5 Pz D in 1939

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5 Pz D in 1939

Post by tigre »

Hi to all.

As far as I know, there were two Polish defensive positions around Pszczyna:

one along the line Branica, Brzezce, Wisla Wielka (8 kilometers to the west of the city) . At Branicy, the IV battalion of the 16 Infantry Regiment "Wladyslaw" (mjr Stefan Rachwal); at Brzezcach, the III Battalion of the 20 Infantry Regiment (mjr Tytus Brzózka) minus 7 Company; at Wisle Wielkiej - 7 Company of the 20 Infantry regiment (2º Lt. Stefan Kosmala) also the 1º Battery of the 6 Artillery regiment., and the I Group (dywizjon) of the 6 Artillery Regiment (mjr Franciszek Mrowiec) deployed in the Poreby area.

Other, the main line of defense, around the city itself. With 56 Platoon Artillery (Static), 6 Battalion of Engineers, 3 Platoons of regimental engineers and the rest of the 20 Infantry Regiment (Lt Col. Kazimierz Brozek), II Bat. (Cap. Waclaw Nowacki) plus the squadron "Krakusów" of the Divisional Cavalry.

On September 1st of 1939 the vanguard (motorcicle Battalion and Recon Battalion) of the 5º Panzer Division carried out a recon in force but was repulsed by the defenders, that night the Polish retreated towards the main line and on September 2 the German launched a powerful attack (motorized infantry and tanks) gaining ground and seizing Pszczyna/Pless by late afternoon.

So I'm looking for one sketch showing the troops disposition, the Commanding Officers of the 5 Pz D down to Battalion level, if possible, and also if someone could share any report about the engagement before mentioned from the german side of the hill. Many, many thanks in advance. Regards. Tigre.
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Post by Zalewski »

send me your ardes aggain
I will send You a map this position
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5 Pz again!!!

Post by tigre »

Hello to all gentlemen.

Please, could someone provide me with a more or less accurate map showing the 5 Pz division deployment as 01 september 1939 and the advance through Pless. Also, AFAIK, the 8th Panzer Brigade's commander, oberst J. Haarde was wounded on 01 sep, any report with regards to the circumstance of this fact?
TIA again and regards. Tigre
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Re: 5 Pz D in 1939

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

September 1, 1939 in Jastrzębie-Zdrój.

General situation and deployment.

The pre-war period was characterized by a greater activity of the German minority. All kinds of militias were created and both the provocations and the confrontations between German militiamen and the Polish Youth of the Young Insurgent Union were usually in the agenda. The repeated German attacks on border villages and customs checkpoints accelerated the creation of voluntary insurgent troops, composed of veterans of the Silesian revolts. Only in the district of Rybnik consisted of eight battalions, which brought together a total of almost 3,000 people.

In the summer of 1939 the German provocations on the border in Polish territory, including Silesia, intensified. Preparations began to defend against the next aggression of the Third Reich in Poland. Two independent defensive positions (OW) were organized within the province: "Rybnik" and "Ignacy". "Rybnik", was organized to cover the southern wing of the "Silesia" Operative Group (GO Slask) and to cover the approach of the enemy towards Pszczyna, consisted of an infantry battalion of the 75. Pułku Piechoty, battalion of National Defense ON "Rybnik" of the reserve 55. Dywizji Piechoty, a cyclist squadron and an artillery group of the 23. Pułku Artylerii Lekkiej. "Ignacy" consisted of two infantry battalions, an artillery group and a squadron of the 3. Pułku Ułanów of Pszczyna. Both detachments had the task of delaying the enemy's march on the Rybnik - Wodzisław - Bogumin line by attacking their spearheads and recognizing the advancing German forces on their approach avenues before they reach the main defense position. The district of Rybnik, which shared a common border with the Third Reich of 84 km, was to be defended by 4 infantry battalions, 2 artillery groups, a cyclist company and a Ulan squadron.

