The VIII AK through Upper Silesia 1939.

German unit histories, lineages, OoBs, ToEs, commanders, fieldpost numbers, organization, etc.

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Domen123
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Re: The VIII AK through Upper Silesia 1939.

Post by Domen123 »

Hello Raul!,
The AA 8 and the Marschgruppe A both advanced without problems but the Marschgruppe B hit against strong resistance (I./75 pp - Maj Mazewski; Company ON Rybnik - Maj Kwiatkowski and 5. Batería of the II. /23 pal - kpt Stranz) in Rybnik; after hard fighting, the Polish forces were destroyed there.
Maj. Kwiatkowski was the commander of battalion ON "Rybnik" (III./202 pp).

Commander of company ON "Rybnik" (which was part of that battalion) was Kpt. Jan Kwaśniewski.

Rybnik was captured largely thanks to betrayal of Walter Wollny - agent of German Abwehr in the Polish army:

http://www.dws.org.pl/viewtopic.php?f=5 ... &sk=t&sd=a

http://www.dws.org.pl/viewtopic.php?f=5 ... a&start=25

Kurt Unger, commander of German sabotage organisation "Kampf-Organisation Rybnik-Pless" wrote:
Als Beispiel für die Unterhohlung der polnischen Wehrmacht führen wir noch an, dass Reserveoffizier Walter Wollny aus Rybnik als Führer einer ganzen Kompanie mit 3 MG, 3 Munitionwagen und seiner Kompanie sich gegen den polnischen Feind wandte und sich dann dem Deutschen Militär stellte. Zu unsere grossen Freude war es uns vergönnt mit den deutschen Truppen mit einzumarschieren.
Article about the capture of Rybnik:

http://www.nowiny.pl/artykul.php?a=show_art&ida=42522
(...) Historycy wiedzą, kto zdradził. – Walter Wollny, rodowity rybniczanin, syn młynarza, absolwent prawa na UJ. W sierpniu 1939 został powołany jako porucznik i CKM-ista do Batalionu Obrony Narodowej. W dniu wybuchu wojny przeszedł z całym batalionem na stronę niemiecką. To właśnie ci ludzie stali przy tym wiadukcie, a więc najprawdopodobniej to oni wystrzelali polskich saperów – zdradza wyniki swoich badań doktor Grzegorz Bębnik.
(...) Historians know, who betrayed. - Walter Wollny, inhabitant of Rybnik, son of a miller, graduate of law on Jagiellonian University. In August of 1939 he was called to service as Lieutenant and HMG-unner to the Battalion of National Defence. On the first day of war he went with his entire battalion [mistake - company or platoon, it is disputed] to the German side. His people were standing near the railway viaduct, so most probably it was them who shot the Polish sappers [who were ordered to destroy the bridge] - doctor Grzegorz Bębnik reveals the results of his research.
Walter Wollny with a group of other German saboteurs killed Polish sappers who were ordered to destroy the bridge before German tanks would be able to capture it (as the result German tanks did it) and abandoned its positions. Then Walter Wollny and his group (probably around one platoon, maybe larger group) joined the German forces.

Article about German sabotage in Rybnik:

http://www.rybnik.com.pl/wiadomosci,kul ... -8623.html
Abwehra miała również agentów w Wojsku Polskim. Były to tzw. Regiments-Organisationen. W 6. DP istniały takie w 20., 12. pp i 6. pal-u. Istniały również w pułkach 21. DPG, 23. DP i 55. DP. [204]
Abwehr had its agents also in the Polish Army. Those were so called Regiments-Organisationen. In 6. DP there were such in 20., 12. pp and 6. pal. [If it comes to Silesia] They also existed in regiments of 21. DPG, 23. DP and 55. DP.

============================

And now about what happened to Kpt. Kwaśniewski and those from company ON "Rybnik" who didn't betray:

http://www.dws.org.pl/viewtopic.php?f=5 ... a#p1472805
Z materiałów Abwehry wynika natomiast, że wchodząca w skład OW "Rybnik" kompania ON "Rybnik" wcale nie została rozbita, lecz opuściwszy stanowiska, przeszła na stronę niemiecką. Do Kobióra dotarł jedynie dowódca kompanii, kpt. Jan Kwaśniewski, z pocztem.
D-ca batalionu mjr Kwiatkowski posłał czym prędzej na wschodni skraj Kleszczowa przybyłe z Rybnika resztki naszej pierwszej kompanii kpt. Kwaśniewskiego.
So clearly not entire company betrayed.

It's original commander - Kpt. Kwiatkowski - together with his poczet withrew towards Kobior.

Some groups of soldiers from the company (probably those who didn't want to listen to orders of Ppor. Walter Wollny after he took command of the company) also did not betray but retreated to Kleszczow and there took parts in combats.

