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56 and 57.IDs

Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 5:25 pm
by AHK
Anyone the roles played by these two divisions during the 1939 Polish Campaign?
Thanks,
AHK

Re: 56 and 57.IDs

Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:54 pm
by tigre
Hello pal :D; although in german hope you can find something useful :wink:.

http://www.57id.de/index.php/04.09.39_- ... lenfeldzug

56 ID: Am 7. September 1939 wurde das Regiment nach Oberschlesien und von dort in die Ostslowakei in den Raum Presow verlegt. Ab dem 13. September marschierte das Regiment in den Nordostzipfel der Slowakei, von wo es am 17. September über den Lupkowpass nach Polen marschierte. Am 21. September wurde Przemysl erreicht. Hier endete für das Regiment der Einsatz in Polen, ohne zum Einsatz gekommen zu sein. In Krakau wurde es auf die Bahn verladen und nach Westen gefahren. Am 2. Oktober wurde es dann in Daun in der Eifel ausgeladen, um nach Issum-Geldern weiterzumarschieren.

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... n/56ID.htm

Cheers. Raúl M 8).

Re: 56 and 57.IDs

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:29 pm
by Domen123
Hi Raul!,
Die Gefechte bei Stary-Sambor
Combats near Stary Sambor were fought against Polish 3. Mountain Brigade. Quotation from Dubicki & Spruch, "Przedmoscie Rumunskie" ("Romanian Bridgehead"):

"Stocks and motorized equipment of the brigade were almost complete. Reorganized 3. Mountain Brigade constituted already a considerable combat strength and its commander decided to carry out an escapade on Stary Sambor in the closest future".

OdeB of 3. Mountain Brigade in the morning on 16.09.1939:

commander - płk Jan Kotowicz
2. KOP regiment "Karpaty" (two battalions) - ppłk Jan Zachodny
3. psg (two battalions) - mjr Wacław Majchrowski
216. infantry regiment (one battalion and two companies)
Two independent march (supplement / reserve) battalions (march battalion of 2 psp and march battalion of 6 psp)
Stocks, support & rear units

In total around 3,500 - 4,000 men.

The escapade on Stary Sambor was carried out only by 3. psg (mountain rifle regiment). Polish forces marched towards Stary Sambor at 21:00 on 15.09.1939. The town was captured in the morning on 16.09.1939. At 9:00 German forces counterattacked on positions of I battalion of 3. psg, repulsed it from Stary Sambor and forced it to withdraw - first towards locality Jankow, later towards hills located north of locality Tereszow. In the afternoon II battalion of 3. psg was ordered to go round Stary Sambor and to regain hills located north of Stary Sambor from enemy hands. II battalion managed to complete this mission, German forces withdrew. In the early morning on 17.09.1939 German forces once again counterattacked - in strength of one infantry battalion supported by artillery - and after several hours of heavy combats, managed to recapture Stary Sambor again.

Later that day Polish 3. Mountain Brigade received information about the Soviet Invasion of Poland and was ordered to retreat to Romania - soon the order was acomplished.
Die Gefechte bei Rudki 16.09.1939
Polish II battalion of 97. Infantry Regiment (from 38. Infantry Division) was involved in combats against German Kampfgruppe "Friedmann" from 1. Gebirgs Division supported by I./79. Gebirgs Artillerie Regiment and 12 heavy battery of 79. Gebirgs Artillerie Regiment - Polish forces were attacking these German forces.

Polish battalion did not have artillery support because Polish artillery was regrouping after a whole-day long Luftwaffe bombing and temporarily lost contact with infantry.

In the evening on 16.09.1939 German reinforced 179. Infanterie-Regiment from 57. ID attacked rears of Polish II./97. IR, which was still involved in combats against elements of German 1. Gebirgs Division.

As the result of this combat major part of Polish battalion was destroyed - only 5 company, part of 2 MG company and small part of 6 company managed to avoid destruction and to withdraw to the north.
Die Gefechte bei Tuczapy
Near Tuczapy on 17.09.1939 German forces organized an ambush against Polish artillery.

