Incidents of the Polish Campaign, 1939:

[tigre]

Hello Domen ; thanks for those threads pal ; It was not strange at all to see those soldiers with their gas masks if they were fighting inside the bunker; remember La Ferté...All the best. Raúl M .

[Domen123]

The German video below is authentic (not propaganda as for example "Kampfgeschwader Lutzow") and is showing a German ambush against a unit of Polish cyclists in 1939:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2oWg-UUdiQ

[tigre]

Thanks for sharing it pal . Saludos. Raúl M .

[Domen123]

And here is propaganda - fragments of mentioned "Kampfgeschwader Lutzow" (film made in 1940) :

In 1:34 Polish propaganda poster "Gwałt zadawany siłą musi być siłą odparty. Swego nie damy napastnika zwyciężymy. W wypadku wojny każdy mężczyzna bez względu na wiek i każda kobieta będą żołnierzami." can be seen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X25lanYgSro

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

[Domen123]

This photo most probably shows a Polish motorized column attacked and destroyed by approximately 10 Soviet tanks from 72. Rifle Division supported by two infantry companies from the same division on 21.09.1939 or 20.09.1939, while it was withdrawing to Romania - this place is most probably somewhere near the bridge at the river Czeremosz:

Traces of tank Caterpillars can be seen:



Corporal Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz was a famous Polish writer and artist:



He was KIA there during combat against 10 Soviet tanks supported by 2 infantry companies from 72. Rifle Division on 21.09.1939, while defending the bridge at the river Czeremosz.

Between 20.09.1939 and 21.09.1939 Soviet forces finally blocked almost the whole remaining part of the Polish-Romanian border and filled it with strong guards - normal withdrawal was no longer possible - Polish forces could only try to break through since that moment.

One - maximum two days later, last parts of the Polish-Romanian border and the whole Hungarian-Polish border was captured by the Red Army and filled by strong garrisons - Polish withdrawal was blocked.

[tigre]

Thanks again for this good complement pal . Cheers. Raúl M .

[Domen123]

Podsośnina Łukowska on 15.09.1939:

From this website:

http://lukowa.pl/modules.php?name=Conte ... age&pid=31

"The battle of Łukowa [15.09.1939 - 17.09.1939] was fought by Polish 6. Infantry Division from Operational Group "Bielsko" under command of brigadier general Bernard Mond. On 14.09.1939 Polish division occupied the new defensive lines along the river Tanew: from Osuchy across Podsośnina, Szostaki up to Pisklaki. On 15.09.1939 in Łukowa, to the west from the church, a Polish patrol fired at a German car. Several wounded German officers died immediately. Germans accused civilian population for that attack. They gathered inhabitants of Łukowa in the church. Those, who did not go inside the church, were kept in the square. Near the church Germans placed their heavy artillery, directing guns towards the forest of Solska Primeval Forest, Podsośnina, Osuchy. Inhabitants were exposed for missiles of Polish artillery. According to the relation of a soldier - participant of those combats, Poles knew about hostages and did not shoot.

Fierce combats also took place on 15.09.1939 between Szostaki and Pisklaki in the meadows called "Glinsko". In the place, where German units were trying to cross the river Tanew, Poles organized an ambush. Germans were forced to retreat from the hill Borsuczyna. In the same time another German unit attacked Podsośnina from the direction of Łukowa. Eastern part of the village burned down (western part was destroyed yet on 14.09.1939). Due to the heavy pressure of Polish soldiers, the enemy retreated towards Łukowa. German attacks on Podsośnina lasted for the whole day. All of them were repulsed despite the predominant strength of the enemy. [...]"

And here is what Lexikon der Wehrmacht says about combats in Podsośnina Łukowska on 15.09.1939:

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... n/28ID.htm

7. Kompanie from II./Infanterie-Regiment 7.:

Am 15. September 1939 geriet die 7. Kompanie zusammen mit einem Zug der 14. (Pz.Abw.) Kompanie bei Podsosnina-Lukowka in den Bereitstellungsraum einer polnischen Division. Dabei erlitt die Kompanie schwere Verluste: 28 Tote, 46 Verwundete und 6 Gefangene.

