many either left or just gave up and decided that all in all we are Poles just pretending to reach for money from Germany."
Wolf remained silent, not knowing very much what to say. It took a while before he said, "Sad, although it's actually quite obvious. After all, we murdered so many, it's no wonder that everything was done to mollify the remaining Germans."

He then asked Muller the question "And you, who are you?"

Muller looked at him, "All in all, a Pole."

Wolf wondered "Why?"

"Well," sighed Muller, "It turns out that so many years of separation from Germany, living in a country built by a completely different way of thinking. It has made in the case of our family that Germany, is unbearable to live there. Honestly, I don't know what so many Poles see in this country. Germans always get mad and try to discipline anyone not progressive enough. These days? Communism and Nazism. In mine? Liberalism and environmentalism."

"So it turned out that, you felt foreign in Germany but at home in Poland?" concluded Wolf.

"Yes," agreed Muller.

"It happens anyway." replied Wolf "Do you know exactly how many Germans there are in future Poland?"

"Well, according to a recent survey, Germans in the general sense are about 132,500 of which as Germans per se and not as a second identity as in my case is barely 38,000."

"That's... pretty low." Wolf noted.

"That's right, most of us are Poles first and then..." he interrupted when he heard bushes rustling. They both reacted quickly to the source of the sound by falling to the ground, immediately followed by their two other colleagues.

"Scheiße, wo sind diese bolschewistischen Bastarde? "* asked Wolf poetically in German.

"Ahead of us, 200 meters, azimuth 73 degrees." replied an undaunted Muller also informing over the radio. "Well, and turn on your night vision, we gave you a piece." advised Wolf.

Wolf paused for a moment before he caught what was going on. He quickly put the night vision device over his eyes, fortunately the model he was wearing didn't bite into the Kopmen's cap, then turned it on.

"Ein verdammt nützliches Ding. Ich kann die Bastarde wie meinen Handrücken sehen.**"

"Speak Polish, Heinrich." replied Muller with a giggle at Wolf's statement.
Wolf just looked at him or at least tried to, unfortunately his vision was obscured by the night vision so he couldn't show his face in all its glory. Therefore, Muller shook his head amused, before focusing again on the crawling Bolsheviks.

"Fucking bastards, they had all day to try their hardons. No, fuck, they had to just when it was me having an outing." said Muller quietly complaining.

"Welcome to the Borderlands. It's never peaceful here." replied Wolf, well aware of what Muller felt.
He then patted Muller down and signaled him to move closer to the crawling Soviets. Muller caught on to what was going on, then moved behind Wolf. Both of them moved forward very slowly and carefully, taking advantage of the advantage that night vision gave them. Meanwhile, their colleagues were relaying the report of the contact.

As soon as they found a better position, Wolf proceeded to observe and Muller reported. "Muller to 163, we have identified the contact. All infantry platoon, forty-eight men. Over."

Silence fell, and it took some time before they got an answer. By this time the Bolsheviks, had spread out and Muller and Wolf could overhear the NKVD soldiers talking among themselves.
Of the two, only Wolf knew Russian.

"Nothing interesting, the usual soldier wailing. Not a word as to why they are here." relayed a disappointed Wolf, to Muller.

"I think they heard us. That's why they are cautious." presented his vision to Muller. Meanwhile, the other two, digger Stefan Zacheta and guard Karol Wasik, had reached them.

"And what?" asked Wasik.

"We are waiting for an answer. There are some here." replied Muller before the radio crackled.

"163 to Muller, repeat. Contact is Infantry Platoon, strength forty-eight? Over."

"Muller to 163, repeat. Contact identified, infantry platoon, forty-eight men. Over."

"Understood. Stand by for orders, out." snapped the radio. Silence followed.

"We could have knocked them out, where the fuckers won't even see what killed them." Wasik said.

"Calm down Wasik, we only have two Beryls and two Mausers. Of which you have a hopeless target and our two colleagues don't know how to shoot with night vision." replied Muller, nipping in the bud any foolish ideas. "Isn't that right, Corporal?" he turned to Zachary.

"True, we are waiting for orders." Encouragingly, he agreed with Muller. Besides, he didn't even have the foggiest idea how to shoot a rifle while wearing this thing over his eyes. Yes it was damn useful, he could see each of the Bolsheviks no worse than in daylight, although he needed time to get used to the ubiquitous green. He even felt sorry that he couldn't shoot now, the four of them would have shot everyone.

After a moment, the radio crackled again transmitting orders. "163 to Muller, avoid fighting, respond with fire only if detected, do not break contact, follow him until support arrives. Over."

"Roger, out." Muller replied, then looked at the rest. Without words, everyone understood what was going on. They spread out wider, so that in case of detection they could support each other with fire and the Bolsheviks couldn't take care of everyone right away and waited.

They waited for the Bolsheviks to move, the Bolsheviks soon moved west. The Poles quietly relayed what the Bolsheviks were doing to the post. Undaunted, they followed the Bolsheviks, keeping far enough away from them so that the Bolsheviks would not become aware of their presence but close enough to have them within earshot.

