The XXI AK, from the border to the Narew - 1939

German Heer 1935-1945.

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The XXI AK, from the border to the Narew - 1939

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a new topic here....................

With the XXI AK from the border to the Narew - September 1939.

Border fighting - Sep 1939.

On September 4, 1939 the XXI AK (Generalleutnant Nikolaus von Falkenhorst), had taken Graudenz after three days of intense fighting. The defeated enemy withdrew to the south and the link between East Prussia and the Reich had been restored. Parts of the German 4. Army had established a bridgehead in Kulm, while the mass of the german 3. Army advanced by Mlawa southeastward with the intention of winning crossings on the Vistula and Narew, and then threaten Warsaw from the east.

On September 5, 1939 the Army's Command (3 AOK) had ordered the transfer of the XXI AK with its subordinated army corps troops and the 21. ID towards the East and was given the task of crossing the Narew between Nowogrod and Lomza and press on the flank and rear of the enemy deployed in Rozan. In addition to the aforementioned 21. ID, the Army Corps would have the 10. Pz; the Fortress Brigade "Lötzen" (Landwehr) and the Aufkl. Lehr Abt. (ALA).

Image
119. Landkarte von Ostpreußen, 1930 http://www.historisches-tonarchiv.de/downloads.htm

Sources: http://www.historycy.org/index.php?show ... 8293&st=58
XXI AK Ia Erfahrungsberichte Sept-Okt 1939
KTB des Generalkommando XIX AK über den Feldzug in Polen.
HISTORIA 33 PUŁKU STRZELCÓW KURPIOWSKICH. http://www.exodus.4lomza.pl/index.php?k=10

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: The XXI AK, from the border to the Narew - 1939

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more follows....................

With the XXI AK from the border to the Narew - September 1939.

Border fighting - Sep 1939.

While at the Polish side, after its raid on German territory, the Cavalry Brigade Podlaska was shifted to Malo Plock and overnight would cross the river Narew. Given that action, ppłk Stanek sent to Stawiski and to Kolno the Reconnaissance Company (por. Władysław Szark) of the 33 pp. That very day Maj. Józef Sikor (III. / 33 pp) reported enemy motorized traffic towards Nowogrod and left the facilities at Morgownik; German troops stopped between Zbójna and Pisa since the bridge had been blown.

The ALA had been shifted toward Lyck on the evening of September 6, 1939 in order to be engaged on the left flank of the Army Corps towards the line of the Biebrza, due to between the reich's border and the Narew, still were deployed advanced parties of the enemy, consisting of border guards and cavalry.

Until September 7, 1939 lasted the assembling of the Army Corps around Johannisburg - Gehlenburg - Lyck - Arys, in order to cross again the Polish border due north of Kolno and west of Szczuczyn; firstly would cross the 21. ID, then the 10 Pz and finally the Brigade "Lötzen", with the ALA moving by Lyck towards Grajewo as the open flank protection.

Image
German armored column moving toward the border .................

Sources: http://www.historycy.org/index.php?show ... 8293&st=58
XXI AK Ia Erfahrungsberichte Sept-Okt 1939
KTB des Generalkommando XIX AK über den Feldzug in Polen.
HISTORIA 33 PUŁKU STRZELCÓW KURPIOWSKICH. http://www.exodus.4lomza.pl/index.php?k=10

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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tigre
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Re: The XXI AK, from the border to the Narew - 1939

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more follows....................

With the XXI AK from the border to the Narew - September 1939.

Border fighting - Sep 1939.

After rail and road transport (with sections of about 50 kms), the first elements of the 21. ID crossed the border south of Gehsen on September 7, 1939; after defeating a weak resistance of the border guard troops, the division crossed the border watercourse (the Wincenta) whose bridge had been destroyed. Indeed on September 7, 1939 the commander of the 33 pp, ppłk Stanek, received the report of the commander of the reconnaissance company por. Szark that German troops had crossed the border and moved toward Kolno and the mounted Platoon of the subunit was engaged in combat with the invader. However due to the superiority of the attacking troops, the Polish troops were forced to withdraw, reporting that Kolno was occupied by German forces. On the evening of September 7, 1939 the bulk of the 21. ID was in Kolno, with advance detachments in Borkowo.