And:

10. Kompanie from III./Infanterie-Regiment 7.:

Unteroffizier Oswald Reimann gefallen bei Podsonina-Lukowska 15. September 1939
Unteroffizier Georg Stollnocki gefallen bei Podsonina-Lukowska 15. September 1939
Grenadier Rudolf Kaiser gefallen bei Podsonina-Lukowska 15. September 1939

12. Kompanie from III./Infanterie-Regiment 7.:

Unteroffizier Fritz Schäfer gefallen bei Podsosnina-Lukowska 15. September 1939

The battle for the line of the river Tanew in the area of Łukowa - including combats in Podsośnina Łukowska - lasted for three days: 15.09.1939 - 17.09.1939. Further combats:

"After the next German attack on Polish positions [on 16.09.1939] soldiers had to withdraw from the hill Borsuczyna behind the river Tanew. German artillery was constantly fireing at the whole Surowy Forest (forest located north from the village Szostaki, 400 metres from the river Tanew), nearby meadows and Aleksandrow. The line of the river Tanew was hold by Poles until 17.09.1939 (Sunday morning). Also Polish units in Podsośnina were forced to retreat, they marched deeply into the Solska Primeval Forest. Whereas 117 soldiers fallen during that battle remained in the parish cemetery in Łukowa":



Best regards!
Peter

[Domen123]

Polish veteran - older rifleman Ignacy Wachowiak - from IV. battalion of 56. Infantry Regiment speaks about destruction of his battalion by Soviet tanks near Monasterzyska (former Tarnopolskie Voivodeship, today in Ukraine), during its withdrawal to Romanian Bridgehead - Polish Campaign, 1939:

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monasterzyska

His battalion was ordered to march to Romanian Bridgehead. But the Soviet Invasion of Poland took place. Soviet tanks were already waiting for them near Monasterzyska. Battalion was surrounded by Soviet tanks - he says that commander was KIA but he is not sure if it was commander of the battalion or commander of some company:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17gj-tbURxg

He also says that he participated in capturing Zaolzie in Czechoslovakia in 1938.

Here the same Polish veteran - older rifleman Ignacy Wachowiak - says about horrible conditions in Soviet POW camp:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0JqMHNSbJs

There was only one well with water for each 12,500 POWs, there were no beds, no blankets and one small room for each 25 POWs to sleep and live in it. They had to sleep on the floor.

He didn't know the name of this camp, he only knew that the camp was located to the north-east from the place where he was captured (Monasterzyska) - they were transported there by train - in animal carriages.

There were 88 storeyed huts in the camp - each hut for around 600 "slaves" - 24 rooms in a hut.

He was in the hut no. 24.

Food was also horrible - small rations and it was often bad. Mainly grits and fish soups.

Russians were not even allowing them to sleep - at midnight they were awaking them and controlling their documents.

[tigre]

Thanks for those stories Domen . Cheers. Raúl M .

[Domen123]

If it comes to the info about the so called "Massacre near Ciepielow" posted on page 2 of this thread:

Original German text of the so called "München account" ("Unser erstes Gefecht in Polen") is available here:

http://forum.historia.org.pl/index.php? ... 9687&st=15

Unser erstes Gefecht in Polen

Was bisher war, lässt nichts Gutes ahnen, Vorgestern erschoß unser Hauptfeldwebel aus dem im Schrittempo fahrenden Pkw. mit seiner 08 einen etwa 60 bis 70 jährigen alten polnischen Bauern, der seine Kuh in den Stall führen wollte, wohl um zu verhindern, dass sie auf die Strasse lief. Er war sehr stolz auf diese Schußleistung – man bedenke – aus dem fahrenden Pkw aus 12 mtr. Entfernung.

Ich kann das einfach nicht fassen. Noch vor ein paar Wochen hat er geheitatet und war so zärtlich zu seiner Frau und so nett zu seinen alten Schwiegereltern. Ob er nur die Kuh treffen wollte ? Leider lässt, der Stolz, den er ob seiner Schießleistung nicht verhehlt, diesen Schluß nicht zu, ausserdem würde er als gewissenhafter Hauptfeldwebel, der es noch zum Offizier bringen will, konnte kaum wagen, auf den Vormarsch eine Kuh zu erschießen, die er nicht der Truppenverpflegung zuführen konnte. Das wäre ja Diebstahl am „Wehrmachtseigentum“. Da die Kollonne kurz nach dem Schuß stockte, konnte man noch beobachten, wie eine alte grauhaarige Frau sich weinend auf den toten Körpfer stürzte. Vielleicht hatte der „Held“ auch diese Frau noch erschossen, wenn der Pkw nicht gerade gestanden hätte, was ihm sicherlich weniger „Schützenehre“ eingebracht haben würde.