Very soon Muller realized that an NKVD unit was trying to sneak west of Pashuky and attack the post itself from that direction. His suspicions were confirmed when Wolf informed him that the Bolsheviks were talking about attacking the village. The only village nearby was actually Paszuki.

Fortunately, he didn't have to bother with it too much. Muller's radio quickly crackled and Kowalski's bass voice sounded "Get down!". Muller fell to the ground without hesitation, and the other three did the same. The next command was "Hold your fire, we will deal with the Bolsheviks ourselves."

"Understood, we will hold our fire." replied Muller, then clinging to the ground waited for the shooting to begin. He didn't have to wait long, and after a while the scramble was unleashed.

Before the Bolsheviks had time to react, the Polish guards, hidden in the darkness, opened fire, depriving half of them of their lives in a salvo. The commander surprisingly survived, so he quickly tried to restore order but very quickly had to fold and fly directly to the ground.

The advantage in fire provided by automatic rifles over ordinary Mosins was astounding. Many Bolsheviks thought they were under heavy machine gun fire. They unwillingly tried to respond with fire at first, but such were killed very quickly.

Before Muller had time to realize after a while there was silence, and the Bolshevik's pleas to cease fire could already be heard clearly. First, the officer did so gently, raising his hands in the air; Muller, who could see him perfectly from behind, had the impression that the Soviet in question had shit his pants.

"We surrender! We surrender Poles!" he called out in broken Polish with clear hysteria in his voice. He was followed by the cries of the surviving Bolsheviks who, like the commander, raised themselves with their hands in the air. The slurred cries for help and moans of pain of the wounded could also be heard.

After a long while Muller heard the voice of the local post commander Hadas calling out in Russian. He was saying something sharply to the Bolsheviks, which he guessed from the fact that the Bolsheviks were vividly signaling that they had discarded their weapons and had begun to gather in line toward their officer.

As soon as they accomplished this, Muller heard a short "Understood" Encouragement followed by the Corporal calling out

"Check the battlefield for anyone taking cover and gather the weapons in one place."

Muller promptly carried out the order, by the way he could see the havoc the Polish ambush had caused. Each of the Bolsheviks killed had a puzzled face. As soon as it was confirmed that no one was hiding, they proceeded to help the wounded and organize the captives into a column. After a while, the clearing became completely clear, Muller had to take the night vision out of his eyes. Only now did he notice the cars standing nearby illuminating the clearing. Also everyone had turned on a flashlight or even thrown a few flares.

The Bolsheviks only now realized how close the Poles were to them. Muller may not have spoken Russian, but he knew well the typical Russian "Yop your mother" and the rest of the sentence which most likely read "how did they sneak up on us?" he guessed from the context.

Nevertheless, one of the wounded Bolsheviks whom he was helping to carry onto the stretcher called out in good Polish,

"Someone you!"

"What do you mean who? The Polish Border Guard. Comrade." Muller replied.

"You don't look like humans." replied the Bolshevik, "No human being should also be able to see so well in the dark."

"However, this is how it is. Comrade." spoke up another guard, "We can see, we can hear, and we will get you even if you dangle underground."

To this the Bolshevik no longer had an answer.

*Fuck, where are these Bolshevik mongrels?

** Useful damn thing. I can see these mongrels like the back of my hand.

***Abbreviation for Korpus Ochrony Pogranicza/Border Protection Corps

 

[ATP]

So,soviets are trying to take some prisoners.What,when they finally do that?
Comrade Sralin could lost 10.000 slaves for taking one soldier from 2023.
And where are our die-hard commies,like Sierakowski? they should go to soviets with entire info about our army.

So,what Poand would do,when soviet take some hostages? attack with all 4 dyvisions,leaving german border open?

About our army - we would have only 235 Leopards,140 PT91,maybe 50 T.72,maybe 50Abrams and the same number of K2.
And,at best,could produce 10 K2 per month.

When war happen ,it would be not so easy to do.Soviets would bury us with numbers.

P.ty,that it is not Poland from 2028,still ruled by PIS.We would have 1000 tanks then.

 

[Batrix2070]

And where are our die-hard commies,like Sierakowski? they should go to soviets with entire info about our army.

What do you mean where? In Bereza!

And,at best,could produce 10 K2 per month.

What kind of K2? We haven't gotten the plans yet, or even how it's produced. We have just started.
The tanks we will be making are our PT-91 Twardy, maybe not the best, but here it is a sufficient monster.

What,when they finally do that?

Once

Soviets would bury us with numbers.

This is not that much of a difference, especially the Soviets are not China and Poland is not Imperial Japan.

 

[ATP]

What do you mean where? In Bereza!

What kind of K2? We haven't gotten the plans yet, or even how it's produced. We have just started.
The tanks we will be making are our PT-91 Twardy, maybe not the best, but here it is a sufficient monster.

Once

This is not that much of a difference, especially the Soviets are not China and Poland is not Imperial Japan.

1.Good.Even better,then if instead in Bereza on Bug they would be simply in Bug...
2.We schould have plans by that time.The same goes for their Missile Launchers.
3.It is only matter of time.And then Poland must decide,how both attack soviets and keep germans in check with 4 dyvisions and 500 tanks.
4.Soviets could mobilize 100 dyvisions by that time.Enough to bury us.

