Pioniers im Kampf 1939 - 1940

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Hello to all ; something more on this topic..............

Fight by Mlawa and for the crossing of the Narew at Pultusk.
Author: Oberst A.D. Heinz-Ulrich Neumann
Commander of Pi. Btl. 11 - September 1939

On September 1, 1939 the 11. ID attacked from its assembly area located at around Neidenburg / Nidzica. The CP was at Napierkin southern exit. The first reports of the attacking troops were not good. The 1. / Pi Btl 11 and the 2. / Pi Btl 11 were attached to the IR 2 and IR 23 respectively. Soon we had the first casualty, Oberfähnrich Weihe. Immediately we had the task of removing minefields and to repair two bridges blown in the sector of IR 23 . At 07:00 hours the attack had stalled in front of a large fortified line. Our division punctually attacked the defensive position around Mlawa.

Before noon on a small wooded hill was held a meeting of the commanders. There the Division Commander, Generalleutnant Bock, gave his first impression. In his opinion one of the bridges repaired did not look so good and saluting military I (CO of Pi Btl 11) said Herr General, the important thing is that it stay. As soon as I uttered these words when a salvo of artillery fell and all commanders and veterans of the last war fell to the ground. The Generalleutnant Bock stood firm and continued with the directives. That impressed us a lot.


Area of operations......................


Aerial view of the defensive position ....................

Source: Walki pod Mławą, przeprawa przez Narew pod Pułtuskiem. http://www.pionier39.pl/pioniere_dzialania.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more on this topic..............

Fight by Mlawa and for the crossing of the Narew at Pultusk.

Around 12:00 hours the Pi Btl 11 suffered heavy casualties. As the infantry could not get any success before the line of bunkers, the sappers had to move forwards. When the Leader of the 2. / Pi Btl 11, Oberleutnant Schneider moved ahead in the open to give orders to some NCOs of a Platoon, detonated an artillery shell. Schneider and several NCOs were killed and others were wounded. It was a blow to the battalion, already in the first day to lose a company commander. Hauptmann of Reserve Bartel took command of the 2. Company and Leutnant Schäfer took his place on the staff.

When on September 1, 1939 the OKW reported that the German forces, advancing from East Prussia, had penetrated deep into Polish territory, the 11. ID was stopped before Mlawa.


Polish anti-tank obstacle near Mlawa ..............

Source: Walki pod Mławą, przeprawa przez Narew pod Pułtuskiem. http://www.pionier39.pl/pioniere_dzialania.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more on this topic..............

Fight by Mlawa and for the crossing of the Narew at Pultusk.

On September 2, 1939 in the morning, the Panzer Division Kempf carried out an attack against the fortified line, it was a nonsense. I saw them go on the attack proud and confident in the result to be achieved, then return with the scars of defeat, without getting anything.

OKW communiqué of September 02: "... also the attack directed from East Prussia southwards has gained ground ..."

On September 3, 1939 the day brought no change in the situation. In the afternoon, I experienced my baptism of fire - machine gun fire. When I moved to the open ground towards the 1. Company, Polish planes opened up on me with machine guns.


Sappers with flamethrowers (Flammenwerfer 35) in action against the barbed wire.

Source: Walki pod Mławą, przeprawa przez Narew pod Pułtuskiem. http://www.pionier39.pl/pioniere_dzialania.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more on this topic..............

Fight by Mlawa and for the crossing of the Narew at Pultusk.

On September 04, 1939 finally we could move forward, the left wing of the Army Corps "Wodrig" could break through Polish fortified lines at the end of it and directly threatened their rear. For that reason the Poles finally retreated leaving their positions and the 11. ID continued the advance. Yet in the evening, it was reached the town of Mlawa which was on fire.


Mlawa after the battle......................

Source: Walki pod Mławą, przeprawa przez Narew pod Pułtuskiem. http://www.pionier39.pl/pioniere_dzialania.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more on this topic..............

Fight by Mlawa and for the crossing of the Narew at Pultusk.

During September 5 and 6, 1939 the division marched southwards without almost fighting battles and at dusk had reached the Narew in the area of Pultusk. Yet that day there was a commanders' meeting in the the parochial house, where it had been established the CP of the 11. ID, in order to coordinate the attack over the Narew towards Zambski Koscielne, which would take place the next day.

During the meeting confronted the views of the Divisional Commander and the Commander of the IR 2, Oberst Rauch, against the advice of the Commander of engineers. The attack would be executed on the arc of the Narew in Zambski Koscielne which was correct, but the Commander of the Pi Btl 11 objected the construction site of the bridge, because it lacked adequate access and exits therefore not guaranteed by the use of heavy vehicles and artillery. The engineer left the room angry and met with his officers who drank happily outside the place.


Demolished bridge in Pultusk.................

Source: Walki pod Mławą, przeprawa przez Narew pod Pułtuskiem. http://www.pionier39.pl/pioniere_dzialania.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - feliz Ano Novo - gluckliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo - Szczęśliwego nowego roku!!

[tigre]

Hello to all ; last part..............

Fight by Mlawa and for the crossing of the Narew at Pultusk.