In detail, the Polish deployment was as follows:

Border guard - 2 companies, voluntary patrols of the 6th, 21st and 23rd Sapper Battalions, in the Rydułtowy tunnel: a position of the 3rd Battalion of the 20º pp [per. Ignacy Kupfer], on the bridge over the Odra river near Olza: a position of the 3rd Battalion of the 20º pp [por. Stanisław Orłowski], Bugumin: 3rd Battalion of the 3 Pułku Strzelców Podhalańskich [ppłk Wacław Iwaszkiewicz] after the destruction of the bridges in the Oder [in charge of the Pl. of por. res. Bolesław Gajdzica] had to leave for Jastrzębie-Strumień-Pszczyna, and establish a platoon position in Bożej Górze, and the work was directed by por. Jerzy Bernatzik, Wodzisław: territorial self-defense battalion, Jastrzębie: 3rd Squadron of the 3rd Pułku Ułanów of Silesia [ritm. Otto Ejsymont] with the position extended to Mszany, with an infantry Pl of the 7th Rifle Company commanding by ppor. Karol Zawistowski of the 3 PSP, Rybnik: 1st Battalion of the 75th Pułku Piechoty [mjr. Władysław Mażewski] and a company from the Battalion ON Rybnik [Cpt. Jan Kwaśniewski], Żory: 2 companies of battalion ON Rybnik [mjr. Tadeusz Kwiatkowski], cyclist company and 5th battery of the 23 pułku artylerii lekkiej [cpt. Mikołaj Józef Stranz], standing position Branica-Brzeżce-Wisła Wielka: 4th combined battalion of 16 pułku piechoty [mjr. Stanisław Rachwał] - Branica 3rd Battalion of 20º pp minus 7. Company [mjr. Tytus Brzosko] - Brzeźce 1st Group of 6 pułku artylerii lekkiej minus one battery in Poręba [mjr. Franciszek Mrowiec], 7. Company of 20 pp [per. Stanisław Kosmala] with a battery of the 6 pal - Wisła Wielka. As for the section "Bielsko" was occupied by the 21st Dywizję Górską, in the Pszczyna area a weak detachment called "Ignacy" was in position and most of the forces of the 6th Dywizji Piechoty, on 1 September, were at about 40 km behind Pszczyna in the Skawina - Wadowice region.

As for the Germans, in the Rybnik-Wodzisław district, the 5. Pz commanded by General von Viettinghoff-Scheel was deployed for the attack, forming part of the VIII. AK of General Ernst Busch (14. AOK, Army Group South). The core of this division was the 8th Armored Brigade [Oberst Haarde] with two regiments: PR 15 [Oberst Streich] and PR 31 [Oberst Schuckelt] - with 330 tanks and armored vehicles of various types. In addition, in the division was the 5th Rifle Brigade [Oberst Degener] - with the SR 13 [Oberst Lubbe] and SR 14 [Oberst Stegmann], which provided motorized infantry support. It also had artillery (AR 116), exploration (AA 8), engineers (Pi 89), antitank (Pz Abw., Abt. 53) and communications (Na.At 77).

The main objective of the 5. Pz was to win as fast as possible bridgeheads on the Vistula, to facilitate a new attack towards the interior of the country. Breaking the Polish defensive position in the place less fortified about 3 km south of Pszczyna on the boundary of the 6th and 21st divisions. The Germans, based on reports, knew perfectly the weakness of this sector of the defense. As a condition for the rapid success of the offensive, the armored units had to capture bridges, viaducts and tunnels in the defensive border belt. The sappers of the 6th and 21st Battalions managed to destroy all the border bridges: 4 road and 3 railroads; in turn, they failed to blast bridges in Leśnica, in Wodzisław, in Szotkówce by Gogołowej and in Bożą Górą, as well as in Pszczyna in Brzeźce.

Preparations.