 

[Batrix2070]

November 11, 1938
Third Republic of Poland
(Podkarpackie) Subcarpathian Voivodeship
Lwów

Residents of Lwów gathered in crowds along the main road, or Legion Street, west of Market Square. Today was a special day, it was not just a celebration of independence, for Lwowians it was the twentieth anniversary of its recovery and the second held on November 11, it was also the day of the official incorporation of the lands of the former Second Republic into the Third Republic.

The radio station in Lwów as well as throughout the Borderlands broadcast from Warsaw where the official ceremony of the incorporation of the Borderlands reigned as well as the one hundred and fifth anniversary of independence. On behalf of the Second Republic, the annexation document was signed by Provisional President Edward Rydź-Smigły. Along with him were all the governors, bishops and other important officials and dignitaries.

Moreover, a military parade was held that day, both in Warsaw and in every major city in the Borderlands. The Army of Second Polish Republic in Warsaw was represented by soldiers of the 1st Legion Infantry Division. For many of them, the adoration and curiosity they evoked in future Poles was pleasantly tickled. By the way, easing the culture shock.

As they marched, honorably right behind the representative regiment as the first soldiers. Again and again they heard from the Poles arriving in Warsaw from all over Poland as well as from the Warsovians themselves just three words but what great words.

"Honor and Glory to the HEROS!"

Some hearing these words couldn't help but shrug. Others smiled hearing these words, well end from their descendants. They were as proud as peacocks.

In Lwów, on the other hand, there was a somewhat less spectacular parade. The Warsaw one was not only for propaganda use for ordinary Poles. Officers from all over the world, from every superpower and ordinary country, separately as well as in groups, came to see what the 21st century Military is armed with.

That's why specially the best units with their equipment were brought down to march through Wisłostrada*. A particularly important group were German officers who could watch in horror the fully armored and mechanized army.

And in the Borderlands? Less spectacular units were chosen, intended only to represent the Polish Army. The unit that visited Lwów was the 21st Podhale Rifle Brigade from nearby Rzeszow.

Together with the 5th Infantry Division, stationed in the city under the command of Brigadier General Juliusz Zaulauf, they marched proudly through the city greeted with ovations by the people of Lwów. First, of course, marched the soldiers they knew, and then came the Highlanders in their distinctive uniforms.

Then the demonstration of technology began, the whole thing was commented live by an officer of the 21st Brigade who explained to the watching Poles, Ukrainians, Jews and other residents of Lwów and the surrounding area what the equipment was. Although, admittedly, the more eager could take a look at several vehicles standing nearby on the plantations between Legion Street (where the parade took place) and Hetmanska Street. Soldiers were happy to talk about their military equipment. Everyone could see a Beryl, a UKM-2000 and a typical military vehicle.

Nevertheless, the queue of those who wanted to attend was huge, so that most were forced to get a taste and look at the military vehicles from behind the barriers. On the occasion of this parade, many had the opportunity to see a piece of modern technology. Appropriate equipment for the occasion was lent by the nearby city and capital of the Subcarpathian voivodeship, Rzeszow.

And here let's pause for a moment, as few people know. Podkarpackie voivodeship did not exist during the Second Republic, why? Because all of Podkarpackie, well almost all of it, the current one further west, is de facto the former Lwów voivodeship.

After World War II and the change of borders, the former voivodeship lost its capital, but due to a decree of the communist puppet government, the pre-war territorial division of Poland was restored. Given the narrative in effect at the time and the pretense that the Borderlands were not Polish, such a paradoxical situation occurred that the official name in documents was the Voivodeship with its capital in Rzeszów.

After going back in time and starting integration. The issue of precisely the Lwów and Podkarpackie voivodeships was one of the most problematic. The second such issue was with Podlaskie voivodeship. Although there it was so much simpler that Podlaskie was simply a limited former Białystok voivodeship. Białystok had already been the local capital before World War II, so after discussions it was decided that there was no point in separating the eastern counties too much or incorporating them into a neighboring province, and they were rejoined to their voivodeship, with a new name of course.

Here the matter was complicated, Lwów was a large and important city. The third largest in terms of population in the Second Polish Republic and the traditional capital of these lands. On the other hand, Rzeszów, through all these years of being the capital, became not much smaller than Lwów, and because of its modernity it has all the necessary facilities, those in Lwów had to be built from scratch.

Various variants were proposed, combining the remnants of Lwów with Tarnopol and Stanisławów and making them into one large Ruthenia voivodeship, thus resurrecting the former province from the First Republic. There was also a more truncated variant of the above by merging it with one of the two voivodeships. The most common proposal was to Stanisławów as the poorer one.

The local governors did not want to agree to these proposals, arguing most often that this would upset the balance of power and Lwów, as an already large metropolis, would simply start sucking more people out of the provinces at the expense of Tarnopol and Stanisławów.