Am gleichen Tag, wir waren immer noch in keine Gefechtsberührung gekommen, lediglich links und rechts des Strassenrandes, sah man vereinzelte Verwundete Polen mit erhobenen Händen zurückkommen, erschoß Oberjäger K. aus dem fahrenden Fahrzeug Lkw einen verwundeten polnischen Soldaten, weil er nur einen Arm hochgehoben hatte. Man sah deutlich, dass der Soldat den rechten Arm schlaff hängen ließ, weil ihm die ganze rechte Schulter zerschmettert war. Er tat es aus purer Schießlust. Ich sah ihn die Maschinenpistole auf den Man anlegen und rief ihm entrüstet zu: „Oberjäger !“. Da nahm er die MP ab. 10 sek später, ich hatte gerade den Kopf nach vorne gewandt, krachte es. Der Pole brach zusammen. K. hatte sich doch nicht den Schuß verkneifen können. Wie soll ich das verstehen ?

Dies waren die Heldentaten innerhalb unserer Kompanie, noch ehe ein feindlicher Schuß auf uns gefallen war.

Und jetzt im Wald von Ciepielow kurz vor Zwolen hat die 11. Kompanie unseres Batl. die Spitze. Wir folgen, Ich höre MG-Gewehrfeuer. Die Spitze ist angeschossen. Absitzen ! Irgendwie beschleicht mit Angst. Ich will ja nicht – es ist schlecht, mutig zu sein wenn man nicht weiss, warum – Nervosität, Befehle, Schützenkette, 10. Kompanie links der Strasse ! Ich mache mit. Empfinde die Gefahr, jetzt abgeknallt zu werden, als Strafe für meine unkonsequente Haltung und das beseitigt auch jedes Angstgefühl Ich latsche mit, sehe keinen Polen. Der MG-Schütze schiesst wie toll aus dem Arm. Querschläger schwirren Jetzt merke ich, dass auch die Polen schiessen. Es pfeift knapp an meinem rechten Ohr vorbei. Da drecht sich Hauptmann von Lewinskiy als erster. Kopfschuss von oben, Also Baumschützen. Ich bewundere den Mut dieser Baumschützen. Einer wird erkannt. Der Sanitäter schoss ihn mit der Pistole herunter. Da reißt die Verbindung ab. Jeder rennt kopflos durch den Wald. Eine Stunde später sammelt sich alles auf der Strasse. 14 Tote zählt die Kompanie, einschliesslich Hauptmann von Lewinskiy

Der Regimentskommandeur Oberst Wessel (Kassel) tobt, den Monokel im Auge „So eine Frechheit, uns aufhalten zu wollen, und meinen Lewinskiy haben sie mir erschossen."

Die Landser zählen nicht bei ihm. Er stellt fest, dass es sich um Partisanen handelt, obwohl jeder der 300 Gefangenen Polen eine Uniform trägt. Sie müssen die Röcke ausziehen, So, nun sieht das schon eher nach Partisanen aus Jetzt werden ihnen noch die Hosenträger abgeschnitten, scheinbar, damit sie nicht davonlaufen können.

Nun müssen die Gefangenen ich Reihe hintereinander am Strassenrand entlanggehen. Wo führt man sie hin, war die Frage. Nach rückwärts zum Tross, der sie in die nächste Gefangenensammelstelle bringt .?

5 Minuten später höre ich 1 Dtzd schweredeutsche Maschinnenpistolen bellen. Ich eile in die Richtung, sehe 1 oo (zera ołówkiem) km mtr zurück, die 300 polnischen Gefangenen erschossen im Strassengraben liegen. Ich riskiere 2 Aufnahmen, da stellt sich einer der Kradschützen, die dises Werk vollbracht hatten im Aufrag des Oberst Ltnt. Wessel stolz vor sie Linse.

The author of the account is an anonymus German soldier.

88 pages of discussion about the "Masacre near Ciepielow" (in Polish - but with many photos, documents, etc.) are available here:

http://forum.historia.org.pl/index.php?showtopic=4102

The first, initial publication about the "Massacre near Ciepielow" has already been published (in Polish):

"Massacre near Ciepielow in accounts and documents" published by Janusz Ryt:

http://forum.historia.org.pl/index.php? ... =0&start=0

Here the direct link to the publication in PDF format:

http://historia.org.pl/Ciepielow.pdf

I also have got the paper copy of this publication from the author (for cooperation and help in research).

[tigre]

Thanks my friend for sharing those links here . Cheers. Raúl M .