Question is how many German minority soldiers were serving in company ON "Rybnik"?

To how great extent was it infiltrated by Abwehr and local "V Column"?
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Re: The VIII AK through Upper Silesia 1939.

Post by Domen123 »

When it comes to the defence of the Katowice Parachute Tower:
The end of another myth.
Not exactly the end. As usually happens with myths, some part was true and some part exaggerated.

In this case the "core" of the story is true, because Scouts really defended the tower (interesting reading):

http://www.historycy.org/index.php?showtopic=57879

What is not true is that Scouts (Harcerze) shot down a German plane or killed dozens of Germans.

Cheers,
Peter
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Re: The VIII AK through Upper Silesia 1939.

Post by tigre »

Thanks for shedding light on it Peter :wink:. Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: The VIII AK through Upper Silesia 1939.

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a little complement with pictures....................................

The German VIII AK in Upper Silesia - September 1939.

Around midday on September 8, 1939, the march columns of the 8. ID and 28. ID reached the elements of the 5. Pz still fighting on the Nida. After a hard fight the 28. ID gained the access to the bridge in Nowy Korczyn, the bridge there had been demolished. Meanwhile the 8. ID crossed the Nida by Wislica and created a bridgehead there.

The PR 15 of the 5. Pz advanced by Chmielnik on Staszow behind the rear of the Polish troops that defended the Nida. The panzer division was ordered to block with PR 15 the withdrawal of the adversary deployed on the Nida to the east. Then the 5. Pz was to continue on Sandomierz and Annapol.

The movement of the armored division and the motorized parts of the infantry was impeded by the shortage of fuel. The PR 15 remained in Staszow.

Image
A Sd Kfz 247 Ausf. A (6-rad) - Schwerer geländegängiger gepanzerter Personenkraftwagen (6 Rad) mit Fahrgestell des l gl.Lkw - of the 5. Pz in Staszow .......................................

Image
Tanks of PR 15 in Staszow; In the foreground a Pz Kw III Ausf. D No 13..............................................

Image
A Pz Kw IV Ausf. B Nr 22 of PR 15 in Staszow...............................................

Sources: Das Verdammte Gewissen. Leutnant Erich Mende.
VIII AK KTB - Sept 1939 (courtesy of Bill Russ).
Http://odkrywca.pl/panzer-1939-czesc-17,747644.html

Cheers. Raúl M 8).

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - Feliz Ano Novo - Gluckliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo - Szczęśliwego nowego roku!!!. :beer:
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: The VIII AK through Upper Silesia 1939.

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a little complement with pictures....................................

The German VIII AK in Upper Silesia - September 1939.

On September 09, 1939, the 5. Pz was detached of the VIII AK and subordinated to the XV AK (Mot). While the 28. ID had to break a tough resistance of Polish rear guards in Ostrowce and continued in the direction of Swiniary; Advanced guards went on Szczucin.

The 8. ID rejected a strong enemy of Dobrowoda and reached the general line Baronow - Sulkowice. There is still an enemy in Kikow. In the afternoon the enemy showed signs of withdrawing.

During the afternoon of this day the staff of musicians (Musikkorps) of the PR 15 in march towards their peace garrison, was captured by Polish troops at the height of Stopnica. At dusk the unarmed soldiers were assembled together with other German prisoners under orders of a Polish officer and killed in the vicinity of Stopnica; Only a small fraction succeeded in escaping and reaching the German lines.

Prisoners and captured material:

Prisoners: 700.
Guns: 6
Machine guns: 4
Horses: 214
Vehicles: 119

Activity planned for next day: to continue the raking between the Nida and Czarna. Preparation for crossing at Opatowiec and Nw. Korzcyn.

Image
German bus destroyed in Stopnica on September 9, 1939, possibly moving the Musikkorps of the PR 15 towards Żagań / Sagan........................
http://odkrywca.pl/forum_pics/picsforum ... _caly2.jpg

Sources: Das Verdammte Gewissen. Leutnant Erich Mende.
VIII AK KTB - Sept 1939 (courtesy of Bill Russ).
Http://odkrywca.pl/panzer-1939-czesc-17,747644.html

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: The VIII AK through Upper Silesia 1939.

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Hello to all :D; a little more....................................

The German VIII AK in Upper Silesia - September 1939.

On September 10, 1939, after the sappers quicly built an 8-ton bridge at Opatowiec, the mass of the 28. ID crossed to the southern shore of the Vistula and marched towards Szarwark. The von Rothkirch Regiment (IR 49) reached Szczucin and the crossing was prepared there for September 11, 1939.

The 8.ID which the previous day was raking and clearing the field from enemies, followed the 28. ID with a regimental combat group (IR 84) and with the mass was ready to make the crossing (of the Vistula) By Nw Korczyn.

