Tuszyny september 1939.

German campaigns and battles 1919-1945.

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tigre
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Tuszyny september 1939.

Post by tigre »

Hello folks I wish to know some details about a litle engagement in Poland 1939.

Tuszyny 1939.

On 01 september 1939, in the afternoon the 3rd Panzer Division had forced the river Brahe at Hammermuhle, reaching Swiekatowo by nightfall. On 02 september 1939 the Polish 27 Infantry Division was moving back towards Torun, marching in two columns.

The western column, 50 Infantry regiment (50 Pulk Piechoty) plus III/ Light Artillery Group (3/27 pal) under LtCol Adam Werschner marched off via Trutnowo - Świekatów - Serock – Wudzyń. The eastern column, the bulk of the division (mainly 23 Infantry Regiment, 24 Infantry Regiment and 27 Light Artillery Group) under Gen. Brig. Juliusz Drapella via Błądzim - Tuszyny - Łowin - Pruszcz Pomorski. In this scene took place the following story:

Four tanks against a whole division. (from: http://www.deutsche-landser.de/berichte/15001.htm)

The abteilung advanced to Swiekatowo and went into position. It was ordered that a platoon proceed to Tuszyny to clear up the situation; the division did not know yet what happened to the north in the Tucheler Heide. Presumably polish troops will try to break through towards the south, this fact must be avoided.

The First Lieutenant that led the platoon pressed on with its four heavy tanks in loosely formation. It was in the morning, 02 september, around 11:00 hours; a clear and beautiful autumn day. The First Lieutenant was sat down in the foremost tank, slim and blond, already knew the fight in Spain, earning there the Spanish's Golden Cross. He opened the hatch and searched for the enemy; the engines roared, the chains rattled. Left of the First Lieutenant was sat down the gunner and right of him the loader and in front beside the driver, was sat the radio operator constantly in connection with the company, that remained in Swiekatowo. The First Lieutenant was constantly connected with the other 3 tanks of the platoon by a laryngeal microphone and by its headphones. So the panzers rattled to the north.

Nothing was seen. Everything was calm. The small place Tuszyny with its straw-covered little houses lay peacefully in the midday sun. As precaution the First Lieutenant closed the hatch’s tower of his vehicle, but the place was not occupied by the enemy. Without firing a shot, the tanks advanced through it. At the town exit the platoon took a position, left and right of the road leading north. The situation remained calm, only polish civilians trying to flee towards north. The hatches were opened and the crews sat down on the edge of the road enjoying of a breakfast. One hour had past. Suddenly ones pointed out to the place where the road and the dark forest merged each other, 3 kilometers away. Did not somewhat moved there?. It looked like… the point of one polish column. The men climbed onto theirs tanks, the hatches were closed, the turrets turned, the eyes kept watching through the visors. The platoon´s leader ordered fire. The distance was, however, too large yet; forward, instructed the First Lieutenant and the tanks moved. At 800 meters the tanks fired on again and this time the poles fled toward the forest. We shall chase them, asked one sargeant by radio, no, we hold the position answered the First Lieutenant. The tanks moved back to the town’s exit. It became 01:00 PM and the forest’s edge remained quiet and empty. One half hour past when the poles resumed the march again and emerged from the forest, infantry, riders, cars, unit’s trains, etc. The cannons were aimed toward the enemy. The gunners let them approach, the point was now at 1500 meters; the First Lieutenant ordered that we should open the fire at 1200 meters. As it was ordered, the guns spat its projectiles and the tanks trembled. The panic spread again among the polish troops; the vehicles were blown up, the men and horses ran about. Each tank delivered 10 shots, 40 shots in total it was enough, the road was empty and quiet again. The crews opened the hatches of its tanks, because it became hot inside. The First Lieutenant tried to get in contact via radio communication with his company at Swiekatowo asking for reinforcements. The radio operator tried again and again but without success. It was 3:00 PM now, a polish recce plane approached fast, circled over the tanks and disappeared. The poles knew now what had happened, only four tanks.

The position was changed, the tanks moved 800 meters further ahead in order to take a new position at a farmstead located there. Meanwhile the communication with the company was restored again, the First Lieutenant asked for reinforcements but the company answered that a polish attack was coming at Swiekatowo; so the platoon must hold its position at all cost alone, reinforcements would be send ASAP.