[Domen123]

I was told that there are some mistakes in the above rewritten from the original text. So I posted scans of original typescript. Available here:

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 5#p1362039

[tigre]

Thanks again Domen . Cheers. Raúl M .

[Domen123]

Battle of Boratycze on 14.09.1939 was one of a few battles in September of 1939 during which terrain and weather conditions didn't allow the German side to take advantage of their firepower and technological superiority, German numerical superiority also wasn't crushing - this resulted in a bloody but balanced, day-long battle:

From "Lwow 1939" by Wojciech Wlodarkiewicz, pages 117 - 118 :

"On 14.09.1939 weakened in numbers [15] and tired by marches 24th Inf.Div. after stopping in the area: Tyszkowice, Boratycze, Chodorowice and Popowice, was attacked by 2 Gebirgs-Division. Strong assault on Boratycze was repulsed by counterattack of 155 res. Inf.Rgt. and I/39 Inf.Rgt. Hand-to-hand combats took place in the forest. Gebirgsjaegers were halted, III/137 Geb.Jg.Rgt., which constituted the frontal guard, and the regimental HQ were cut off. Situation of the avant-garde, which entered the forest without proper reconaissance, became critical. Polish shooters fireing from positions located on the trees caused heavy casualties. Only entering combat by II/137 Geb.Jg.Rgt. and I/136 Geb.Jg.Rgt. enabled getting the situation under control. It was the day of the heaviest casualties of 2. Gebirgs-Division in September of 1939 [16]. At 9:00 PM 24th Inf.Div. was ordered by gen. Sosnkowski to stop combats and march to the forests near the railway station Chrosnica, at sunrise on 15.09.1939 it passed Mosciska. The battle of Boratycze allows the judgment of combat value of Polish infantryman, when terrain conditions didn't allow the enemy to take advantage of modern means of combat [17]."

[15] E.g. 1 pspodh consisted of III battalion, 2 cp. of II battalion, reconaissance company - 38 soldiers -, 3 AT guns and 1 cp. of 1 KOP Inf.Rgt. "Karpaty". Account of maj. Marian Serafiniuk [...], 17.02.1949, CAW, sygn. II/3/19, k. 3
[16] "Alpenkorps in Polen", p. 134; M. Kraütler, K. Springenschmid, "Es War ein Edelweiss. Schicksal und Weg der zweiten Gebirgsdivision", pp. 23 - 24
[17] Edmund Różycki, "Chronicle of operations of 24th Inf.Div. [...], k. 41

From "Kampania Polska 1939 roku" by Czeslaw Grzelak and Henryk Stanczyk, page 301:

"But yet on 14.09.1939 24 Inf.Div. of col. Boleslaw Schwarzenberg-Czerny was attacked by German 2. Geb.Div. in the area: Tyszkowice-Boratycze-Chodorowice and Popowice. While repulsing the attack, 155 reserve Inf.Rgt. fought victorious combats in the forest near Boratycze, cutting off III battalion from the rest of forces of 137 Geb.Jg.Rgt and inflicting heavy casualties to it. On this day 2 Gebirgs-Division suffered the biggest casualties during the whole September Campaign. By the evening 24 Inf.Div. was ordered by gen. Sosnkowski to stop combats against the Germans and to march through forests in eastern direction. At sunrise on 15.09.1939 it found itself near Mosciska."

[tigre]

Hello to all ; another incident but this time shortly before the war.................

“Ostpreußen, die Tage vor dem Zweiten Weltkrieg“ (East Prussia, shortly before WW II)
a story by H.-J. Rotzoll.

In the middle of August 1939, the Heeres Artillery Regiment 57 from Königsberg/Prussia was moved to the border, endangered by Poland at that time. The unit gathered at Garnsee, Kreis Neidenburg. The position of my battery lay in a corn field. In this area working in the fields had already became a risk for the human life. Up to 7 km depth within the East Prussian territory riders coming from Poland were scorching and murdering there.

These assaults began already since July 1939. As far as the eye could reach, one could see smoke and fire in the evening hours. The villages and houses were set afire provocatively by the polish cavalry troops. Those among the inhabitants who tried to run into the open or tried to stop the fire were annihilated. The German men were not only killed with the sword or hung but also caught with the lasso and towed to death toward the Polish border. In order to stop these activities, my battery was to set up a raiding party on 23 August 1939.

Source: Die Geschichtslüge des angeblichen Überfalls auf Polen durch Deutschland im Jahre 1939.
http://www.odkrywca-online.pl/forum_pic ... pa_173.jpg

More follows. Cheers. Raúl M .