January 14, 1939
Third Republic of Poland
Warsaw
It was already a dark night, with just under an hour and a half until midnight. The area was deserted, despite the fact that the headquarters of the General Command of the Armed Forces was located near the intersection of one of the city's major thoroughfares.
No wonder, this year's winter surprised everyone with its severity. It had been many years since such a winter, and only the elderly remembered an early winter and the amount of snowfall it could bring. Add to that the unprecedented cold, and everyone preferred to stay at home rather than wander around.
The General Command itself was housed in an inconspicuous building that, if not for the fact that it was fenced off with a military zone warning, many would mistake for a modern residential block.
The building itself was covered in snow, but there were windows betraying the presence of someone in their office. One of those working after hours was Lieutenant General Wiesław Kukuła, the Chief of the General Staff.
He didn't have much left to do, but it didn't mean it was an easy task. He had to make the final adjustments to the next amendment of the Technical Modernization Plan of the Armed Forces for the years 2021-2035/1937-1951.
And there were plenty of changes to be made. In fact, more than half of the things planned to be implemented in the Polish military had to be removed from the plan because there was no way to obtain them, and something else had to be put in their place.
For example, the only M1A2 Abrams tanks Poland had were the Sepv2 and FEB variants, with a total of an astounding 84 tanks. Due to obvious reasons, the only thing they could realistically provide was maintenance for these vehicles, although it would be problematic. However, the specialists from WZM in Poznań were optimistic.
The same went for the K2 tanks, although it was much worse. Only 28 vehicles made it to Poland. Which basically meant that the only sensible fate for them was to be put in reserve and have Obrum engineers take a look at them.
So what was the idea to deal with the fact that they were stuck in a transitional phase? Well, it was decided to give Bumar a chance with their PT-17, as they didn't really have any other choice. Kukuła wanted to laugh; the tankers thought they would finally switch to better equipment, but now they had to go back to another version of the T-72.
The Leopard 2 tank crews were in the best position. There was already a service in place for them that went beyond the normal scope, as the mechanics had to handcraft spare parts for the Leo2. Well, the Germans didn't make them, and there were shortages in the Bundeswehr's warehouses after a period of massive selling. Nonetheless, their fate remained the same as that of the other foreign tanks, which meant being put in reserve and becoming objects of research for engineers.
One can complain, which many Poles, more or less involved in military matters, do in accordance with the old Polish tradition of complaining about everything and saying that things are worse than they really are, but it won't change anything. You have to roll up your sleeves and do your job.
Another noteworthy change was placing a huge order for additional Rosomak armored personnel carriers for the military. It was recognized that there was a need to hurry, and the requirements were already enormous. The Rosomak, alongside the Borsuk, would be the main combat vehicle, and Rosomak SA, the manufacturer of these vehicles, already had two production lines compared to the two planned by HSW and Bumar. So, Rosomak SA would fulfill their order faster.
Nonetheless, a proper logistical division is planned, primarily intending to introduce division categories to facilitate logistics and division modernization. There were supposed to be three categories: A, B, and C.
All in all, categories A and B won't differ that much. Both will be relatively modern, but the A category divisions, which include all existing Polish Army divisions, plus the 1st Legion Division and the newly formed 5th Kresowa Armored Cavalry Division, will be equipped with the most advanced equipment of the Polish Army, mainly the Borsuk complemented by Rosomak and PT-17 complemented by Leo2. They will constitute the backbone of the Polish Army and its main force. In short, they are mechanized and armored divisions.
The remaining Kresowa divisions will fall into category B, receiving older Rosomak vehicles and newly produced ones, T-72 and PT-91, and other less modern equipment. Partial motorization is already being implemented, with their rear, technical, and logistical units transitioning to a NATO-style to facilitate further modernization. This means that B-type units will be motorized units.
The last category, C, essentially consists of infantry divisions in the style of World War II, but with motorization using trucks and armored cars like the AMZ Żubr from AMZ Kutno. Currently, all Kresowa units belong to this category, but ultimately, category C is intended for mobilized troops and volunteers from other countries.
These categories do not include elite soldiers like paratroopers or their former subordinates, namely the militia in the style of light infantry known as WOT.
