56 and 57.IDs
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 5:25 pm
Anyone the roles played by these two divisions during the 1939 Polish Campaign?
Thanks,
AHK
Thanks,
AHK
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Combats near Stary Sambor were fought against Polish 3. Mountain Brigade. Quotation from Dubicki & Spruch, "Przedmoscie Rumunskie" ("Romanian Bridgehead"):Die Gefechte bei Stary-Sambor
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.Die Gefechte bei Rudki 16.09.1939
Near Tuczapy on 17.09.1939 German forces organized an ambush against Polish artillery.Die Gefechte bei Tuczapy
But German forces were chasing it and some fights took place also on 18.09.1939.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.
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.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.
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).Also combats in the area near Horodyszcze - listed on that website - lasted for two days: 17 - 18 IX.
More exact strength of this unit was: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.
Video showing Soviets in Sambor and Germans in Rudki in 1939:Die Gefechte bei Rudki 16.09.1939