However at 12:00 hours Generalleutnant Bock paid a visit to Maj. Neumann and putting his hands on his shoulder said: Neumann, we reconsidered, we'll do it your way. Then the Ia of the Division and the Commander of engineers developed the plans for the attack scheduled for September 7, 1939.

On the morning of September 7, 1939 the 3. / Pi Btl 11 and two bridges columns were ready at the CP of the 11. ID, while the 1. and 2. Companies had been attached to IR 2 and IR 23 respectively, with the task of shipping the waves of assault on pontoons.

After a successful attack were engaged the 3. Company and the bridge columns and by noon the bridge was ready, thus the division could cross quickly to the second bank of the river. The next obstacle was on the Bug River about 50 kilometers away. The 3. Company accompanied the division, while the rest of the battalion remained in charge of the bridge over the Narew still until September 8, 1939.


Sappers while building a bridge ..................

Source: Walki pod Mławą, przeprawa przez Narew pod Pułtuskiem. http://www.pionier39.pl/pioniere_dzialania.html

It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a new story dealing with this topic..........................

Crossing the Warta in Mikołajewice. 4 – 5 September 1939.
Pioneer-Bataillon 24 by Leutnant Berg.

The 24. ID approached the Warta River by Mikolajewice North of the town of Warta with the task of winning a crossing point there. This task was assigned to a Platoon of the Pi Btl 24 which was transported quickly in that direction in vehicles. In Mikolajewice the Platoon leader was put in situation by the Commander of the infantry regiment, while the sappers, taking advantage of the cover of the houses and gardens approaching dinghies and took bearing towards the crossing points.

On the second Bank was the town of Glinno, in vicinity of whose Church was a Polish casemate; It is unknown if it was manned because through binoculars were not detected movements or shots. At the sign of attack the sappers and the infantry left the covers and dragged the boats into the River; the troops reached the shore without receiving fire. The noise of battle could be heard from Warta. A Polish battery opened fire on the town.


Polish casemate on the Warta line...............

Source: Pioniere im Kampf, red. Oberstleutnant Liere, Berlin 1942, Hptm. Hainrich
http://www.pionier39.pl/pioniere_dzialania.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows..........................

Crossing the Warta in Mikołajewice. 4 – 5 September 1939.
Pioneer-Bataillon 24 by Leutnant Berg.

Without incidents the leading company began its march forward by the marshes beyond the Warta, waiting for getting fire at any moment. But only 300 meters away from Glinno, the defenders opened fire. The troops were dispersed in the dark and the sky was filled with the red color of the tracers, a typical evening in the Polish campaign. The company was able to gain even more ground before being stopped by the old riverbed, which with its 15 meters wide, was impassable without support of the engineers.

"Pioniere nach Vorn!" Sappers forward! it was heard the call to rear. A Gefreiter, six sappers and two boats were sent to the front by the Platoon leader, the NCO must report immediately if he finds problems to cross the obstacle. Guided by a messenger of the infantry, the group moved carefully along the path through the swamp. No one spoke. In Glinno burned several houses that lit the night sky.

Source: Pioniere im Kampf, red. Oberstleutnant Liere, Berlin 1942, Hptm. Hainrich
http://www.pionier39.pl/pioniere_dzialania.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows..........................

Crossing the Warta in Mikołajewice. 4 – 5 September 1939.
Pioneer-Bataillon 24 by Leutnant Berg.

The sappers reached the old bed of the river without being detected and began the crossing operation, but as soon an infantry Platoon was shipped to the second shore the Poles unleashed a deadly fire. The Poles counterattacked seeking to cut the German fraction. Now the Germans was in need of shipping reinforcements quickly. The sappers worked hard in order to cross the infantry. The pneumatic boats glide like ghosts in the dark waters. But the Poles swept the entire sector with their defensive fire. The projectiles struck the surface of the water and shrapnel flying through the air, now the Poles opened up even with mortars.

The rest of the rifle company could spend even a few hours of resting during the night but as the morning came, the Polish artillery observers went into action with utmost efficiency and any movement on the other shore caused an immediate response from the Polish artillery.

Source: Pioniere im Kampf, red. Oberstleutnant Liere, Berlin 1942, Hptm. Hainrich
http://www.pionier39.pl/pioniere_dzialania.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; last part..........................

Crossing the Warta in Mikołajewice. 4 – 5 September 1939.
Pioneer-Bataillon 24 by Leutnant Berg.

However the sappers continued crossing the infantry all morning with cold blood. From time to time they were relieved in this exhaustive work, whether operating the boats or on the shore, which did not provide much protection against enemy fire indeed. During the morning a boat was destroyed and a sapper was seriously injured. When at noon the hostile fire could be silenced, two battalions of infantry had been crossed and the sappers could finally take rest, exhausted but proud to have fulfilled the mission to the end and still under enemy fire.