Speaking of the latter, three WOT brigades per voivodeship were planned to be established in each Kresowa province. It was the personal contribution of the Marshal, supported by the opinions of veterans of the war against the Bolsheviks. They proposed having at least three brigades per district.
They claimed that there would be no shortage of volunteers among the Kresowiaks, and the Bolsheviks would be numerous, too numerous for one brigade, even with support from their counterparts in the central provinces, to hold them back for long.
Moreover, Kukuła discussed this with Marshal Rydz, seeking to draw from his considerable experience with the Red Army. Surprisingly, the Marshal was a very reasonable officer, flexible, cunning, and understanding of the battlefield, although he had his flaws, such as frequently keeping important information secret. Nonetheless, during war games and training, he proved to be remarkably adaptable to new possibilities.
Kukuła could see how effective Rydz's favorite maneuver, maneuvering along internal lines from a central position, which was one of the most difficult operational maneuvers for a military commander to achieve, truly was.
Over the course of several games, his skills were tested, and the result was that he was actually a better commander than most of the contemporary Polish generals, including Andrzejczak himself.
Of course, one of the most frequently played scenarios was the 1939 defensive war, which Rydz was somewhat obsessed with. He absorbed everything related to that fateful campaign, wanting to know where he made a mistake in the normal course of history. He was so engrossed in it that he specifically learned how to use a computer and surf the internet to find out more. From what Kukuła remembered, Rydz engaged in online debates or heated discussions on various historical forums a few times. He particularly complained about someone named Buba and a completely deranged ATP.
Of course, the special version of the 1939 scenario was played several times, where Germany was weaker than it was believed before the war, and when Poland was stronger as it should have been according to the armed forces.
The result? It turned out that he was capable, with such a ratio of forces, of sustained defense. This indicated that the problem primarily lay in equipment shortages, which was actually quite obvious. The potential of Poland and the potential of Germany, the second-largest economy in the world, were too disparate to be neutralized by better command. Although the Germans were not bad at command, so ultimately, the potential and its neutralization in Poland were the main cause of defeat.
Of course, Kukuła, like many high-ranking Polish officers, was well aware of why they lost. Nevertheless, explaining it to the Poles is extremely difficult, although a certain historian is slowly doing so, previously on YouTube and now on Swipeto.
Nonetheless, moving away from the Marshal towards the Plan, his advice and that of other veterans allowed for an understanding of certain details that are often overlooked in historical studies.
These were very helpful in determining the priorities in the modernization of the Second Polish Republic's armed forces. Logistics, communication, and the air force were given priority. This was based on the cost-effectiveness ratio, where with much lower saturation, they could multiply the existing potential.
A good example was the use of MAN TGE vans as a replacement for the Fiat trucks used by the Second Polish Republic. Although they are now called STAR TGE, as the former MAN factories in Poland, including the one in Starachowice, were taken over by Autobox Innovations, which already had documentation for all the former trucks of that brand. This allowed them to easily modernize the trucks used by the Polish Armed Forces. Now their potential has multiplied, and they can start producing trucks and vans as competitors to the currently preferred Jelcz.
This was also due to the fact that Jelcz's physical production capabilities were low, and the Polish Army needed new trucks immediately. Assisting the company that already had all the documentation for the older type of Polish Army trucks, as they had been modernizing them to modern standards, by taking over the MAN factories and starting production of the old/new Stars and placing a large order for STAR TGE, was simply an obvious step dictated by circumstances.
Of course, JELCZ was not sitting idle. Its production capabilities had been significantly expanded for over a year, but the expansion was expected to be completed around 2025 or 1940, if you prefer.
Here, the decision was made to use this idea to extend the service life of these machines, unify them with what Poland currently produces, and obtain a not-so-small number of modernized machines at a low cost. At the same time, the currently trained personnel can continue to operate them.
The scope of modifications includes replacing the Bristol engine with the ASz-62IR-16 engine, which, according to calculations, should give the old aircraft almost 500 km/h, an increase in speed of nearly two hundred kilometers per hour. The four 7.92mm wz.33 machine guns will be replaced with eight WKM-B 12.7mm machine guns to significantly increase firepower.