And the proposal for the smallest voivodeship was refused by the Lwów voivode Alfred Biłyk because it would have made Lwów a voivodeship with too little power and strength. Eventually, after a long perturbation, it was agreed that the remnants of Lwów would reunite with Podkarpackie, but on the basis of the principles prevailing in provinces such as Kujawsko-Pomorskie or Lubuskie. That is, dual capital, division of responsibilities between the two cities. Separation of the provincial assembly and the governor's office. Rzeszów was to have a sejmik and Lwów a voivode.

Rzeszów was to take over local administration, Lwów state administration. Nonetheless, it was decided that the existing governors (although Biłyk himself became vice-governor) would continue in office until future local elections, which, due to the state of emergency, were postponed until 2025 so that they would not take place simultaneously with the parliamentary elections, which were scheduled to take place in 2024, but at the end of the year.

The most satisfied with the whole situation was Ewa Leniart, who kept her current post of Podkarpackie voivode, while another satisfied person was the President, because he did not lose his party's permanent base in Podkarpackie, but actually expanded it with a city that is rich by the standards of the Second Republic, with a strongly developed academic and cultural base.

But this was not the concern of a typical Lwowian, for them it was a mere brawl upstairs. On that day, by the way, it was not worth mentioning, just some woman came, made a speech in which she was glad that Lwów had joined the Podkarpackie region, wanting to cooperate and develop the city. She said something about some sort of bypass around the city, a highway connecting Lwów with Rzeszow and leading to Romania, some strange and unfamiliar things to the common man.

Such a man was Antony Jędrzejewski, a third-grade middle school student. He was a simple young boy, living his typical life. Interested in today, he came to Legion Street with his classmates to look at the future Polish Army.

Just now he was looking in awe and enchantment at the column of moving vehicles. Focused on them, he fished with his ear for a speaking announcer with the typical lack of accent or at least a strongly neutral accent for future Poles.

"This, ladies and gentlemen, is the BWP-1 column - our basic and unfortunately obsolete model of BWP-type vehicles, which means Combat Infantry Vehicle. Fortunately, already in production are their successors, the BWP Borsuk which, as one of the most modern in the world, are to replace them. Nevertheless, the BWP-1 itself is not some bad design, what is obsolete, but when it was introduced it was an innovative and ahead of its time machine. It was from these vehicles that the very concept of this type of machine that are infantry fighting vehicles emerged."

Jedrzejewski stared at the really low-lying box, wondering how those tall Podhale soldiers fit in it. After all, he had seen what a future Polish soldier with full equipment looked like, he really couldn't imagine how one could get in while already being so tall let alone with so much equipment!

Meanwhile, the announcer continued his argument, "And what are Infantry Fighting Vehicles? Ladies and gentlemen, this is a machine that not only transports soldiers to the battlefield safely from the offensive fire of enemy artillery as well as machine guns inside itself, but also itself supports with the fire of its 73-millimeter cannon these soldiers in battle."

"A useful thing, if we had such machines. Then no Muscovite, Bolshevik or Ukrainian would be cheaply terrible and they would shit themselves." exclaimed the older man. Jędrzejewski knew him, it was Mr. Adolf Pączek, a local baker, a veteran of the Great War and the defense of Lwów and the Polish-Bolshevik War.

"Are you serious Mr. Pączek?" he was asked by Jędrzejewski's colleague Stanislaw Wilmowski.

"Yes, Staś. It would help us a lot, it's harder to get a bullet, shrapnel is not scary." replied Pączek then added in a seemingly theatrical whisper, "Well, and you don't have to walk so much to get somewhere, the machine will take you everywhere."

The boys giggled.

Then, as the last of the BWP-1s drove by, a miracle machine appeared to Jedrzejewski's eyes. He had not seen it before, among the machines spread out in the square between the streets. It was a huge boxy machine, it was almost as big as a train. It consisted of two boxes superimposed on each other, driven by tracks. It carried a cannon that should have been placed on some ship or train, he had never seen such a long cannon, in any book. I guess only siege mortars riding on rails, fortress cannons were bigger but none were both skinny and long.

"Here before you, the pride of Polish armaments. Battle-tested by the heroic Ukrainians defending themselves against the Russian barbaria denying their existence, giving them great favors. Krab self-propelled cannon howitzer. The conqueror of the Russians! Accurate, fast and simple in operation and simple in production. It coped in the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II, it will also cope in this one!" said the announcer proudly.

Of course, Lwowians had their opinions about the heroic Ukrainians, although the fact was that they agreed that these future Ukrainians had the right to defend themselves against the Russian onslaught. Although it should be noted that they distinguished between these future and present Ukrainians in their minds. Nevertheless, the pride with which the announcer spoke of the equipment made everyone stare intently at the monsters on the move.

You could feel the otherness, it stood out from the BRMD-2 reconnaissance vehicles, it was much larger than the BWP-1. Those there had a kind of closeness in their clumsiness. The crabs? It was space, futurism incarnate. They even screamed, I'm from the future.

Only four vehicles passed by, but for Jedrzejewski there might as well have been a thousand of them. He stared at them as if captivated and was displeased that as soon as they appeared they disappeared.