Some forces of Polish artillery were encircled there and German artillery and infantry inflicted heavy casualties to them. German artillery supported by infantry managed to knock out one heavy gun from I./5 pac (heavy artillery regiment) and - after heavy fire fight - all guns of 7 battery from III./38 pal (light artillery regiment).

When Poles realized that they were encircled, commanders of I./5 pal and III./38 pal ordered to destroy the rest of guns and break through.

The whole I./5 pac and 7 + part of 9 light batteries from III./38 pal were lost on 17.09.1939 near Tuczapy.

Re: 56 and 57.IDs

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:56 pm
by tigre
Thanks for sheding light on it Domen :wink:. Raúl M 8).

Re: 56 and 57.IDs

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:05 pm
by Domen123
No problem. :wink:

Cheers!
Domen

------------------------

Edit:
Later that day Polish 3. Mountain Brigade received information about the Soviet Invasion of Poland and was ordered to retreat to Romania - soon the order was acomplished.
But German forces were chasing it and some fights took place also on 18.09.1939.

Also combats in the area near Horodyszcze - listed on that website - lasted for two days: 17 - 18 IX.

I guess that they were fought against Polish Group "Stryj", which was also ordered to withdraw to Romania after the Soviet Invasion.

Re: 56 and 57.IDs

Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:11 pm
by Domen123
In the early morning on 17.09.1939 German forces once again counterattacked - in strength of one infantry battalion supported by artillery - and after several hours of heavy combats, managed to recapture Stary Sambor again.
Stary Sambor on that day was defended only by one Polish company - 6. company from II. battalion of 3 psg under command of cpt. Franciszek Gacek. German assault started at 6:00 in the morning and Stary Sambor was captured after more than 6 hours of heavy combats, in the afternoon. 6. company of cpt. Gacek put up brave resistance to the German battalion supported by artillery (between one and three batteries - I am not sure) and unfortunately it suffered heavy casualties before it was finally pushed out from the town.

Most accounts criticize the Polish command for not sending reinforcements to help the company of cpt. Gacek (because other companies from II./3 psg were not far away - on the hills several kilometres east from Stary Sambor).
Also combats in the area near Horodyszcze - listed on that website - lasted for two days: 17 - 18 IX.
On 17th of September there was a Polish attack on Horodyszcze and one day later in the same area Germans were chasing Polish units which were withdrawing towards Romania and Hungary due to the Soviet Invasion of Poland (according to the order of marschal Rydz-Smigly to gen. Dembinski which was handed down to gen. Dembinski - commander of Group "Stryj" - by lt. col. Jerzy Krubski during a phone call around 22:00 on 17.09.1939).

Polish II./155 Infantry Regiment under command of cpt. Rutkowski attacked Horodyszcze at around 6:00 on 17 IX. Battalion was most probably supported by motorized reconnaissance platoon under command of sub-lt. Leonard Zietek.

At the beginning Poles achieved some successes and their attack was developing well, but later they encountered too strong forces from 57th Infantry Division and also elements of Kampfgruppe "Lubbe" * from 5th Panzer-Division which was fighting in that area. Commander of the battalion - captain of reserve Rutkowski - was seriously wounded in combat and the battalion was forced to retreat towards Drohobycz, partially dispersed.

Few days later res. captain Jan Rutkowski died of wounds in the hospital in Sambor.

There is also one more interesting episode, but I am not sure if it is connected with operations of 57th Infantry Division in Poland or maybe rather with operations of some other division - it took place on 16th of September:

On 16th of September around 15:00 a German unit in strength of around 100 infantrymen transported by cars from the town of Sambor (which had been captured before by 1st Gebirgs Division during its advance towards Lemberg) was trying to enter the town of Drohobycz. After short fight this unit was repulsed with casualties. Several German cars were destroyed, three trucks and one motorcycle were captured by Poles. Polish soldiers were chasing retreating Germans up to the locality Lisznia. German casualties were 8 soldiers KIA - 1 officer (commander of this unit), his deputy and 6 privates. Some German POWs were also captured by Poles. What German unit could it be - from which division?
In the evening on 16.09.1939 German reinforced 179. Infanterie-Regiment from 57. ID attacked rears of Polish II./97. IR, which was still involved in combats against elements of German 1. Gebirgs Division.
More exact strength of this unit was:

179. Infanterie-Regiment
Aufklärungs-Abteilung 157
One Abteilung of artillery (but I'm not sure which one)

* Composition of Kampfgruppe "Lubbe" from 5th Panzer-Division on 17.09.1939 was:

Schützen-Regiment 13 (mot.)
I. Abteilung from Artillerie-Regiment 116. (mot.)
One company from Pionier Bataillon 89.