From the interrogation of the prisoners it is duly proven that between September 7 and 9, 1939, the whole of the 22 DP and the bulk of the 23 DP were facing the Army Corps (Plus the 55 DP).

Activity planned for next day: rapid progress towards the San.

Image
Opatowiec - area of ​​Kazimierz Dolny - crossing of one of the German units (probably of the 28. ID of the VIII AK) by a pontoon bridge .........................................................
http://odkrywca.pl/wrzesien-1939-zdjeci ... 78396.html

Sources: Das Verdammte Gewissen. Leutnant Erich Mende.
VIII AK KTB - Sept 1939 (courtesy of Bill Russ).

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: The VIII AK through Upper Silesia 1939.

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Hello to all :D; a little more....................................

The German VIII AK in Upper Silesia - September 1939.

On September 11, 1939, without enemy resistance the infantry divisions crossed the Vistula by:

Opatowiec the 28. ID and the IR 84.

Nw Korczyn the 8. ID (less the IR 84)

Then both divisions reached the objectives set for that day:

28. ID - Niwiska.
8. ID - Mielec.

Activity planned for next day: continue the advance towards the San River.

Sources: Das Verdammte Gewissen. Leutnant Erich Mende.
VIII AK KTB - Sept 1939 (courtesy of Bill Russ).

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: The VIII AK through Upper Silesia 1939.

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Hello to all :D; a little more....................................

The German VIII AK in Upper Silesia - September 1939.

On September 12, 1939, under great efforts and overcoming all kinds of roads difficulties the infantry divisions reached the goals set without finding resistance from the enemy:

28. ID - Brzoza - Stadnicka.
8. ID - Lipnica

The vanguard of the 8. ID composed by the II./ SS-Germania and parts of Pz. Jäg. Abt. 8 succeeded in securing the western shore of the San between Krzeszow and Rudnik. During the reconnaissance to secure crossing points and win the eastern shore, the rearguards of the enemy deployed there destroyed the bridges at Krzeszow and Ulanow.

Activity planned for next day: establish bridgeheads on the eastern shore of the San. Approaching of the divisions.

Sources: Das Verdammte Gewissen. Leutnant Erich Mende.
VIII AK KTB - Sept 1939 (courtesy of Bill Russ).

Well here appears one battalion of the SS-Germania subordinated to the 8. ID, any idea when took place it? Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: The VIII AK through Upper Silesia 1939.

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Hello to all :D; a little more....................................

The German VIII AK in Upper Silesia - September 1939.

On September 13, 1939 the enemy offered no resistance to the advance. The Army Corps succeeded in establishing bridgeheads in Sieniawa, Lezaisk (Lezajsk) and Krzeszow. The heads of the bulk of the divisions reached Lezaisk (Lezajsk) and Gorno-Jezowe.

The II./ SS-Germania engaged in the bridgeheads of Krzeszow and Ulanow reported lack of fuel, because of this the ordered march in direction of Kuroslaw, to be at disposal of XXII. AK (Mot) was not executed.

Activity planned for next day: Advance towards Siniawa and Lezaisk (Lezajsk) on the heights south of Tarnogrod with 28. ID and with 8. ID by Krzeszow towards Tanew.

Sources: Das Verdammte Gewissen. Leutnant Erich Mende.
VIII AK KTB - Sept 1939 (courtesy of Bill Russ).

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: The VIII AK through Upper Silesia 1939.

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Hello to all :D; a little more....................................

The German VIII AK in Upper Silesia - September 1939.

On September 14, 1939 the objectives of the previous day that were not reached by the infantry divisions were reprogrammed and advanced on the San. The construction of bridges at Siniawa and Str. Miastor during the night by the 28. ID could not be completed due to the low level of the waters, which did not allow the placement and operation of pontoons. Nor were the bridges able to be completed throughout the day . The 28. ID was ordered to advance vanguards reinforced with artillery through fords in the San River and move over Tarnogrod. By late afternoon the vanguard and the advance elements of the division had reached the area north of Tarnogrod.

In the area of ​​8. ID as a result of the most favorable conditions at 08:50 hours the bridge at Rudnik was completed, but due to the unfavorable conditions of the exit in the eastern margin, was dismantled and Rebuilt again in the region of Krzeszow; The bridge was ready by 18:00 hours.

In front of the Army Corps only weak enemy rear guards.

Sources: Das Verdammte Gewissen. Leutnant Erich Mende.
VIII AK KTB - Sept 1939 (courtesy of Bill Russ).

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: The VIII AK through Upper Silesia 1939.

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a little more....................................

The German VIII AK in Upper Silesia - September 1939.

