Edward

73 years in September the invasion of Poland started WWII. The opposing armies were equipment according to the capacity of their industrial sectors as well as their military doctrines.

What was a difference between qualities of weapon of these two opposite forces?


As a starter we could compare Polish vs German individual infantry weapon


Poland

• The rifle, antitank rifles, submachine guns and automatic rifles.

Kbk wz. 1929 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Polish Carbine wz.29 was a bolt-action rifle, with typical Mauser-action lock, with two large main lugs at the bolt head and a third safety lug at the rear of the it. Ammunition was supplied from a fixed, two-row box magazine holding five rounds. A three-position safety catch was attached at the rear of the bolt, securing firing pin. The sights consisted of an open post type front sight, and a tangent-type rear sight with a V-shaped rear notch; the rear sight was rear tangent sight was graduated 100 to 2000 meters at 100 meters intervals. The weapon was equipped with a knife-type bayonet wz.29.
Abaut 250,000 of them was issued in 1939. The remaining rifles were of the Model 98 with longer barrel than model wz.29.

Submachine guns and automatic rifles



Polish submachine gun Mors and automatic rifle wz. 38M
These weapons were only at the beginning of production and only limited number was issued in September 1939.

Mors submachine gun - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mors_submachine_gun

Kbsp wz. 1938M - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Antitank rifle

Wz. 35 anti-tank rifle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Very efficient against German light tank Panzer II, moderately successful against Panzer III. Frontal Amour of Panzer IV could be only penetrated from close range however side plates could be penetrated more easily. They accounted for many damaged German tanks but due to possession of battlefield by German Army, many of this tanks were repaired and used again in 1940 in France.

In 1939 It was the best weapon of this kindin the wordbut with rapid development of tanks it become obsolete by 1941. German did not have equivalent weapon in their armory.


Germany
Karabiner 98k



Mauser Karabiner 98k

Karabiner 98k - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Karabiner_98k

“The Karabiner 98k "Mauser" (often abbreviated "K98k" or "Kar98k"), adopted in the mid- 1930s, became the most common infantry rifle in service in the German Army during World War II. The design was developed from the Karabiner 98b, one of the carbines developed from the Model 1898. The K98k was first adopted by the Wehrmacht in 1935 as their standard issue rifle, with many older versions being converted and shortened.”


Submachine gun





This submachine gun was used during Polish campaign in very limited numbers.




In 1939, polish infantryman was arguably, equipped in better weapon than his German counterpart. German was behind (mainly due to Hitler preferences) in development of antitank rifles and semiautomatic rifles. In other weaponry, the advantage was usually reversed.

Nemowork

The Germans were fielding the Panzerbusche 39 in 7.92mm calibre, roughly approximate to the Polish version but had started to abandon using them in favour of heavier calibre weapons.

Panzerbüchse 39 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mosquito

Polish medium bomber PZL 37 Łoś







PZL.37

M.E.T.H.O.D.

The Polish forces fielded the 7TP tank,a very reliable and efficient light tank,superior to its German counterparts(by 1939 standards)

The Polish had limited or absent tank doctrine and motorized theory, therefore the 7TP available were pretty much wasted on supporting larger infantry units(infantry divisions) rather than forming ad-hoc armored formations(the only unit of this type was the "Black Brigate" commanded by Colonel Maczek)

Nemowork

As a piece of trivia, captured 7tps were used by the Germans for internal security duties, the engine and running gear were adequate, the armour was seriously lacking but it had a quite good main gun for the early war years so it was useful for fighting partisans while the good stuff was sent off to the eastern front.
Its last noted combat deployment was against the allied forces at Anzio when German rear line units tried to seal off the beachhead.

Edward

only very small number of this antitank rifles were used in Poland. The Panzerbüchse 39 wos inferior to Polish antitank rifle.
Germans used Polish AT rifle during invasion of belgium, notablt by para troops at Eban Emael

Edward

Actually, there were two brigades describet as armour motorised brigades.

Edward

It was an excellent tank for its time. it was equiped with world first true
tank periscope, called Gundlach periscope. The gun was excellend for its calibr. It could penetrate armur of all German tanks at that time. But there wa only about 170 of them available in September 1939



Gundlach periscope.Vickers Tank Periscope MK.IV - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edward

Machine guns
Poland;
Light Machine Gun used as a squad automatic weapon.It was a good, reliable LMG. Aproximatly 25000 of them were available in September 1939. 20 round magazine was a serious limitation preventing sustained automatic fire for longer period.




Browning wz.1928 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Basic heavy machine guns of Polish infantry was CKM wz1930



CKM wz30 used as AA machinegun



Infantry transport method of CKM wz30

Edward

German Army enojed notable adventage in machine Gun category.
Their MG were capable of delivering higher rate of fire than Polis MG.