On August 23, 1939, it was learned about the pact of Non-aggression with the Soviet Union and on August 24, 1939 at 12:40 hours arrived from the VIII. AK the signal: "1. Y-Tag: 26.8". On August 25, 1939, a squadron of the 3rd Uhlans Regiment of Silesia arrived at Jastrzębie Zdrój, commanded by the ritm. Otto Zygmunt Ejsymont, who was part of the grouping of the independent position "Ignacy" in Wodzisław. The platoon commanders were ppor. Maksymilian Lohman, ppor. Jan Krzywicki and ppor. Hieronim Pauziński. The group of heavy machine guns was commanded by the kapral Edward Nowicki. The sappers and the local population dug trenches in Boźej Górze and built positions for machine guns and antitank guns. The foot of the hill was surrounded by fences of barbed wire. On the night of August 25, 1939 the units of the 5. Pz occupied their positions northeast of Ratibor in the vicinity of the forest of Rauden, but at 21:20 hours came suddenly the order to return to the old readiness areas to the west of Ratibor. Finally, on August 31, 1939, at 11:30 hours, the order of the VIII. AK arrived: "March on the night from August 31 to September 1. Detach a courier Officer to the Command of the Corps at 15:00 hours." At 19:00 hours the officer returned with the order to cross the border on September 1, 1939 at 04:45.

Sources: http://www.pamiec.jasnet.pl/historia_ja ... 3ry,17.htm
Walka o Bożą Górę w świetle najnowszych ustaleń. BIULETYN GALERII HISTORII MIASTA NR 1 (35) 2015.
Die Geschichte der 5. Panzerdivision 1938-1945. Anton Detlev von Plato.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
German defensive position in the vicinity of Ratibor - August 1939 .........................................................<br />http://www.naszraciborz.pl/site/art/5-styl-zycia/14-historia/515-1-wrzesnia-1939-roku-w-ratibor.html
German defensive position in the vicinity of Ratibor - August 1939 .........................................................
http://www.naszraciborz.pl/site/art/5-styl-zycia/14-historia/515-1-wrzesnia-1939-roku-w-ratibor.html
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Re: 5 Pz D in 1939

Post by tigre »

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

September 1, 1939 in Jastrzębie-Zdrój.

Attack.

On that crucial morning, the weather was cloudy and rainy; the 5. Pz crossed the Polish border at 04:45 hours split into three marching groups; Marschgruppe A (Oberst Haarde), Marschgruppe B (Oberst Streich) and Marschgruppe AA 8 (Oberstleutnant Grolig) and shortly after crossing the border the Germans encountered a great number of destructions and barricades that hindered the advance. Column B, advancing from Stodół through the valley of the Ruda, encountered heavy destruction and moved slowly in the direction Chwałęcice to Rybnik. Column A together with the Aufkl. Abt. 8 moved in the direction Racibórz-Pszów-Jastrzębie.

The Germans also crossed the border into the Sumina area with some of their forces that headed towards Rybnik. Marching on the Zebrzydowicka road, around 08:00 hours they reached the city on rural roads, while the main forces of Column B occupied Rybnik around 09:00 hours. At the same time, a strong detachment of tanks supported by infantry and a light armored reconnaissance platoon moved towards Jastrzębie from the north in the direction of Gogołowa-Szeroka-Warszowice-Wisła Wielka, arriving at Warszowice at 09:00 hours (Column A ??), and the Infantry (SR 13) arrived at Wisłę Wielką at 9:30 am.

OW Wodzisław.