The poles advanced again from the forest’s edge. The enemy were closer and closer, the gunners recognized the brown kaki silhouttes. The cannons targeted the enemy and fired at 500 meters and each shot was a direct hit. The poles were near Tuszyny and tried to go around the farmstead which was burning now. It was 05:00 PM and the tanks were still holding its position without relief. The ammunition became scarce, the First Lieutenant had only 5 shells in his panzer. Nevertheless the platoon shot lively. Suddenly two german tanks arrived as reinforcement and the First Lieutenant ordered “forward”, the poles did not expect this. The sixs tanks rolled on in a thick cloud of dust. Some poles started to run, some held up and some remained laid. Suddenly the tank was hit, the driver turned the vehicle and disappeared inside a house. The First Lieutenant ordered “ polish pak ahead turn to the left”. They had driven directly onto an antitank position but nothing happened, a miracle, the projectile slipped under the belly’s tank, only later the radio operator informed that he had been wounded in his arm. Finally the village was empty of enemies and five tanks gathered. At the village exit, behind a house laid the missed tank. “Shot! thought the first lieutenant. He knew the picture of a shot tank still from Spain. He approached. Not far from the tank also laid the Polish Pak with its crew. The tank must have destroyed it at the same time, while it was shot. Beside the tank laid the tank leader and the gunner side by side. Inside he found the driver and the radio operator. All dead. Only the loader is missing. One company of another abteilung relieved the plattoon and proceeded the advance, the First Lieutenant returned to Swiekatowo and delivered his report about the action at Tuszyny.

Any idea about who was the First Lieutenant (Spanish's Golden Cross winner). Any info would be appreciate. Regards. Tigre
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Post by Pirx »

This looks like description of fights in Swiekatowo.
Tanks or maybe column of armoured vehicles entered to the village, and voigt of Swiekatowo phoned to Army HQ in Torun, and inform about that fact. Whole 27th infantry division was moving back to Bydgoszcz, not Torun (first order was indeed Torun but was changed to Bydgoszcz). Those tank platoon was in Tuszyny 3 kilometers east from Swietakowo. Poles were moving along the railway from north. They already knew that Germans are in Swiekatowo, probably didn't know about unit in Tuszyny.
On the night 1st/2nd september 23 and 24 regiment were attacked 5 kilometers north from Tuszyny near Lipienica. I/50 batalion and III/50 batalion attacked Germans in Swiekatowo nad captured the village. Resistance was relatively weak, so i guess that armoured column was away. Germans made very succesful counterstrike with tanks from area of Jania Gora, west of Swiekatowo. No doubt that gruop of tanks in Tuszyny must heard battle 3-4 kilometers east from them (tanks, field guns). Probobly some polish unist were running in direction of this group, so near noon they must hold Tuszyny. However main forces were escaping north in direction Szewno - Bladzim, chased by tanks. Tanks were stoped between lakes by II/50 and artilery. September 2nd afternoon Germans tried break through Polish lines, but lack of ammo, air support (blitz were not perfect yet) they stopped attacks. September 3rd Poles got reinforces (Pomorska Cavalary Brigade), and rest of 27 id break through to Bydgoszcz.
1. that battle was big German succes! almost 30-40% of division was destroyed in 12 hours
2. They realised that light or medium tanks rather are not good against even lightly prepared defence in night without air or artilery support, but great in pursuit.
3. four tanks against whole division is a myth.
4. september 2nd is summer not autumn, even in Poland :wink:
amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas
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Re: Tuszyny september 1939.

Post by tigre »

hello to all :D; a map of that area. Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Area of Tuszyny.<br />http://igrek.amzp.pl/mapindex.php?cat=WIG100
Area of Tuszyny.
http://igrek.amzp.pl/mapindex.php?cat=WIG100
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Re: Tuszyny september 1939.

Post by Domen123 »

Hi Tigre!,

Your excellent description refers to combats near Tuszyny fought by 3. Pz.Div. against Polish infantry on 02.09.1939. Of course this German claim about several tanks fighting against the whole division is an exaggeration - only elements of two regiments from Polish 27. Infantry Division were fighting there and Germans de facto had got more forces in the nearbyhood, not just these tanks - besides, the whole division is not even physically able to gather in one small village. :wink:

But combats near Tuszyny fought on 02.09.1939 were not the only comnbats near Tuszyny which took place during the Polish Campaign. :D