Most probably also 50% of operational tanks (or one Abteilung) from Panzer-Regiment 31. (according to Janusz Ryt, "Battle of Pszczyna 1939", page 93, after the battle of Rajsko on 04.09.1939 still operational tanks from this regiment were subordinated to infantry commanders - so were divided between infantry units as support - tanks of one Abteilung were subordinated to Oberst Lubbe and tanks of the other one to Oberst Degener - commander of Schtz.Brig.5.).

Cheers!
Peter

Re: 56 and 57.IDs

Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:57 pm
by tigre
Thanks Domen :wink:; Cheers. Raúl M 8).

Re: 56 and 57.IDs

Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 2:40 pm
by Domen123
Die Gefechte bei Rudki 16.09.1939
Video showing Soviets in Sambor and Germans in Rudki in 1939:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gii5o7gbDjc

Re: 56 and 57.IDs

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 4:33 pm
by tigre
Hello to all :D; something more............

Stary Sambor.

It seems that the I./ IR 199 (57. ID) was also involved in the fighting by Stary Sambor, see the picture below (taken from "Eine Kompanie in Pole Die Zwote von List Regiment")

Source: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Infanterie-Regim ... 0868701677

Anyone know about this book?. Cheers. Raúl M 8).

Re: 56 and 57.IDs

Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 4:46 am
by tigre
Hello to all :D; something more............

57th Infantry Division.

Raising.

On August 26, 1939, the 57th Infantry Division (as a division of the "2nd wave" according to the mob plan) was set up in Landshut. The three infantry divisions stationed in Bavaria set up the three regiments, the artillery regiment and all independent battalions and detachments with reservists. This is how the infantry regiments 179, 199 and 217 were formed, each with three battalions, based in Munich, Freising and Eichstätt. The Unit's Commander was Major General Oskar Blümm.

The AR 157 formed with four groups in Munich, the divisional units with No. 157 in the Munich area. During the Polish campaign, the IR 199 received the nickname "List" as a traditional regiment of the former royal Bavarian Res.IR 16 (in which Adolf Hitler had once served). The "Infantry Regiment List" sleeve stripe was awarded on November 12, 1943 to all members of what was then the 199th Grenadier Regiment.

Campaign in Poland - September 1939.

On September 1, 1939 at 4:45 am, 5 German armies attacked Poland in the north, west and south. During the Polish campaign, the 57th Infantry Division was part of the VII Army Corps. The Commanding General of this army corps at that time was the General Eugen Siegfried Erich Ritter von Schobert.

On September 12, 1939, at 07:00 hours, the first parts of the division crossed the Polish border. The border post lies, simply bent and pushed aside, between boulders. The round shield with the Polish eagle is broken.

Source: http://www.57id.de/index.php?title=Polenfeldzug
https://zeughaus-braun.de/collections/t ... ne-raritat

Anyone know about this book?. Cheers. Raúl M 8).

Re: 56 and 57.IDs

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2023 10:03 am
by tigre
Hello to all :D; something more............

57th Infantry Division.

Campaign in Poland - September 1939.

The road winds its way up the mountain in endless serpentines. Dust whirls under every step, it lies ankle-deep at the roadside and you have to march along the roadside, because columns overtake again and again, cars honk their way clear and, in gratitude, the marchers are again enveloped in dense dust as in artificial fog.

On the other side it goes down just as steeply, on the other side up again - then finally the view opens up over some hills that are becoming flatter and out into the plain. The marches go on daily until late at night and begin again at first light of day.

From the limber you can just see the rocking backs of horses that are harnessed directly in front of the carriage and the gleam of a rider on them. Nothing can be seen of the other two pairs of horses; but really nothing - like in the densest fog. The trees along the way, mostly willows, only stick their tips out over the sluggish cloud of dust. Sometimes a merciful wind goes and blows the fluttering plume of dust aside. Then you see that you are also marching through a landscape.