While the 3. Ulan Squadron consisted of four platoons: ppor. Hajdamowicz (1 pluton), ppor. Lohman (2 pluton), ppor Krzewicki (3 pluton) and ppor. Prauziński (4 pluton). The ppor. Hajdamowicz went north near the bridge in Gogołowa, there are 29 Uhlans, who only have 1 anti-tank rifle. WZ 35. Also on August 31, the ritm. Ejsymont ordered a certain number of the squadron's troops to retreat to Jarząbkowice (22 Uhlans), whereby one platoon was positioned at Marklowice near Wodzisław, the next two took the Wodzisław-Jastrzębie route, and the fourth on the approach from the south. At dawn on September 1, the captain sent patrols well ahead of the squadron: one to Bogumin, to establish communication with the 3rd Battalion of 3 pułku strzelców podhalańskich (3rd regiment of Podhale Rifles), others to the west. Shortly after 08:00 hours in the Pustki colony, the patrol of the ppor. Prauzinski was attacked by the spearhead of the aufkl. Abt. 8, with the result that the kapral (corporal) Stanisław Gładki and two more ulhans were captured. At the same time the patrol of the ppor. Lohman was also attacked at the height of the bridge over Olza on the edge of Łaziska and Gorzyczek. The retreating patrol lost the Uhlan Mojselewicz, and after crossing the ford near Wierzniowice, continued his reconnaissance in the direction of Bogumin.

After taking Mszana around 08:00 hours, the Germans decided to cross the bridge in Szotkówka and attack the Polish positions on the mountain of God. The 3rd Silesian Uhlan Regiment and the Insurgent Self-Defense Unit commanded by Józef Hetmański, supported by the retreating soldiers from Wodzisław of the 3rd Podhale Rifle Regiment, the boy scouts and two companies of the OOP battalion (Ochotniczych Oddziałów Powstańczych-insurgent volunteers ) commanded by Augustyn Fulk and the ppor. Wojciech Prokop, stopped in Boźej Góry for several hours the attack of the 5. Pz.

When the first of the armored vehicles reached the bridge, it received fire from the defenders. The Uhlans, with their anti-tank weapon, destroyed the first and last of the vehicles that entered the bridge, after which others were blocked on the road [the story speaks of another 4 vehicles]. Unfortunately, it was impossible to blast the bridge in Szotkówka, and the German infantry occupied the area, not allowing it to be destroyed. With the help of the anti-tank weapon, the defenders destroyed the machine-gun nest that the Germans placed in one of the Szotkówce buildings. Despite the support of the artillery, the German attacks were repelled. The attackers tried unsuccessfully to break the Polish resistance twice. On the battlefield, apart from the tanks and damaged armored vehicles, several dozen Germans were killed and wounded on the ground.

Sources: http://www.pamiec.jasnet.pl/historia_ja ... u,Bohaters
Walka o Bożą Górę w świetle najnowszych ustaleń. BIULETYN GALERII HISTORII MIASTA NR 1 (35) 2015.
Die Geschichte der 5. Panzerdivision 1938-1945. Anton Detlev von Plato.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Attachments
This Panzerspähwagen Sd Kfz 232 (Fu) 8-rad, received a Polish anti-tank shell shortly after crossing the border (passing Loslau / Wodzislaw Slaski) ..........................................
This Panzerspähwagen Sd Kfz 232 (Fu) 8-rad, received a Polish anti-tank shell shortly after crossing the border (passing Loslau / Wodzislaw Slaski) ..........................................
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Wodzislaw Slaski. September of 1939, the sign next to the tank says: closed road, detour through Wodzisław; as I believe the picture shows the command of the PR 31, part of the March Column A (in the foreground Oberst Schuckelt and further back a befehlspanzer III) ............................................
Wodzislaw Slaski. September of 1939, the sign next to the tank says: closed road, detour through Wodzisław; as I believe the picture shows the command of the PR 31, part of the March Column A (in the foreground Oberst Schuckelt and further back a befehlspanzer III) ............................................
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Re: 5 Pz D in 1939

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

September 1, 1939 in Jastrzębie-Zdrój.

OW Wodzisław.

After two hours of confrontation the German command changed the attack tactics: it was decided to execute a maneuver around the Polish positions on the Połomia-Gogołow-Szeroka line. The situation of the defenders became desperate. According to the Pszczyna order issued by the plk. Ignacy Misiąga, the defenders had to hold on to the German forces until 14:00 hours so the Rotmistrz Eysymont decided to occupy a second line of defense.

