Bidspirit auction | Issue of the French newspaper

Issue of the French newspaper LE MIROIR – a dramatic documentation – Poland’s struggle against the Nazi German assault following its invasion at the outbreak of World War II - Issue of the French newspaper LE MIROIR, dated September 19, 1939, documenting the determined struggle of the Poles against the German invasion of Poland at the outbreak of World War II. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and occupied it within roughly five weeks of fierce yet hopeless resistance by the Polish forces. The issue reports on the initial battles fought by the Poles against the Germans and the German advance toward Warsaw. One press statement released on September 9 by the Polish General Staff reads: “Warsaw continues its defensive preparations with the help of the entire population, despite several aerial bombings, which caused new civilian casualties. Trenches have been dug in a radius of several kilometers west of the capital’s suburbs.” Another statement by the Polish General Staff, dated September 10, is reported as follows: “The German air force continued its bombing operations throughout the day… the enemy was pushed back west of the Vistula... the enemy’s air force remained highly active, bombing soldiers, communication lines, cities, and civilian populations on the roads.” Simultaneously, the issue reports on heroic battles waged by the Polish army, conveying the message that the Germans would not succeed in capturing Warsaw: “In the Suwałki region, the situation remains unchanged. At Narva and in the Łomża area as well as along the Bug River, our units fought with great determination against an enemy deploying considerable motorized and armored forces. In front of Modlin, the situation remains unchanged. On the outskirts of Warsaw, the heroic defenders of the capital repelled enemy attacks. In the Kutno area, divisions marching eastward encountered heavy fighting; along the San River, the battle continues…”. On September 12, the following report was received: “The British ambassador in Warsaw announces that Mrs. Shelley, the wife of the passport officer at the embassy, was killed during an air raid. The rest of the British embassy staff is safe, and the embassy has left Warsaw.” The main article is accompanied by a panoramic aerial photograph of Warsaw. At this stage, it is evident from the various reports that no one believed Nazi Germany would conquer Poland so quickly. In the remaining pages of the issue, there is an extensive overview of the British Royal Navy—its warships organized for the fight against Nazi Germany—as well as coverage of the French air force and Britain’s preparations for war. 14 pp. Complete issue. Good condition.