Mr. Pączek noticed the longing memory in Jedrzejewski's eyes. "You liked the Krabs what?"

"Yes," replied Jędrzejewski gravely, now the M120 Rak self-propelled mortars were passing by, these did not make such a furore as the Krab. Yes, it was an interesting piece of equipment, it also screamed the future, but it was not a Krab. The announcer, moreover, also seemed to speak less emotionally.

"Well, the matter is rather simple. Learn math, learn to drive a car. Then when you are an adult then enlist in the army asking to be drafted into the Artillery. Knowing life, when you are an adult there will be such monsters driving in the 5th Division." replied Pączek, showing the otherwise obvious path to becoming an artilleryman.

"Sure," replied an inconsolable Jedrzejewski, for him it was a clash with reality. To be pulled down to earth, to be reminded that he is still a child and children are not given such toys. Well, and that in order to become more than an infantryman with a rifle you need something more. One has to work.

"Don't give him such advice," spoke up Wilmowski, "Because the poor boy will cry that he has to work. He hardly wants to do his homework and already he wants to go to the artillery!"

"With mathematics, on the other hand, with him is crumbling." added another colleague, Andrzej Nowak, "Constantly twos and twos**. Artilleryman must be able to count."

"Okay, okay boys." replied Nowak reassuringly, "Since Antoś wants to be an artilleryman so much, he finally has a good reason to apply himself to math." he looked at Jedrzejewski with a sympathetic gaze.

The boy, on the other hand, seeing this look, could not but reply, "Yes Mr. Adolf! From wanting, begins being able!"
"Well said, Antoś. Well said." agreed the man.

*Wisłostrata - An expressway that runs through Warsaw. It was built in the 1970s, and part of it runs along the left bank of the Vistula River, hence the name Wisłostrada. What Vistula Highway means. Although it is only an expressway and not a full-fledged highway.


**Poland has a system of grading by numbers. Currently it is from 1 (worst) to 6 (best). You have to have at least a 2 to pass but not in the Second Republic. 1's and 6's were introduced only in the 1990's, before that the grading scale was from 2-5. So our Antoś constantly has problems with math, although he passes to the next grade only by improving on every exam.

 

[Batrix2070]

November 20, 1938
Third Republic of Poland
Silesian Voivodeship
Gliwice

"... This is exactly what we were talking about, Minister." engineer Karol Świerkowski spoke up, pointing to the contents of the container. "Mr. Engineer Szewczenko (Shevchenko) has been drying my head for several weeks, he kept telling me that they had already dismantled the line and it had been transported to Poland. I said I didn't know anything about it, he in turn told me to find out. Only after a sharp search did I manage to find the missing transport from Kharkov he was talking about."

Błaszczak nodded then in an irritated tone, which surprised Świerkowski because Błaszczak was known for his mastery of the basics, he asked, "So, you needed as much as two months. To realize that the most important element of our agreement with the Ukrainians as far as the 'service center' in Bumar is concerned, however, is in Poland?"

There was a good reason for this outburst of anger in the minister. Ever since the May Affair, where he tried to pin the blame on the Armed Forces Operational Commander, General Piotrowski, he had been threatened. He was eventually baked, nevertheless from then on he was under the constant supervision of the President who made it clear to him that he was his man for special tasks. Not the next Prime Minister or President. If he messes up that nasty again and tries to blame it on someone else in an emergency situation, he will be kicked off the stool of minister and deputy prime minister.

And now that Poland was in its biggest crisis in centuries? Ineptitude will end his career.

"More accurately, one, and that's less than one." Swierkowski replied.

"It doesn't matter," Błaszczak whined, "What is important in this whole situation is the current critical state of the state. You failed to fulfill your duties as chief engineer, and it took a stubborn Ukrainian with his men to bring you and your subordinates down to earth."

"But it's the management..." Świerkowski objected, but Błaszczak wasn't going to listen to this nonsense.

He pointed a finger at him and replied, "No buts, you know very well how much the management is worth. Half of them are friends and acquaintances of the rabbit. They were put here for political reasons. It should be on your shoulders, and your sense of decency, to want to maintain competence so that it makes sense to maintain this establishment in the long run. We are not loading money here for you to make farts, this plant has gained a bad reputation in both the Defense Ministry and the PGZ for a reason."

Well Świerkowski couldn't object, Bumar-Łabędy gained a reputation as a weak plant not without reason. The inept management and blatant sabotage done over the years plunged the whole thing into misery, but if the employees had been more willing to work and willing to defend the plant against blatant acts of undermining the position, they wouldn't have ended up in a state that they can barely repair T-72s and basic service for Leopard 2s.

Most likely, it would have continued to vegetate, after all, the production of K2PL was to be handled by the Military Automotive Works in Poznań, but the war in Ukraine and the subsequent forced suspension of tank production in Kharkov provided an opportunity to change the current situation.

Unfortunately, the Russians proved successful enough to nullify Ukraine's potential to produce T-64 tanks as well as repair them. For this reason, a plan was born to move the production of these vehicles elsewhere. Initially it was to be Western Ukraine, but the Poles came up with another proposal.