In addition the defenders began to be flanked from the south, the first tanks entered from the side of Moszczenica, and at approximately 08:45 hours, they opened fire on the evacuation train that started from the Zdrój station, which probably transported the infantry platoon of por. Zawistowski. The railroad bridge was blown near the station. The Polish position was attacked with artillery fire and just after 10:00 hours, with increasing pressure from the Germans, Captain Eysymont decided to gradually abandon the occupied positions by covering himself with the fire of a machine gun. The squadron withdrew along the road to Pawłowice, and after passing the farm, Szrajów took a new defensive position on hill 282 at Jastrzębie Górny.

The position was occupied by anti-tank weapons, which effectively blocked the road to Pawłowice [damaging two other armored vehicles], as well as the bridge from the side of Zdroj, which allowed the withdrawal of the other platoons of the squadron towards Pielgrzymowice. Upon retiring from Hill 282 after 12:00 hours towards Zamły, the machine gun gunner Antoni Kumor was killed and Paweł Sterniczuk and Karol Burczak were wounded. The Pl. Ldr. ppor. Józef Krzewickiof was also wounded.

At 11:00 hours a cavalry unit (Polish) entered the Strumień market, then headed towards Pszczyna. However, due to the barricade in Wisła Mała, it was forced to turn towards to the south through one of the bridges in the Zarzecki. The cavalry probably retreated through Zabrzeg to Dziedzic. At that time, another detachment of the Polish army went through Chybie. The squadron that retreated through Strumień came to Pszczyna, and met the plk. Misiąga around 16:00 hours.

The most important aspect about the battles of the Pszczyna Squadron with column A of the 5. Pz was to successfully stop and block the passage of the AR 116 (Mot) artillery group, which allowed the Polish troops to position themselves well forward in the vicinity of Brzeźce and Wisła Wielka, and hold the positions on September 1, 1939 ..........................

Sources: http://www.pamiec.jasnet.pl/historia_ja ... 3ry,17.htm
Walka o Bożą Górę w świetle najnowszych ustaleń. BIULETYN GALERII HISTORII MIASTA NR 1 (35) 2015.
Die Geschichte der 5. Panzerdivision 1938-1945. Anton Detlev von Plato.
Bitwa Pszczynska 1939

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
Advance of the March Column A (5. Pz) and Polish defensive positions - September 1, 1939 ............................
Advance of the March Column A (5. Pz) and Polish defensive positions - September 1, 1939 ............................
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Re: 5 Pz D in 1939

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

September 1, 1939 at the OW Rybnik.

Mobilization.

Since the 23. Górnośląska Dywizja Piechoty (Mountain Infantry Division) was a cover unit, to which belonged the 75 pp (pulk piechoty - infantry regiment), the I. / 75 pp was mobilized during the night of 24 / 25 August 1939, in Rybnik. The mobilization was carried out calmly, the soldiers received the equipment according to the mobilization plans. The 1st Company, after being mobilized, moved from the barracks to the local public school, and my platoon stayed in the area of ​​the combat posts. It should be noted that throughout August, the posts and detachments were occupied every night, and the battalion that was detached, was always willing to support the border guards due to the repeated attacks by the Germans on these institutions. On the other hand, in March 1939, the 5th Pz took part in the occupation of the Czech Republic. Before the start of the Polish campaign, the division was concentrated west and northwest of Ratibor.

War.

As the leader of the 1st Platoon reinforced with a platoon of machine guns, grenade launcher squad, anti-tank guns and communications patrol with the field phone, it had the task of blocking the Rybnik-Gliwice highway. My neighbor on the road was the 2nd Pl. of the 1st Comp. at 800 meters, which blocked the road Chwalęcice -Rybnik, neighbor on the left at 500 meters was a unit of National Defense. I was in the left wing of the battalion. The battalion organized a defense based on the city. Embrasures were opened in the walls of the buildings, and the positions were extended in a semicircle around Rybnik from the west and north. The 2nd Pl. due to the terrain occupied fox holes. There were some frontline fortifications like bunkers for heavy machine guns (right next to each road). I organized the defense together with the company and the second battalion. The Platoon was deployed so that two groups + grenades launchers + anti-tank weapon + 2 heavy machine guns (1 in the bunker) were in the built-up area (a suburb of Rybnik - "Marokko") on both sides of the road, while a group + 1 heavy machine gun with my deputy (Cadet Sznajder) placed in a group of houses between my position and the 2nd Pl / 1. Comp. at a distance of 400 meters.