On September 15, 1939 the vanguard of the 28. ID (a reinforced Company of IR 7) was counterattacked by Polish troops with artillery support on the heights of Tanew in the vicinity of Pislaki. With the support of the AA 28, newly arrived in the sector, and several batteries of artillery the Germans retained the height. The 28. ID attacked against the Tanew with two infantry regiments.

On September 15, 1939, the 7. Company reinforced with a Platoon of the 14. Company (antitank) collided in Podsosnina-Lukowka with the assembly area of ​​a Polish division. The company suffered heavy casualties: 28 KIA, 46 WIA and 6 prisoners. The next day, the reinforced company was attacked in the Heights of Tanew by strong Polish elements. With the help of Aufkl. Abt. 28 and artillery support the enemy was rejected in the afternoon. However, the company had large losses. Then the regiment (IR 7) arrived at the Tanew and surpassed it.
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /IR7-R.htm

While the 8. ID due to the advance of Polish troops in march from the north towards Tanew by Janow-Lubelski had to engage facing north. The enemy retreated through the Kurzynka and the division took measures to advance towards Bilgoraj the following day.

At noon the Führer and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces reached the bridge section west of Sieniawa and witnessed the crossing of the river by the von Rothkirch Infantry Regiment (IR 49 Oberst Friedrich-Wilhelm von Rothkirch und Panthen).

In the afternoon the Army Corps was ordered by the Army to turn east in the direction of Cieszanow - Josefow. The order was sent verbally to the divisions by means of the Ia. Upon returning to the Corps HQ, the Commander General received from the Army the directive to overcome the forested area located in the previous direction before turning east and thus avoiding the deployment of the Corps on a front of 40 kilometers wide and the consequent loss of time. A reinforced infantry regiment of the 28. ID was detached to cooperate with the 45. ID towards the Lubliniec-Narol line.

Sources: Das Verdammte Gewissen. Leutnant Erich Mende.
VIII AK KTB - Sept 1939 (courtesy of Bill Russ).

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
AH on the San during the crossing of a German unit (possibly the IR 49) .................................................<br />Http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee226/mralbertfish/fuehrer-bridging-of-san_zps50ecf0b0.jpg
AH on the San during the crossing of a German unit (possibly the IR 49) .................................................
Http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee226/mralbertfish/fuehrer-bridging-of-san_zps50ecf0b0.jpg
image035xx.jpg (41.32 KiB) Viewed 3443 times
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Re: The VIII AK through Upper Silesia 1939.

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Hello to all :D; a little more....................................

The German VIII AK in Upper Silesia - September 1939.

On September 16, 1939, the frontal attack planned in the 28. ID's sector did not make any significant progress, but the forest area east of Osuchy was conquered. Nevertheless it was very successful the attack of the Regiment von Rothkirch that managed to clear of enemies the town of Utazow, which were blocked to the east in Dachnow by the 45. ID. The HQ of the Polish 21. DP was taken prisoner.

The progress of the 8. ID continued in very poor road conditions. A stretch of deep sand on the Krzeszow - Bilgoraj route, which was under repair, had to be traversed. To the north of Harasiuki there were difficult struggles in the nearby wooded area, which lasted for five hours. At dusk the division was in front of Bilgoraj.

The VII. AK, which with its 27. ID, got across the bridge at Krzeszow, behind the left flank of the Army Corps, was received by the VIII. AK and was asked to detach a regimental group to link to the north with the 8. ID in the direction of Huta Krzeszowska. This order was willingly received so that the enemy resistance in front of the 8. ID gave in the evening.

The Army Corps did not receive news of the advance of 8. ID for a long time. This could be a result of the present enemy resistance and therefore should consider the possibility of breaking that resistance by advancing both divisions in the direction of Jozefow. To achieve this effect the direction of advance should not be towards Rudka but to Jozefow.

Meanwhile the Regiment von Rothkirch was ordered to march by Zukow, Plasow Towards Belzec.

On the other hand due to the fuel shortage, the antitank units, antiaircraft, Corps artillery and logistic elements remained idle. The 1. (H) / 31 had fuel for three missions.

In front of the 28. ID was the 6. PD and in front of the 8. ID the 23. DP. The command of the 6. DP in Aleksandrow, the Commander of the division, General Mond organized resistance on the line of the Tanew and towards the northeast.

Sources: Das Verdammte Gewissen. Leutnant Erich Mende.
VIII AK KTB - Sept 1939 (courtesy of Bill Russ).
http://docplayer.pl/4540268-Zeszyt-osuchowski-nr-6.html

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
Fights over the Tanew (28. ID and 6. DP) - 15 and 16 September 1939 ...................................................
Fights over the Tanew (28. ID and 6. DP) - 15 and 16 September 1939 ...................................................
image010xx.jpg (50.33 KiB) Viewed 3410 times
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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