Image
Grajewo .................

Sources: http://www.historycy.org/index.php?show ... 8293&st=58
XXI AK Ia Erfahrungsberichte Sept-Okt 1939
KTB des Generalkommando XIX AK über den Feldzug in Polen.
HISTORIA 33 PUŁKU STRZELCÓW KURPIOWSKICH. http://www.exodus.4lomza.pl/index.php?k=10

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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tigre
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Re: The XXI AK, from the border to the Narew - 1939

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more follows....................

With the XXI AK from the border to the Narew - September 1939.

Border fighting - Sep 1939.

While on September 7, 1939 the ALA marched from Lyck and crossed the border of the Reich by Prostken with the motorcyclist squadron in the lead; but already in Grajewo hit heavy enemy resistance suffering some casualties (fighting with the I./ 135 pp?). With the support of the Heavy Squadron of Oberleutnant Winter the 3. (kradsch.schw.) / ALA finally could break the resistance but suffering some casualties in doing so; here fell in action its commander, Rittmeister Gerhard Häublein, and other 9 men. The ALA was located with its bulk in the southwest of Grajewo and reported about important hostile elements west of Grajewo and at Modzele.

Image
March through Grajewo ...............

Sources: http://www.historycy.org/index.php?show ... 8293&st=58
XXI AK Ia Erfahrungsberichte Sept-Okt 1939
KTB des Generalkommando XIX AK über den Feldzug in Polen.
HISTORIA 33 PUŁKU STRZELCÓW KURPIOWSKICH. http://www.exodus.4lomza.pl/index.php?k=10

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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tigre
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Posts: 6959
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:42 pm
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Re: The XXI AK, from the border to the Narew - 1939

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more follows....................

With the XXI AK from the border to the Narew - September 1939.

Border fighting - Sep 1939.

On September 7, 1939 at 05:00 hours and after a short preparation, a Rifle Battalion (schützenbat.) reinforced by a company of tanks and combat engineers of the 10. Pz crossed the border by Schwiddern and then moved toward Szczuczyn. The resistance was negligible, although all the bridges had been blown. With the support of the sappers, the tanks and heavy vehicles of the riflemen went ahead; in Stawiski they had to overcome the resistance of the cyclist Platoon of the Reconnaissance Company of the 33 pp, commanded by ppor. Malinowski, which after being threatened with encirclement retreated seeking refuge in the nearby woods.

Image
Stawiski where was in position the cyclist Platoon of the 33 pp.............
http://odkrywca.pl/wrzesien-1939-zdjeci ... 32682.html

Sources: http://www.historycy.org/index.php?show ... 8293&st=58
XXI AK Ia Erfahrungsberichte Sept-Okt 1939
KTB des Generalkommando XIX AK über den Feldzug in Polen.
HISTORIA 33 PUŁKU STRZELCÓW KURPIOWSKICH. http://www.exodus.4lomza.pl/index.php?k=10

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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tigre
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Posts: 6959
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:42 pm
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Re: The XXI AK, from the border to the Narew - 1939

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more follows....................

With the XXI AK from the border to the Narew - September 1939.

Border fighting - Sep 1939.

Around noon the German scouts reached the area north of Lomza along the routes to Kolno and Stawiski and behind them appeared motorcyclists and tanks. The Germans advanced towards the fort III (Czarnocin) where an attempt to conquer the fortifications on the north bank of the Narew failed due to the intense defensive fire of antitank guns and artillery, causing heavy casualties in killed and wounded. During the night the Commander of the 10. Pz was ordered to direct his division to Wizna and to cross the river there.

During the night from 7 to 8 of September 1939 the Army Corps Commander decided to resign the river crossing by Lomza and ordered the 21. ID to win the crossing by Nowogrod and the 10 Pz by Wizna. Parts of the Brigade "Lötzen" should march from Wizna towards the Biebrza and press on the route Osowiec - Zambrow in order to support the advance of the 10 Pz; therefore it was organized the detachment Gall (two battalions of IR 161, Pi Btl 161 and the II. / AR 161).