In front of the line of defense was a shield organized by the border guards and focused on the directions of advance of the enemy, and thus along the roads. On August 31, 1939, the order was given to me, but only for my knowledge, that the next resistance line would be 10 km away. Until now, all the orders of the battalion and the company were issued with the intention of resisting at any price in the place. I received the maps of Rybnik and Gliwice (German side).

On September 1, 1939, it found me at the observation point (attic of the building) with all the guards in their service positions, the platoon at 200 meters (from the observation post) from their positions slept in the buildings - Distance from the border 4 km.

Sources: http://forum.zapomniany.rybnik.pl/viewt ... 5d12de3a3d

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
Polish deployment in the Rybnik area .....................................................
Polish deployment in the Rybnik area .....................................................
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Re: 5 Pz D in 1939

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

September 1, 1939 at the OW Rybnik.

War.

Around 04:45 hours on September 1, 1939, heavy salvoes of artillery fire are heard in the direction of Chwalęcice. At the same time, German aircraft fly inland at a fairly low level. Immediately alerted the rest of the Platoon, short words of encouragement and the troops take positions, all occupy the positions prepared in the houses (embrasures prepared on the wall). At the same time, the field kitchen is delivering breakfast and transporting it to the outposts (returns under hostile fire). I'm checking with the ppor. Rudawski the crew of the machine gun in the casemate. I place the anti-tank weapon in the direction of Orzepowice. Antitank obstacle (mines) along the road. At the same time, cadet Sznajder with a reinforced team goes to the houses located in the valley in the middle between "Marokka" and the cemetery (about 500 m from the position). We are ready. At around 05:30 a half-dressed soldier of the Sumina guards rushes in and reports that the German tanks have crossed the border. I sent it back.

During the reception of the guard's report, I can see and hear fire from the forest towards the second platoon, and trucks leaving with the infantry. (Distance 1,000 m), I order to move some anti-tank guns to the alternative position, which was located in the direction of the hostile vehicles and I give the order to shoot simultaneously with the 2nd Platoon. Meanwhile, the tanks are marching from this direction and along a dirt road and through the field towards the direction of my first team. An intense machine-gun fire from the adversary (incendiary projectiles) and his assault detachment meet my platoon. The fire of the detachment destroys a machine gun and an observatory, a strong German artillery fire on the casemate. The antitank fire destroys 2 hostile tanks, the soldiers hesitate, try to retreat, I do not give up, so I send them back. The tanks are moving to the city, so in my rear, telephone communication is interrupted.

Around 06:00 hours heavy German artillery fire on "Marokka" and the cemetery and I can see a large movement of German vehicles at the edge of the Zebrzydowice / Orzepowice forest about 800 meters from "Marokka", I notice the movement of the German tanks on the minefield on the road from the direction of Sumina / Jejkowice / Zebrzydowice - brick factory. I give the order for the antitank fraction to open fire on the tanks in the Zebrzydowice forest, advancing through the valley directly towards cadet Sznajder. During this time, my phone call ends. I see through binoculars that the defense fights in the cemetery, as well as the death of cadet Sznajder when the machine gun changes position. German artillery fired directly at "Marokka". One of the projectiles literally sweeps all the service of my machine gun from the attic of the house.

The tanks do not march on the road but through the field on both sides of "Marokka". Two houses in front of me (about 150 m) have been burned by the German fire and with it just before the mines stopped two German tanks, detonating the anti-tank mines (I later learned from the local people, that they were destroyed - I am not sure if the mines or a rifle, or maybe both measures) After the first moments the stunned soldiers had recovered and despite heavy artillery fire and tanks managed to burn 3 tanks with the "Marokka" cannon in the foreground the corpse of Sznajder gave courage to fight. At some point, the antitank weapon got blocked, personally I try to correct the blockade, nothing happens, I order to withdraw the gun backwards. I do not know how it was done, but only this cannon, the only one of the battalion, came to Tomaszów Lubelski and gave us a lot of help in new fights with the Germans.