The entire onboard equipment of the P.11 cockpit will be modernized, introducing a friend-foe system and making modifications to allow the attachment of the Piorun air-to-air missile under the aircraft's wings. Many other electronic-related modifications will bring them closer to contemporary aircraft.
And most importantly, the worn-out components of the airframe will be replaced. According to reports from mechanics, all the aircraft already show visible signs of wear on the wings and fuselage.
Of course, the PZL P.11c was not the only aircraft undergoing similar modernization programs, but it was the only actual combat aircraft that underwent such extensive modifications. The old P.7s owned by the two squadrons from the Eastern Borderlands were simply to be retired and transferred to the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow.
Ultimately, the P.11h Kobuz II was intended to serve as a second-line aircraft, one that, due to its reliance on an old and fuel-efficient, as well as less demanding engine, could continuously perform air surveillance missions, thus relieving the MiG-29 and F-16, which are now designated for deep and precision strike tasks.
In fact, even the unmodernized P.11c aircraft currently serve this role, flying wherever Poland needs aircraft to deter airborne threats that cannot be neutralized from the ground.
Another somewhat surprising program for military analysts is the makeshift adaptation of the agricultural aircraft PZL-106 Kruk for battlefield support purposes.
A less prioritized matter is, of course, the replacement of the infantry divisions' weaponry in the Second Polish Republic with the currently used equipment. The 1st Infantry Division of the Legions received priority and is already training with the new equipment.
As for the old weaponry, since present-day Poland does not use the Mauser caliber, i.e., 7.92x57mm, it is simply sold by the Military Property Agency to anyone interested. Some buyers are private individuals in Poland seeking to obtain old/new equipment from the Second Polish Republic for collector's purposes, while others are purchasing it for the warring factions in Spain. There were even a few who bought ex-Polish military equipment for the Chinese National Revolutionary Army fighting against Japan.
Regardless of the reasons, Polish weapons have traveled to the four corners of the world, and new weapons from ZM Tarnów and FB Radom have arrived to replace the sold specimens.
Another important aspect was, of course, the replacement of uniforms and equipment. New jackets, boots, helmets, and bulletproof vests had to be purchased. This matter was less promising, as various unpleasant incidents occurred regarding the orders. The Armament Agency had their hands full ensuring that the new equipment aligned with the new intentions, rather than being influenced by old habits, ordering subpar items, and complete indifference to the fact that there are better models available.
The last less prioritized issue before addressing those that can be implemented at a normal pace was the matter of the navy.
Overall, the sailors quickly reached a consensus on what they needed immediately. So, the Miecznik program, in its new version of an artillery ship with missile support, returns to the spotlight, with anyone who takes a look noticing a significant change in tone.
Firstly, the number of Mieczniks will be increased from three to nineteen, and secondly, the schedule will be substantially accelerated, with the first ship expected to be ready in a year instead of the original five-year timeline.
For armament, 155mm cannons identical to those on the AHS Krab were chosen. For practical reasons, they will initially be manually loaded, but Pit-Radwar is already working on a version with automatic loading. Although space was left for possible future installation of originally planned missile launchers, they were not included for now.
Apart from these changes, the rest remains as it was, which essentially means that we are still talking about a frigate with the displacement of a cruiser from World War II.
Another priority is the Kormoran III program, which is an advanced version of Kormoran II adapted for anti-submarine warfare. The Navy aims to have over nine of these ships for its needs.
The next program is called Hołd, which hides the need to convert one of the transports that found itself in Polish territorial waters during the September 17th events into a helicopter carrier.
The penultimate noteworthy program is Huragan, which is as new as the Hołd program. Under this name, there is a plan to develop and build a series of destroyer-class ships in Polish shipyards. Ultimately, there were supposed to be twenty-three of them, serving as typical workhorses without any frills.
The last program was named Waza, and it involved acquiring battleships from abroad. The goal was simple: Poland needed a large hull with a large caliber. Thanks to modern technology, it would be able to make this ship much more formidable than its counterparts. Polish diplomats were already engaged in intense discussions with the Chilean government to acquire their battleship. Given that KGHM currently owned a copper mine in Chile, an offer was made for the company's investment in the mining industry in Chile and development aid to increase productivity.