Image
German troops enter Stawiski ....................

Sources: http://www.historycy.org/index.php?show ... 8293&st=58
XXI AK Ia Erfahrungsberichte Sept-Okt 1939
KTB des Generalkommando XIX AK über den Feldzug in Polen.
HISTORIA 33 PUŁKU STRZELCÓW KURPIOWSKICH. http://www.exodus.4lomza.pl/index.php?k=10

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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tigre
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Posts: 6959
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:42 pm
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Re: The XXI AK, from the border to the Narew - 1939

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more follows....................

With the XXI AK from the border to the Narew - September 1939.

Border fighting - Sep 1939.

At dawn on September 8, 1939 the 10th Pz was at Jedwadne, while the ALA reported at 04:50 hours it was in a forest southeast of Kossaki and had consumed two thirds of its ammunition. In the meanwhile the XIX AK (Mot) was to push by Szczuczyn, Wisna towards Zambrow on September 9, 1939, for this task it would has subordinated the following units: the 10 Pz (attacking towards Wisna), the 20 ID (Mot) and the ALA. The 2 ID (Mot) and the 3 Pz were at disposal of the Army Group. On the evening of September 8, 1939 the Detachment Gall had reached the west bank of the Bobr and began preparations for the crossing.

Meanwhile the 10 Pz found the bridge at Wizna completely destroyed, but a company of riflemen managed to cross to the east bank and established a bridgehead there. However due to the fire of machine guns and a Polish artillery battery located in the area, it was impossible to cross other fractions. The 21. ID reached the Narew in front of Nowogrod and could reconnoitre 24 bunkers on the opposite bank, many with steel domes. Several assault groups of the IR 45 went across the river in assault boats but could not advance and had to retreat at nightfall.

Image
The 21. ID crossing the Narew......................

Sources: http://www.historycy.org/index.php?show ... 8293&st=58
XXI AK Ia Erfahrungsberichte Sept-Okt 1939
KTB des Generalkommando XIX AK über den Feldzug in Polen.
HISTORIA 33 PUŁKU STRZELCÓW KURPIOWSKICH. http://www.exodus.4lomza.pl/index.php?k=10

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
User avatar
tigre
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Posts: 6959
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:42 pm
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Re: The XXI AK, from the border to the Narew - 1939

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; the end....................

With the XXI AK from the border to the Narew - September 1939.

Border fighting - Sep 1939.

Dawn of September 9, 1939 brought new struggles for the crossing of the Narew without the goal was achieved. The IR 161 could cross by Sierbuczyn and press on Brzeziny where it was halted by another fortified line. The Pz 10 managed to expand the bridgehead at Wizna and won the road to Jezewo where its progress was stopped in front of another line of bunkers. So on the evening of this day the most advanced parts of the division (the I. / IR 86 and the light tanks of the PR 8 ) were in the line Perkusy - Kurpicki, while the Pi Btl 49 was committed to building a bridge, but the mass of the Pz 10 was still in the first bank.

The 21. ID tried to cross the river with assault groups supported by artillery, anti-aircraft guns and aviation support (Stukas) but was unable to break the resistance of the fortifications. Because this, the fire support was reinforced and the schw. Art Abt 536 was attached to the 10 Pz., while the artillery of the Army Corps and the I. / Flak Rgt 11 reinforced the 21. ID. However, during the night from 09 to 10 September 1939 the 10. Pz and the Aufkl. Lehr Abt. left the XXI AK and were subordinated to XIX AK (Mot).

Image

Image
Wizna ...........

Sources: http://www.historycy.org/index.php?show ... 8293&st=58
XXI AK Ia Erfahrungsberichte Sept-Okt 1939
KTB des Generalkommando XIX AK über den Feldzug in Polen.
HISTORIA 33 PUŁKU STRZELCÓW KURPIOWSKICH. http://www.exodus.4lomza.pl/index.php?k=10

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