Meanwhile, behind the tanks, the infantry troops arrived from the edge of the forest and were quickly caught in the cross fire of the heavy machine gun of the casemate, light machine guns and shooters. The advance of this attack was very slow despite the presence of tanks and artillery constantly firing. Our 5. Battery del 23. Pal in Zory did not participate in the fight for Rybnik, for being out of reach, and secondly, most of the German tanks (around 100) crossed Rybnik towards the Gotartowice-Żory road where around 10:30 am they locked in a fight against the artillery.

Sources: http://forum.zapomniany.rybnik.pl/viewt ... 5d12de3a3d

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
German advance to Rybnik...........................................
German advance to Rybnik...........................................
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Re: 5 Pz D in 1939

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

September 1, 1939 at the OW Rybnik.

Around 11:30 hours Rybnik was taken by the Germans except for the advanced position of "Marokka" to the west of the city. Upon hearing that the German artillery ceased fire to the cemetery and when he saw no fight on his left (the ON Company, it seemed that it did not enter the fray), the officer in charge decided to gather his soldiers and withdraw from the southern suburbs of Rybnik through "Meksyko" to Gotartowice / Żory.

At that time, said the Polish officer, I turned towards the ppor. Rudawski, to head towards the casemate with the machine gun, to whose rear was firing a German tank, located in the area between "Marokka" and the road that leads from Rzuchów to Rybnik, where the ON Company was deployed astride. The ppor. Rudawski died while running down the road towards "Marokka" by the fire of a German machine gun.

The tank, with its fire, prevented us from retreating from the open ground of the casemate and a small valley which together with the buildings of "Marokka" itself covered the fire of the German infantry. During the assembly of the Polish soldiers from their positions, the fire weakened and the tank crew probably thought that the defense was over, because it opened the hatch and left the tank in a potato field, where they received hostile fire and probably some were killed or injured. This gave the Poles the opportunity to withdraw.

Why the German infantry did not jump and got into the buildings, it's a mystery, apparently, were neutralized by fire for so long that they were afraid of being injured or killed, they did not have the courage to take advantage of a favorable situation. This action took place between 12:00 and 13:00 hours.

The Poles withdrew by jumps on the south side of the Rybnik-Żory route. At a distance of 10 km from Żory they heard combat noise in this area, the march effort was doubled, but some of the physically weaker soldiers had to leave, they had no strength. With the last forces Zory was reached when the fight was over, passing under the fire towards the north side of the road, after which they went into the woods where the movement of the battalion was expected.

Sources: http://forum.zapomniany.rybnik.pl/viewt ... 5d12de3a3d
https://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-5-Panzer-D ... 485ec841f4

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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Motorized column of the 5. Pz in the border zone of Rybnik.......................
Motorized column of the 5. Pz in the border zone of Rybnik.......................
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Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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tigre
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Re: 5 Pz D in 1939

Post by tigre »

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

5. Pz in Sambor 1939.

On September 17, 1939, at 9:30 p.m., the order of the Division arrived for the following day, September 18: PR 15 march in the direction of Lemberg; SR 14 (Reinf.) in the direction of Stryj; PR 31 with Pz Abw Abt 53 available to the division at the northern edge of Sambor ......... CP of the 5. Pz moved on September 18, 1939 at 07:30 hours to Sambor.

Image
Elements of PR 31 in the Sambor market area; in the foreground a Pz Kw IV Ausf. B / C......................

Image
Elements of PR 31 in the area of ​​the City Council of Sambor; a Pz Kw II and a Pz Kw IV are observed........

Sources: https://forum.odkrywca.pl/topic/656823- ... /#comments

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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