Namely, to transfer the Kharkov Factory with its crew and surviving production lines to Bumar under the guise of a Service Center for T-64 tanks. Bumar was ultimately to be left out anyway, after all T-72s and Leopards 2 were to eventually disappear from the Polish Army and thus the plant was losing its raison d'être because another, much better factory was to produce K2PL and so it was getting a chance to continue operating.

The Ukrainians, after long and hard talks, finally agreed to this solution. This way they were getting a plant that could safely produce equipment for Ukraine, as well as repair it. When they agreed to this, it came very easily that, on balance, Bumar could be put to better use and another production line of Krabs and, in the future, Borsuks could be established here. Thus relieving the burden on HSW which had all too many orders to complete them in a realistic timeframe.

Hence, immediately after the Polish-Ukrainian agreement, where the most important elements were kept strictly secret so that the Russians would not find out, money began to be pumped in to modernize and expand the plants. It is necessary to end with the relics of the old era and enter a new era.

One of the most important pieces of this whole puzzle, was the handing over by the Ukrainian side of copies of technical documentation for the production of engines for T-64 tanks, along with the production line of this most important and integral component of such a system as a tank.

Błaszczak did not know if the whole thing had already been delivered, after all, first the documentation went, then, the whole line had to be carefully and safely exported so that the Russians would not catch on that the Ukrainians were taking it out of Kharkov. After all, it's too tasty a morsel not to destroy it.

"Anyway, I don't think I need to tell you. How valuable a capability and what confidence have the Ukrainians placed in us by transporting the engine production line here?" Blaszczak added to his tirade.

"Well it's just that they are, old..." replied the engineer but the minister stopped him.

"So what if they are old! They are! They can be manufactured! Well, and above all, improve them! We got good results from such work. We got some of their armored cars that they had problems with to bring them up to scratch and we did what they asked us to do. What's the problem to cooperate and check what went wrong with their engines? After all, this is how we wanted to get around MTU's stubbornness and have a plan B for the engines for K2PL."

"Well, fact." agreed Swierkowski, although Blaszczak cut it tightly he was right.

"That's why I wish that the production line of these engines will release its first newly built unit in eight months at the latest." the minister added.

The engineer's eyes almost fell out of his eye sockets. "In eight months at the latest? Minister, that's not..."

Błaszczak interrupted him, "It's possible, I heard recently from Marshal Rydź that it took them eight months to build an entire production line of 37 millimeter Bofors anti-tank guns from scratch based on Swedish documentation. And by the time the Swedes delivered the first twenty, ours had already managed to get several hundred of these guns off the line. It's enough to want. So if our grandparents were able to do it, you will be able to do it too. You even have it easier, because the crew producing them is mostly in place, there is a whole production line. I expect that in a year the whole line will be working like a dream. Understood?"

"Yes, Minister," replied the engineer, knowing there was no other answer.

"Good," replied Błaszczak contentedly. "I'll be the one to collect, in case of problems call right away. We're up against the wall so no stupid 'can't do'. I don't feel like listening to these foolish excuses either in the Army or the armory. Clear?"

Świerkowski nodded.

"I haven't heard."

"Clear as day, Mr. Minister!"

Błaszczak smiled, patted the engineer on the right shoulder then added in a whisper in his ear

"I hope I have not already heard from you and this plant again, I forgot by accident. Otherwise, I will have to discuss it with the Chairman."

Świerkowski's shivers went through his body, the tone with which the minister uttered it sounded identical to that of a mafioso making an offer he couldn't refuse.

"I hope so too, sir." he added humbly. Blaszczak only continued to smile. Then he walked off in his own direction, straight to his office to presumably drop a bomb on Ms. Chairman Edyta Szymańska.

"Damn," muttered the engineer as soon as the minister disappeared around the corner. "I had a feeling he was going to rip my head off..." he paused with this thought for a while longer "No, he'll rip my head off if I don't manage it!" he remarked with dismay "Besides, what am I saying! The Soviets and Germans will do it too if we fuck up."

With this thought, he recognized that the period of leisure is over. It is necessary to really get to work. "Eight months" pondered Swierkowski "Well, nothing, let's do it!" he added trying to add to his desire to do it.

Meanwhile, the minister, walking to the President's office, wanting to present her with the President's will to embrace and see to this mess, pulled out his phone and called. After a while, his caller answered.

"Hello?"

"Good news Mateusz, one of the most persistent problems has solved itself. The Ukrainian tank engine line has found itself. You just need to put up a hall, embrace the research team and get to work. Something has to power our Borsuks, Twardys and so on." Blaszczak communicated without further ado.

"I understand," replied the Prime Minister, "I will take care of it, immediately. Anything else?"

"No, that's all." Błaszczak replied.

"I understand, goodbye," the PM ended the call after which he hung up.

The Prezes's man for special tasks, set out to perform another task.

 

[ATP]

So,T.64 engines for Borsuk and what tank? Pt91,PT16,or K2?
Back to Lwów - PIS would probably gave our city to UPA,just becouse.

 

[Batrix2070]

Pt91,PT16,or K2?

