German General killed in Narol (PL) 18.IX.1939??

[Njorl]

I've recently read two accounts of the same event in Narol (now SE Poland) on that day.

First claims, that a German 'General' was killed as the staff car he was traveling in tried to ride through Narol occupied by Poles. It failed to stop at the market square on demand of Polish guards and was fired at. 'General' was killed and the driver was seriously wounded.

Another source, however, only say, that a car in which a general was riding was destroyed by handgrenade. It provides no further information about car's passengers' fate.

Furthermore there are accounts that the next day, when Germans have captured the town, almost all houses around market-square were set on fire by German soldiers in an act of 'revenge'. 6 or 7 civilians (only) are said to have been killed that day, only because dr. Adolf Keler (a local physicist, I presume) and his daughter convinced a German commander not to execute captured men of Narol (they were later released).

Could someone add anything to clarify the matter? What high-ranking oficer was killed in Narol on 18.IX.1939? Was it indeed 'a general'?

Cheers,

M

[Pirx]

I heard that his name was Fish, and he was general.
Not gen. Werner von Fritsch who was killed few days earlier.

[Ron Klages]

The first German General to die in WW II as a result of enemy action was Genlt. Hermann von Speck, commander of XVIII AK, on 15 June 1940 by machine gun fire from the French at Pont sur Yonne.

This would indicte that the accounts you read probably involved a lower ranking officer but not a General.

Best regards,

Ron Klages

Source: Quiet Flows the Rhine by F.L. MacLean

[Pirx]

Werner von Fritsch died from wounds september 22nd 1939 in Warsaw.
However it is posible that from friendly fire.
He was general!

[Njorl]

Exactly Pirx, von Fritsch was the first. However there is an account that he was not killed in Praga (Warsaw's quarter) but in Cechówka on Sept. 15th. See the link http://www.adiutor-mars.com.pl/mars/mar ... rzycz1.htm

BTW Pirx, just in case you haven't already read this http://www.odkrywca.pl/pokaz_watek.php?id=405879#422496

Cheers,

MJ

[Pirx]

BTW Pirx, just in case you haven't already read this http://www.odkrywca.pl/pokaz_watek.php?id=405879#422496

Cheers,

MJ

Yes i did.

I read also text about fights in Cechówka, but it doesn't look like true story. General and other high oficcers lost way and soldiers were smoking and eating breakfast on the grass? In wehrmacht 1939? really very not possible. Each source i found gives info that Fritsch was not killed but wounded, and died later. And he was hit by splinter. It was probably from German artilery, and that was hidden by propaganda. German Artillery shot own General! No Way! So it must be Polish artillery...
Anyway Fritsch was frist German general KIA on WWII.

[Pirx]

Exactly Pirx, von Fritsch was the first. However there is an account that he was not killed in Praga (Warsaw's quarter) but in Cechówka on Sept. 15th. See the link http://www.adiutor-mars.com.pl/mars/mar ... rzycz1.htm

BTW Pirx, just in case you haven't already read this http://www.odkrywca.pl/pokaz_watek.php?id=405879#422496

Cheers,

MJ

[Ron Klages]

A point of clarification regarding the death of Generaloberst Werner von Fritsch. He was killed by gunfire on 22 September 1939 but is not considered as a battle casualty of a commanding German General in the war. He had resigned his command as Commandert in Chief of the German Army in 1938 after being accused of homosexual activities which were false.
He had resigned and was no longer an active General in the Army.

He had returned as an honoary commander of his old command, the 12. Artillery Regiment and was shot by a sniper and died shortly afterwards from massive blood loss. He was not considered as a military casualty but as a civilian casualty.

At any rate he was the first German General to be killed during the war.

Best regards,

Ron Klages