Hi Richard!
Report concerning the Battle of 1st Squadron/1st Cavalry Regiment, at Czarnowo at that 6-7/9/39, by Leutnant von Sperber
After we had crossed the Narev on the evening of September 6th, we warmed ourselves by the fires of the village burning on the river bank. We believed we would spend the night here and safeguard the crossing of the squadrons following. But after Wachtmeister Eder reconnoitred the route of advance and reported that the village of Kunin* was free of the enemy, then the order which had already become particularly "popular" was given: Get ready! So we rode on again in the darkness. We were not far from the Rozan-Ostrow Mazowiecka*** road. Then came the order: infantry and machine-guns to the front. While we were still deploying there was furious shooting up ahead. 1st Platoon grappled with a column on the road. The racket vanished into the darkness of night with a hue and cry. On the road and above all to the left and right of it in ditches and fields were a field kitchen, ammunition and baggage wagons, dead and wounded horses. Everything was turned over to get hold of soemthing to eat or cigarettes...
Everything empty. Then a man from the machine-gun crew came over and reported that strange noises could be heard in the forest up ahead.
We went there but couldn't hear anything. I told my people to pay close attention, but they should not see ghosts. Then there was a wild cry of hurrah from our right to our rear and shooting. What did it mean? The regiment was being attacked. We were of no use here. So we retreated at the double. We found the squadron commander with his small band in a ditch by the road. We were in the Poles' rear; they were attacking our regiment from the north. We moved down the ditch in leaps and bounds as far as the crossroads and can see the Polish attack lit up by the burning buildings. There were ever more Polacks. A rotten situation. We were cut off from the regiment. There was crashing and screaming from all sides. Oberleutnant Enss ordered: "Squadron hold the line!" We didn't have much ammunition. But what was lying there in the ditch? One box of amunition next to the other. I grabbed one of the carbines lying around and shot. After only the second shot the wretched thing jammed. There was another lying there. It shot well. One machine-gun burst after the next came from the ditch opposite. Our machine-gun was no longer working - full of sand! The shooting at the regiment becames even more fierce. The cries of hurrah died down and the Poles retreated. Then the Poles attacked again. This time they also attacked us head-on. From our left there was well-aimed heavy machine-gun fire; puffs of dust flew up along the road and there were all kinds of buzzing, whistling and growling...
The climax passed. It began to dawn. Now, in daylight, for the first time we saw what we had done. Everywhere lay vehicles and horses. I shot dead several wounded horses. We could still fire at a stray field kitchen. Suddenly we saw the Poles coming out of barracks in the forest in company strength heading towards the road. We shot at them and after just a few rounds several men fell. The rest threw themselves to the ground and then hurried back into the forest. Oberleutnant Enss with a couple of his men immediately rushed towards the forest. In a flash he had cleared out the barracks and forest where the enemy had at least a tenfold superiority. The Poles could not withstrand a determined, relentless attack. And so the battle was over.
Poles see this combat
"a little bit" differently:
From the book "Army Modlin 1939" by T. Jurga and W. Karbowski:
"[...] Front guard of the marching column of 115 Infantry Regiment, which during its withdrawal from the river Narew via różańska road reached the bridge in Czarnowo in the late night [on 6th - 7th of September], was suddenly surprised by machinegun fire and covered on both sides of the road. As it turned out, also here German cavalry had organized similar fire ambush. However, rised to the assault on order of lieutenant colonel Rzedzicki 1 battalion of major Karol Fenzlau after short bayonet fight captured the bridge and opened itself the way to the further march across the railway station Pasieki towards Góry. In the same time 2nd battalion of major Mika together with 3rd company continued to pursuit the enemy who was withdrawing along the eastern bank of the river Orz towards Kunin, after fierce combat it broke the enemy resistance and also marched towards Góry.
During the combat of Czarnowo commander of 115 Infantry Regiment, lieutenant colonel Rzedzicki was wounded, and that is why major Fenzlau took over command over the units of the regiment gathered and tidied up in Góry.
Before the sunrise tidied up regiment marched towards the ostrowska road and near Ponikwia encountered the rear guard of 134 [Polish] Infantry Regiment under command of major Hordt. Major Hordt told major Fenzlau about events which took place there. Then they marched via ostrowska road and without any obstacles on 7th of September in the morning reached the concentration area of the division in Biała Forest. [...]"
River Crossing and Fighting on the Bug on September 9th 1939 by Gefreiter Goetz, Pioneer Company 40
Like everywhere else, the fleeing Poles have blown up the huge road bridge here too [on the Bug at Brok*]. That is of little use to them. For cavalry squadrons have already crossed the river and have formed a bridgehead on the opposite bank. As of yet there are no motorised units coming across. They gather on the bank wait for us to go into action, Pioneer Company 40. It doesn't take long before three ten-ton ferries and a land bridge are completed and traffic is crossing the Bug.
Hour after hour passes. Our ferries cross from bank to bank, carrying soldiers and vehicles. No enemy aircraft, no enemy infantry can be seen. If it wasn't for the blown-up bridge, which lies in the river as a potent reminder of war, you would think we were one manoeuvres.
Suddenly we are soon brought back down to the earth by the harsh realities of war here on the Bug. It begins outside the village of Brok. Comrades standing guard observe around 10 Polish cavalry approaching the edge of the village. They climb into their radio truck and follow the apparently departing Polish soldiers. They are brought within range, but suddenly dismount and open fire on the truck following them. Our brave comrades have not time to get out of their truck before the first shot smashes through the radiator and kills the driver, who collapses at the wheel. The truck burns. The two others only escape being burned alive by the skin of their teeth. They take cover behind shrub bushes and now open fire on the enemy. Then the second pioneer is also killed. A shot to the heart means a painless, hero's death for him.
At the same time as the first shots were fired at the edge of the village, the first shots also whizz from the houses in the village. From cracks in doors, windows and street corners, German soldiers are shot at. Twigs and branches fall off the trees.
The lead stikes the walls. Drivers reach for their guns and machine-guns and soon the first German bursts of fire are hammering away in the winding streets. The Jewish population withdaws...
Now two Polish squadrons unleash well-aimed artillery and mortar fire on the village and rifle fire on the crossing. The ferry traffic has to be stopped briefly. In the meantime, several German 2cm machine-guns have weighed into the fighting on the opposite bank. The enemy falls back. Ten prisoners are brought in from the opposite bank. It was the first serious fighting that the company has experienced. The first great test has been passed against an enemy who did not show himself in open battle, but cowardly and deviously hid himself in houses and was all the more dangerous as a result.
While Polish shells are still landing in the village, setting it on fire, stormtroops bravely and determinedly are clearing out the village. All the inhabitants - here they are mainly Jews - are rounded up in the village square.
Once darkness sets in the picture presented is gruesome. Brok is in flames! It has been set on fire by Polish artillery. Tall columns of flame flicker out of the houses.
In a wide circle the sky is a deep red and vivid yellow. This bitter symphony of fire is reflected by the Bug. Nevertheless our pioneers send ferry after ferry across carrying motorised columns against this backdrop of a sea of flames. All night long, relentlessly.
* 45 miles north of Warsaw on the Western Bug
This description is in agreement (more or less) with what Polish sources say about this combat
.
But Polish sources say about terrible German artillery supporting fire and very good cooperation of German units - which were the reasons why the Polish counterattack on Brok failed. Polish unit which counterattacked the German forces in Brok (and was stopped but before that had managed to capture some parts of the town - in which it later resisted) was fighting alone, did not receive any further support, despite other available Polish units were several kilometres from Brok.
By the way - thanks very much for these excellent accounts!
Cheers!
Peter
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