PT-17 II alias PT-24

 

[Batrix2070]

December 6, 1938

Republic of Czechoslovakia

Prague


Since Benesh agreed to the Polish proposal for cooperation, there was a collective relief on the Staff.

The new, longest border with Poland, became secure and the Czechoslovak army could count on some support and gained operational depth.

Mutual cooperation between the Polish and Czechoslovak staffs proceeded very quickly. Not surprisingly, despite the cool relations at the state level, Czech military officers were more far-sighted and foresighted than the country's ruling elite.

They had good relations as well as successful cooperation with Poles. Now they simply needed to deepen it with the future Poles. In turn, these were even more willing and easier to cooperate with than those of the time.

As soon as the last obstacle to real cooperation fell, contact was immediately established beginning joint operational planning for war with Germany.

During those weeks, more than a dozen working visits were made to both countries. Each of them dealt with a different important issue, although unfortunately most of them were very basic and concerned the development of appropriate cooperation procedures along the lines of those in NATO.

Only now has a discussion begun on the flaws of the Czechoslovak Armed Forces and how to remedy them quickly.

One of them was the subject of today's visit.

"Today we will deal with," began General Andrzejczak confidently, "an issue, an extremely pressing one that we should deal with first as soon as cooperation is established although for reasons known to us it had to give way to other formalities."

"Any again?" Asked the intrigued Chief of General Staff of the Czechoslovak Army Ludvik Krejci.

"I received a report a few days ago from our team of historians regarding the shortcomings of your Army, and the one that was extremely pressing according to them was the issue of Air Defense and the Air Force."

"I understand," replied the Czech. He realized that this was something that was casting a shadow over his army. Nevertheless, he wanted to find out how much, so that he could later give Syrova a solution under his nose.

"What lessons have they learned?"

Andrzejczak made an ungainly face, lacking suitably diplomatic words.

"The conclusions they drew, to put it very lightly, give us a picture of an air defense that doesn't actually exist."

Krejci looked at him in wonder. He wasn't sure if he heard correctly. "Can you repeat it?"

Andrzejczak complied with the request. The Czech assured that he had not misheard himself fell silent. He tapped his fingers on the table top before replying.

"I understand that the problem is primarily AA cannons and fighters?"

Andrzejczak clicked his tongue lightly.

"Actually, fighters are the least of the problems, well directed they can be effective. The problem lies in the cannons and, above all, in the organization of the whole system. Actually, it has to be built from scratch."

"The system?" Puzzled Krejci "What's wrong with the current one?"

"Actually everything," Andrzejczak noted, "Anti-aircraft artillery separated only territorially by which it cannot defend land units in the field. Only cities and factories, nevertheless, even their defense should be put in quotation marks. With such a variety of calibers and general backwardness in this area, it seems a breakneck task."

Krejci croaked, "I see."

"That's why you get our Bofors 40mm guns from the Borderlands units. And so we were going to withdraw them in favor of the 23-millimeter and 35-millimeter anti-aircraft guns currently being produced in Poland as part of the unification of armaments. " Andrzejczak explained.

"We will get your Bofors?" said Krejci "But probably not for free?" he added after a moment.

"Let's say that your payment to us will be to increase the operational effectiveness of your air defense." replied the Pole evasively.

"Intriguing" countered Krejci "Well, what about aviation? Airplanes are rather outdated, aren't they?"

"They may be outdated, but this shortcoming can still be mitigated. We on the slightly better P.11c but with a much better command system and in conditions of desperate defense achieved quite good results. Your air force, on the other hand, is larger than ours in 39 by somehow three times." Replied Andrzejczak, Krejci smiled at the mention of the latter.

"Nevertheless, as I said we, with a much better command system, were able to use our small potential to achieve quite good results. In your case, with all due respect, but if there had been a war between us in the 1930s, our air force would have blown yours away without much of a challenge." concluded Andrzejczak's argument, wiping away Krejci's smile.

"You must be exaggerating, it's not that bad..." objected the Czech.

"There it is, all of your numerical potential is stifled by the fact that you have dispersed your aircraft among many land units, creating them into micro-divisions at the disposal of army division commanders. This makes them disorganized and tied to these divisions and a few aircraft will not be able to repel hundreds of machines in a concentrated attack. You are not a moloch, you cannot afford such extravagance."

Krejci frowned, actually having no words against it. "Then what do you advise?"

"Do what we did, cluster the units into larger ones. Create a command for them separate from the ground forces. If you can, I would even advise creating from them a separate type of armed forces whose main task is primarily to fight enemy air forces with their own dedicated anti-aircraft defense under them. By the way, let the ground troops have their own anti-aircraft regiments. If necessary, we are ready to provide advice and assistance on how this should look like in our example."

Krejci noted in his notebook. "I see..." when he finished he asked the arch-important question "Well, but it will take some time. Well, and let's note that in the event of a war, our aviation and anti-aircraft defenses will be too weak to completely stop the German ones. What kind of support will we get from you?"

