Polity General Gouvernement (German Military Occupation)

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Was a German zone of occupation established after the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany that included the territories of Poland that were not inglobated into Germany.

Establishment

  • October 1939: With two decresse on 8 and 12 October 1939, Adolf Hitler re-organized the occupied territories in Poland. The part of Poland not annexed directly to the German Reich became the General Gouvernement under civilian administration.

Chronology

Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation

1. World War II

Was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945 (it started sooner in certain regions) between the Axis Powers (mainly Germany, Japan and Italy) and the Allies (mainly the Soviet Union, the U.S.A., the U.K., China and France). It was the war with more fatalities in history. The war in Asia began when Japan invaded China on July 7, 1937. The war in Europe began when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. The war ended with the complete defeat of the Axis powers, which were occupied by the Allies.

1.1. World War II (Eastern Theatre)

Was the Eastern European theatre of World War II.

  • April 1944: Frontline of the eastern front of World War II in that date.
  • December 1944: Territorial changes based on the known frontline of the eastern front of World War II in that date.
  • January 1945: Frontline of the Soviet offensive to the Oder in that date.
  • January 1945: Frontline of the Soviet offensive to the Oder in that date.

1.1.1. German administration of eastern teritories during World War II

Refers to administrative acts of Germany on the organization of militarly occupied territories in eastern Europe during World War II.

  • October 1939: With two decresse on 8 and 12 October 1939, Adolf Hitler re-organized the occupied territories in Poland. The part of Poland not annexed directly to the German Reich became the General Gouvernement under civilian administration.
  • July 1941: East Galicia was added to the General Gouvernement.

1.1.2. Dnieper-Carpathian Offensive

Was a Soviet strategic offensive whose goal was to clear the German-Romanian-Hungarian forces from most of the Ukrainian and Moldavian territories.

  • March 1944: On March 23, Czortków was liberated by the Soviet Red Army.

1.1.3. Operation Bagration

Was the Soviet offensive against German-occupied Belarus during World War II.

1.1.3.1. Šiauliai Offensive

Was an operation of the Soviet forces of the 1st Baltic Front, commanded by General Hovhannes Bagramyan, conducted from 5 July to 29 August 1944. It drove German troops from much of Lithuania, with the main tactical objective being the city of Šiauliai.

  • August 1944: Soviet troops liberated the cities of Jelgava and Kaunas.
  • August 1944: Soviet advances during Operation Bagraton and Šiauliai Offensive.

1.1.3.2. Lublin-Brest Offensive

Strategic offensive by the Soviet Red Army to clear the Nazi German forces from the regions of Eastern Poland and Western Belarus.

  • July 1944: Soviet troops of First White Russian Front overrun Lublin.
  • August 1944: By 2 August, the 1st Belorussian Front’s left wing armies seized bridgeheads over the Vistula at Magnuszew (Chuikov's 47th Army) and Puławy.

1.1.4. Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive

Was a major Red Army operation to force the German troops out from Ukraine and Eastern Poland.

  • July 1944: The Soviet Mobile Group advanced quickly, under cover of air support, and over the next three days managed to capture the town of Kamionka Strumilowa.
  • July 1944: Columns of First Ukrainian Front take Lwow
  • August 1944: Soviet commander Pavel Rybalko is able to expand the Soviet controlled area in the Lvov-Sandomierz region by a depth of 120 kilometers, capturing the city of Sandomierz.

1.1.5. Battle of Romania

The Soviet Operations to drive out the Axis powers from Romania during World War II.

  • September 1944: By 24 September 1944, nearly all of Romania was under Allied control.

1.1.6. Vistula-Oder Offensive

Was a Soviet offensive were German-held territories of Kraków, Warsaw and Poznań were conquered.

  • January 1945: The Soviet 69th Army ruptured the last lines of defence and took Radom.
  • January 1945: The Soviet First Ukrainian Front takes Kielce.
  • January 1945: First White Russian Front overruns Warsaw, capital of Poland.
  • January 1945: First White Russian Front takes Łódź.
  • January 1945: First Ukrainian Front seizes and Cracow.
  • January 1945: The Red Army reached Katowice.

Disestablishment

  • January 1945: Frontline of the Soviet offensive to the Oder in that date.
  • January 1945: The Soviet 69th Army ruptured the last lines of defence and took Radom.
  • January 1945: The Soviet First Ukrainian Front takes Kielce.
  • January 1945: First White Russian Front overruns Warsaw, capital of Poland.
  • January 1945: First Ukrainian Front seizes and Cracow.
  • January 1945: First White Russian Front takes Łódź.
  • January 1945: The Red Army reached Katowice.

Selected Sources

  • Ian Kershaw (trad. de l'anglais), La Fin : Allemagne, 1944-1945, Paris, Seuil, 2012, p.137
  • Kennedy, R.M. (1956): The German Campaign in Poland, 1939, Department of the Army, p. 127
  • Operation Bagration, 22 June-19 August 1944. United States Military Academy of West Point. Retrieved on 6 April 2024 on https://s3.amazonaws.com/usma-media/inline-images/academics/academic_departments/history/WWII%20Europe%20Med/WWIIEurope30.jpg
  • Russian Balkan And Baltic Campaigns, 19 August-31 December 1944. United States Military Academy West Point. Retrieved on March, 26th, 2024 on https://s3.amazonaws.com/usma-media/inline-images/academics/academic_departments/history/WWII%20Europe%20Med/WWIIEurope31.jpg
  • Russian Leningrad And Ukraine Offensives, 2 December 1943-30 April 1944. United States Military Academy West Point. Retrieved on March, 26th, 2024 on https://s3.amazonaws.com/usma-media/inline-images/academics/academic_departments/history/WWII%20Europe%20Med/WWIIEurope29.jpg
  • Soviet Offensive To The Oder, 12 January-30 March. United States Military Academy West Point. Retrieved on March, 26th, 2024 on https://s3.amazonaws.com/usma-media/inline-images/academics/academic_departments/history/WWII%20Europe%20Med/WWIIEurope32.jpg
  • Williams, M.H. (1989): United States army in World War II - Special Studies - Chronology 1941-1945, p. 235
  • Williams, M.H. (1989): United States army in World War II - Special Studies - Chronology 1941-1945, p. 237
  • Williams, M.H. (1989): United States army in World War II - Special Studies - Chronology 1941-1945, p.375
  • Williams, M.H. (1989): United States army in World War II - Special Studies - Chronology 1941-1945, p.377
  • Williams, M.H. (1989): United States army in World War II - Special Studies - Chronology 1941-1945, p.378
  • Вся Москва-Информ (1995): День победы: справочник посвящается ветеранам великой отечественной войны, p.45