This was actually Poland's first significant step in the Americas, and the United States closely watched these actions. This, of course, triggered a reaction from the Naval Inspectorate, which insisted on accelerating the pace and increasing funding for new ships. For now, Poland would not be able to realistically deter the Americans from any actions at sea.
The next programs were already being implemented at a normal pace, although it doesn't mean they were any less important. They consisted of programs such as:
Pirat Program - a program for Polish anti-tank missiles. Currently, production and the implementation phase for the military, along with launchers, are underway. The first launchers with weapons are being delivered to the Bofors 37mm anti-tank gun battalions in the eastern part of the country.
Orka Program - a program for submarines. ORP Orzeł I is currently undergoing modernization at the Navy Shipyard, while ORP Sęp I is expected to arrive soon. Meanwhile, production of additional ships of this class was set to begin at the "Wulkan" Shipyard in Szczecin. The goal was to have a total of twenty-three units, including those already built.
Wilk Program - a tank program for the Polish Army. OBRUM, together with Bumar, was set to present the new PT-24 tank. It was designed to be modern yet relatively simple in construction.
Jastrząb Program - a World War II-style plane program. It is planned to be equipped with eight WKM-B 12.7mm machine guns, capable of reaching a speed of 700 km/h, carrying up to 500 kg of ordnance, and being affordable and simple enough to be an export machine.
Kania Program - a Polish jet aircraft program. It is expected to achieve at least Mach 1, be armed with a multi-barrel version of the WKM-B, and serve as a multi-role aircraft.
When Kukuła placed the final period and finished, it was already past midnight. He stretched in his chair and looked at his watch. Seeing the late hour, he let out a deep yawn; once again, his work had extended. "Nihil novi" for many months, it was rather the new normal.
Unfortunately, there were no signs of change in this regard. Germany, although greatly subdued, still posed a certain threat. The entire western border had turned into a militarized zone.
The Munich affair and the events that followed had severely damaged their reputation. No one wanted to talk to Hitler, a man capable of breaking agreements, not even Mussolini, who distanced himself from the would-be ally. As a result of these events, Germany began to fortify its border with its own military. This included the border with Poland, where reports indicated the presence of an entire army group.
The southern border was secure. The Czechs, reassured by the fact that Germany would do nothing, focused on modernizing their military and pacifying the Sudeten Germans.
The eastern border remained a silent zone of border warfare, although the scale of diversions had decreased since the unification. The Soviets continued to test Polish defenses. Klisz, who currently commanded the WOT, reported to him and privately mentioned that, while they could find many faults with them, they certainly lacked no enthusiasm for combat.
The northern land border was secured. Lithuania had been pacified once again after attempting to do their own thing. Latvia had always been a friendly country and, like Romania and Czechoslovakia, leaned towards Poland, purchasing weapons from Poland and modernizing according to Polish standards. Only Königsberg posed a small problem as Germany tried to turn the entire region into one massive fortress. Unfortunately, deteriorating supplies in the region were causing unrest among the local population. Of course, the Intelligence Agency was helping to fuel the fire, attempting to provoke the Prussians in various ways.
The maritime sector was not problematic, although it was a fact that they had a really small fighting force—only two old frigates, two corvettes, and mine destroyers. However, the Maritime Rocket Unit and the air forces changed everything. Their Su-22s were a perfect threat to the Kriegsmarine.
In the event of war, Königsberg would be cut off from the rest of the country, and the Baltic Sea would become hostile to the Germans. In fact, in the event of war, the Su-22s were supposed to pay a visit to the Kriegsmarine base in Kiel.
Therefore, it was relatively safe, albeit nerve-wracking for Kukuła, who had to keep his finger on the pulse at every flashpoint. Such was the fate of the Chief of General Staff. Fortunately, in case of the worst-case scenario, Piotrowski would take care of it as the Chief of Operations.
With that in mind, he recorded all the amendments, prepared them to be sent by email to Andrzejczak, and once it was done, he shut down the computer and went to get a few hours of sleep before the next shift.
He would need it tomorrow.