"In accordance with procedures," replied Andrzejczak, "Our aviation will seek to destroy the Luftwaffe on their airfields. Your task will be only to withstand this period, we, in the meantime, will level the German numerical superiority. If necessary, we are ready to send expeditionary units from our national air defense. Our modernization plan, although it has changed its priorities to more achievable, guarantees a formidable air defense. The strongest in the world."

The Czech nodded, then asked an important question from the perspective of air defense modernization. "Is there a possibility that you will lend us a license for your guns?"

"For the time being, we can sell you a license for the ZSU-23 cannon outright. It's a simple technology, not very sophisticated. In the case of the 35-millimeter cannon, we first have to develop a heavily technologically impoverished version of it before we can offer its license. And our biggest ace up our sleeve, by virtue of its complexity, is rather exclusively purchasable in any quantity for you. In fact, I recommend that you first set aside the funds for it."

"What's an ace?" quipped Krejci

Andrzejczak called out to his adjutant, and after a long moment he gave Krejci a bunch of really high quality and color photos as the Czech noted. All of them showed, from various ones, some kind of long pipe with a box attached to the front and a not much shorter shell with GROM-M written on it.

"What exactly am I looking at?" asked Krejci, intrigued by the equipment.

"For the Piorun portable anti-aircraft missile set and the missile for it with the name shown in the photo of the mock-up." Andrzejczak explained.

Krejci raised his eyebrows upon hearing the name, it seemed to him an odd fit for a weapon. "I understand that it's an anti-aircraft equipment which, because of its size, can be used by one man. Am I mistaken?"

"No, you're right." replied the amused Pole seeing the Czech's default. "Nevertheless, this is not the only advantage of this weapon."

"What's the biggest one, then?" asked the Czech, increasingly intrigued by the armament.

"This launcher, launches a single missile that guides itself to the target. All the equipment is already battle-tested, and has proven to be a very effective tool for shooting down anything. The Russians had problems to counter this weapon effectively, but these days, it's impossible for it to fail to shoot down a target at a ceiling of up to 4 km."

Hearing the latter, the Czech got a sudden enlightenment. This simple weapon, can, with the proper saturation of the army, completely invulnerable to enemy aviation! One company in a division armed with Lightning can give the defensive strength of an entire anti-aircraft artillery regiment. And given that this device can carry one man means that each infantry team can carry one launcher.

Unfortunately, he had a suspicion that it wouldn't be cheap, especially since Andrzejczak said it was a complicated armament. So Bolt's plans for the team had to be forgotten.

"I understand, this will really change the rules of the game." replied the Czech, while wondering if it is possible to hook up Lightning as an armament to aircraft. "I will try to convince Syrove to purchase this armament, nevertheless I must remain insistent and ask. Do you have a more mobile version?"

"Yes," replied Andrzejczak, presenting a new package of photos. This time they showed trucks that had turrets with four launchers. Krejci liked the idea better, although on average he liked the idea of introducing a new vehicle to the armed forces, he wondered about the possibility of putting the launchers on already Czech chassis.

"Intriguing," concluded the Czech, "What do you call it?"

"Poprad," Andrzejczak replied, surprising Krejci.

"How is our city in Slovakia?" he asked curiously.

"Like a river with the same name. Our current anti-aircraft programs are named after rivers." Andrzejczak explained.

Krejci liked the concept. "Poprad, I think the name here can help a lot when trying to convince people to buy them," he said. In his head he was already thinking about how to organize these Poprads into divisions. He decided that each must have at least a company of such for itself. They could become an effective axis of any anti-aircraft defense.

Andrzejczak had already seen that the Czech Chief of Staff had been convinced to buy Polish equipment. He smiled slightly, it will make coordination between them easier and the Czechs will be able to get acquainted with modern armaments.

"Let me present, our organizational chart for the Pioruns and Poprads. I think it will be a good starting point for the Czechoslovak army."

The Czech snapped out of his thoughts and gave a wordless sign that he agreed. Without hesitation, Andrzejczak, using a projector and laptop, began a lecture. A lecture to which Krejci listened with interest. As he did so, he jotted down the more important elements in his notebook. He will have a lot to discuss with the artillery officers and, above all, with Syrovy, the Minister of Defense of Czechoslovakia.

 

[Orangeduke38]

It will be interesting to see what equipment intended for Ukraine was brought along in Poland. I imagine that a lot of military and humanitarian aid, overt and covert, is being shipped in from Poland. Heavy equipment in need of a refurb from the battlefield would go into Poland first.

 

[ATP]

Their main problem was method of making new units - in Poland we first created companies,then battalions,then regiments,and only after that we have new dyvision.
Czech,on other hand,started from dyvision HQ.
As a result,from 4 light dyvision/mix of motorized infrantry,calvary and tanks/ only one was fully operational in 1938.

But AA sucked,too
And AT.they have good AT guns,but just like we in 1939,do not used it properly.

It will be interesting to see what equipment intended for Ukraine was brought along in Poland. I imagine that a lot of military and humanitarian aid, overt and covert, is being shipped in from Poland. Heavy equipment in need of a refurb from the battlefield would go into Poland first.

You are right.Author could gave Poland at least 20 modern tanks that way,not counting other weapons.