His platoon leader, dedicated to other duties, trusted them and he was not disappointed. By selflessly risking their lives, they were worthy of the Iron Cross:

Leader Gefreiter (then Feldwebel) Fichte,
2. Gefreiter Bach (killed in action in the Bzura)
3. Gefreiter Struck
4. Oberpionier Rohde,
5. Pionier Junge (seriously injured in Glinno)
6. Pionier Schmutzler,
7. Pionier Seifert.

Source: Pioniere im Kampf, red. Oberstleutnant Liere, Berlin 1942, Hptm. Hainrich
http://www.pionier39.pl/pioniere_dzialania.html

It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a new story about this topic......................

Construction of a bridge over the Bzura
Gefreiter Nickel 3./Pi.Btl. 19

In the middle of the battle the 3. / Pi Btl. 19, attached to one of the infantry regiments, on September 15, 1939 at 17:00 hours received the following task: to establish a crossing point over the Bzura River for the infantry by means of rafts.

The 3. Platoon discovered near the village of Tyczynogi three places advantageously located, especially suitable for the crossing, one of them even passable for vehicles. Under cover of the fire of the infantry the rafts were dragged into the water and began the crossing there.

Despite the Polish defensive fire, which could not prevail on the own fire support, the crossing was carried out quickly. Once on the other side the German infantry went on the attack and forced the Polish troops to withdraw. Vehicles and horses then crossed undisturbed.

Source: : Pioniere im Kampf, Oberstleutnant Liere, Berlin 1942, Hptm. Hainrich
http://www.pionier39.pl/pioniere_dzialania.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows......................

Construction of a bridge over the Bzura
Gefreiter Nickel 3./Pi.Btl. 19.

While the 3. Platoon crossed the Bzura, the other two Platoons were detached towards an old wooden bridge on trestles that had been severely damaged by the Poles in their retreat.

The order specified that the bridge should not be repaired but removed, and with these parts to strengthen the route of approach towards the bridge of 16 tons which had been planned to build there. To reinforce the connection between both banks it was erected a makeshift footbridge over the damaged trestles that can be used by cyclists and messengers.

Source: : Pioniere im Kampf, Oberstleutnant Liere, Berlin 1942, Hptm. Hainrich
http://www.pionier39.pl/pioniere_dzialania.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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Construction of a bridge over the Bzura
Gefreiter Nickel 3./Pi.Btl. 19.

By nightfall measures were taken for the construction of the access ramps with trunks, being reinforced with soldiers from different units, who commented about an attack of the Poles against one of the front-line battalions and we should expect an attack towards the bridge.

But the company, however ready for combat, continued with the construction of the access roads with logs. Although defensive positions were established as local security against a possible attack. The ramps were completed late in the evening, however did not start with the construction of the bridge itself, because the columns with the necessary equipment had not arrived yet. The company remained gathered in a small grove nearby.

On September 16, 1939 in the morning the 3. / Pi Btl 19 received an order stating it was to rebuild the damaged wooden bridge. Two Platoons were engaged on dismantling the damaged parts of the bridge, while another Platoon secured and maintained in good working order the 16 ton bridge built by another company of sappers.

Source: : Pioniere im Kampf, Oberstleutnant Liere, Berlin 1942, Hptm. Hainrich
http://www.pionier39.pl/pioniere_dzialania.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows......................

Construction of a bridge over the Bzura
Gefreiter Nickel 3./Pi.Btl. 19.

Around 10:00 hours the bridge was subjected to Polish artillery fire, first the shells fell away, but were getting closer later. This caused confusion among the horse-drawn columns marching toward the bridge. The sappers had to keep control of the situation, avoid traffic jammings and prioritize the passage of vehicles loaded with ammunition for infantry and artillery units of the division.

At the same time it should be taken on hand enough troops in order to repair damages to the bridge. The bulk of the 3. Company was moved to the town of Stary Kozlow. The Polish artillery opened fire very accurately on the area where the bridges were located a total of six times (30 shots at a time) at intervals of half an hour (harassing fire). According to soldiers from other units the fire was directed from pigeon houses located in the Bzura depression.

Source: : Pioniere im Kampf, Oberstleutnant Liere, Berlin 1942, Hptm. Hainrich
http://www.pionier39.pl/pioniere_dzialania.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows......................

Construction of a bridge over the Bzura
Gefreiter Nickel 3./Pi.Btl. 19.

While other fractions suffered heavy losses, the 3. Company was safe as by a miracle. The reserve pontoon was full of holes and others minor damages. One of the shells hit near the bridge but without damaging its girders. The bridge itself was not damaged. At 14:00 hours the enemy battery was silenced and now hastily began the preparation of the auxiliary bridge. By nightfall the company headed due north to the town of Sucha where it spent the night.

On September 17, 1939 with the help of tractors and maneuvers for the ferry were removed the double girders. The damaged trestles were replaced by new ones. The company got the needed timbers from Sochaczew. At 19:00 hours the wooden bridge of 20 tons was over. By nightfall it was obtained adequate lighting and the repair of the bridge continued in two turns.

Source: : Pioniere im Kampf, Oberstleutnant Liere, Berlin 1942, Hptm. Hainrich
http://www.pionier39.pl/pioniere_dzialania.html

Cheers. Raúl M .