Source: http://www.57id.de/index.php?title=Polenfeldzug
https://zeughaus-braun.de/collections/t ... ne-raritat

Cheers. Raúl M 8).

Re: 56 and 57.IDs

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2023 6:14 am
by tigre
Hello to all :D; something more............

57th Infantry Division.

Campaign in Poland - September 1939.

The war has come before us and we follow it. Dead horses often enough lie in the ditch, their bodies bloated, a disgusting sight. Then somewhere a few chimneys rise up lonely. It's strange, a real forest of chimneys still stands in the one village whose name can no longer be found on a place-name sign or a map. The Poles are said to have set them on fire themselves when retreating.

On September 16, 1939 one third of the 57. Inf.Div. (IR 179?) are advancing towards Grodek to attack the enemy in front of the 1. Geb.Div. from the back. At 17:00 hours a battery was set in position south og Milatyn and opened up against the wood due west of Milatyn and north of the village of Bar.

At 17:55 hours the road Sadowa-Wisznia - Grodek-Jagiellonski -Lemberg was reached. Combat patrols that reconnoitered northwards met stiff resistence. By evening on this day the number of POWs taken was 1.500. The 57. Inf.Div. takes in total 3.000 prisoners. On the first day of combat, the IR 179 caused serious casualties to the enemy.

On September 17, 1939 the 57. Inf.Div. is advancing towards the oil-area at Drohobycz. The "Hitler-Stalin Pact" of August 23, 1939 contained a secret additional protocol on the partition of Poland in the event of war. Initially, the Soviets showed little interest in invading Poland. Only on September 17, 1939 did the Red Army begin to occupy eastern Poland.

Source: http://www.57id.de/index.php?title=Polenfeldzug
https://zeughaus-braun.de/products/wir- ... ne-raritat

Cheers. Raúl M 8).

Re: 56 and 57.IDs

Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2023 2:36 pm
by tigre
Hello to all :D; something more............

57th Infantry Division.

Campaign in Poland - September 1939.

On September 18, 1939 In the sector of XVIII. AK, the oil-area Stryj – Drohobycz – Boryslaw was occupied against scarce enemy resistance by 5. Pz.Div., 57.Inf.Div. Small enemy forces withdrew to hungarian territory. 200 prisoners.

The 57. Inf.Div. is engaging against retreating enemy forces east of Sambor.

The 56.Inf.Div. reached the area Lisko – Zagorz advancing to the east.

On September 19, the German Army is occupying the oil-area with the 5.Pz.Div. and the 57.Inf.Div. No polish resistance but ruthenian and ukrainian civilians attack the poles.

Source: http://www.57id.de/index.php?title=Polenfeldzug
https://zeughaus-braun.de/products/wir- ... ne-raritat

Cheers. Raúl M 8).

Re: 56 and 57.IDs

Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2023 1:37 pm
by tigre
Hello to all :D; something more............

57th Infantry Division.

Campaign in Poland - September 1939.

The division's fighting force thus pushed itself between the Polish forces pushing from Przemysl towards Lemberg and the mountain division fighting there, clearing their backs. At the same time, it has become impossible for the Poles to retreat southeast towards Stanislau. A few days later the campaign is over and the division begins its march back to the demarcation line in cold and snowy conditions.

On September 22, the 56. Inf. Div. reached the area southwest of Przemysl resting there and will march on the 23. Sept. via Babice to the west. Sonderbefehlshaber of Police with assigned units is marching to Krakau.

On September 23, the 57. Inf. Div. was around Sambor. Very good teamwork with russian commander in Stryj. The Army Corps is working hard to secure captured goods and equipment.

On September 24, the 57. Inf. Div. behind the line Uzoker pass – Turka – Podbuz – Dublany – Koniuszki marching towards its resting area around Sanok.

Source: http://www.57id.de/index.php?title=Polenfeldzug
https://zeughaus-braun.de/collections/t ... ne-raritat

It's all. Cheers. Raúl M 8).