Description:

GEN. FRANZ HALDER'S MAP OF THE GERMAN OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR THE INVASION OF POLAND
An extraordinary hand-drawn map overlay, 10.75 x 15.5 in, originating from from the personal files of German General FRANZ HALDER (1884-1972), Chief of Staff of the German ‘Oberkommando des Heeres' (OKH), or Army High Command, from 1938 until his removal in 1942. The map, executed entirely in black ink and titled ‘DEUTSCHER OPERATIONSPLAN GEGEN POLEN (German Operational Plan Against Poland)', provides a 1:300,000-scale depiction of the final German operational scheme before the launch of ‘Fall Weiss' (Case White) on 1 September 1939, the invasion that triggered the Second World War. It provides a view of the entirety of Poland, with German troop deployments depicted as solid, thick black bars, with Polish forces shown by open bars, all identified by a legend at lower right. German army formations are identified by name: ‘Heeresgruppe Nord' (Army Group North), operating from East Prussia and Pomerania, including 3rd and 4th Armies; Heeresgruppe Süd (Army Group South), attacking from Silesia and Slovakia, including 8th, 10th, and 14th Armies, etc. Arrows indicate primary axes of advance converging toward Warsaw, Krakow and other key objectives. The map shows the pincer movement strategy that defined the German plan: From the north, Army Group North would strike south from East Prussia and west of the Vistula, aiming for Warsaw; from the south, Army Group South would drive north from Silesia and Slovakia, also targeting Warsaw while cutting off Polish forces in the west. This operational envelopment was designed to encircle the bulk of the Polish Army west of the Vistula River and capture the capital rapidly. The rapid movement lines and deep thrusts indicate the embryonic form of the Blitzkrieg doctrine of high-speed, coordinated advances by mechanized and motorized units to disrupt enemy defenses and command structures. The inclusion of Slovak territory as a staging ground shows the role of Germany's allies even in this first campaign. A pencil notation at top left, reading ‘K. T. B. G. O. Halder Band I', indicates that the map was prepared to accompany Halder's ‘Kriegestagebuch', or war diary, a version of which is offered elsewhere in this sale. An indistinct set of initials, likely those of a cartographer, appear in pencil at the bottom right corner. Shows a horizontal fold at center, with small splits thereto at the edges, and with additional small folds to the corners, otherwise in very good to fine overall condition.

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April 21, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000