Heavy fights near Tuszyny once again took place on 03.09.1939. This time they were fought by 16th Uhlan Regiment (from Pomorska Cavalry Brigade) and 2nd battery of 11. Horse Artillery Battalion - these forces were repulsing attacks of units from 3. Panzer-Division and 23. Infanterie-Division along the line Bukowiec - Tuszyny - Polskie Łąki. At 7:00 PM on 03.09.1939 Polish 16th Uhlan Regiment occupied positions between Bukowiec and Polskie Łąki and sent reconnaissance squads towards all nearby villages Around 9:00 AM on 03.09.1939 cavalry patrol under command Cpl. Świderski reported about big German grouping of tanks and infantry in the locality Polskie Łąki. From the observation post Polish soldiers noticed the whole German battalion supported by tanks and artillery, which was preparing to attack. Soon Germans attacked Polish positions but all attacks were repulsed under heavy casualties for the defenders and also for the attackers In total the battle lasted for several hours. 16th Uhlan Regiment lost around 131 soldiers and 60% of all horses during these combats. Major Oskar Zawadi, starszy wachmistrz Wacław Michalski and plutonowy Stanisław Kostyka were among those Polish soldiers who lost their lives then. During these combats 2nd battery of 11. Horse Artillery Battalion distinguished itself and inflicted heavy casualties to the Germans, reported eliminating 8 tanks - including 5 eliminated by gun commanded by Cpl. Ceglarski (so we can say that he deserved to be called an Anti-Tank ace). Photos of German tanks eliminated near Bukowiec - Tuszyny - Polskie Łąki on 03.09.39:

Panzerkampfwagen IV from Pz.Rgt.6 from 3. Pz.Div. completely destroyed in Polskie Łąki near Plewno on 03.09.1939:

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More AFVs from 3. Pz.Div. eliminated during heavy combats against Polish cavalry between Bukowiec and Polskie Łąki:

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Pz.Kpfw.IV destroyed in Polskie Łąki and several more tanks from 3. Pz.Div. eliminated in this area can be seen:

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Knocked out Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. E:

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Cheers!,
Domen
Last edited by Domen123 on Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:00 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Tuszyny september 1939.

Post by tigre »

Thanks Domen and (although late) Pirx :D. Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Re: Tuszyny september 1939.

Post by Domen123 »

One more thing to add:

Despite their excellent combat performance near Bukowiec - Polskie Łąki - Tuszyny (occupied with very heavy losses however - 131 soldiers definitely lost), only ca. 50% of the whole 16th Uhlan Regiment managed to escape from the pocket which was created by Germans around Świekatowo. But even though, as many as 150 Uhlans (so ca. 17 percent of the whole regiment) from 16th Uhlan Regiment took part in the last battle of the Polish Campaign - the battle of Kock.

Also if it comes to 2nd battery of 11. Horse Artillery Battalion, which eliminatd so many tanks near Bukowiec - its commander was Cpt. Janusz Pasturczak.

And the commander of 16th Uhlan Regiment was Colonel Arnold Russocki.

By the way - Panzerkampfwagen IV destroyed in Polskie Łąki, the same place - in 1939 and today:

Image
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Re: Tuszyny september 1939.

Post by Domen123 »

But if it comes to this information:
But even though, as many as 150 Uhlans (so ca. 17 percent of the whole regiment)
This is possible but quite improbable. I think that these 150 Uhlans were rather from Ośrodek Zapasowy (Spare Centre) of Pomorska Cavalry Brigade.
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Re: Tuszyny september 1939.

Post by Domen123 »

September 2nd afternoon Germans tried break through Polish lines, but lack of ammo, air support (blitz were not perfect yet) they stopped attacks.
According to K. Ciechanowski, "Armia Pomorze" and Cz. Grzelak, "Kampania Polska 1939" - 27. Infantry Division was heavily bombed on 02.09.1939 in the morning.

Especially supply columns of the division suffered seriously during these bombings.
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Re: Tuszyny september 1939.

Post by tigre »

Thanks again Domen :D; Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Re: Tuszyny september 1939.

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; after a while a little complement...............................

Tuszyny - Polskie Łąki.

On the night from 1 to 2 September the Mayor of the commune of Świekatowo Andrzej Włoch rang to HQ of the Army "Pomerania", reporting that near the village, the sounds of the engines of German tanks could be hear. Therefore it was decided that the soldiers of the 27 DP not engaged so far would attack German units. Due to the lack of communication these activities could not be coordinated, which ultimately led to isolated clashes doomed to failure. The first battle took place on September 2 about 13:00 hours when the III./ 24 pp heading from Szewna on Tuszyny came across a German unit and got fire from the edge of the town.

The battery of artillery marching ahead, had to go back in order to support the attack of the infantry. Unfortunately, the III. Battalion was crushed by the sudden appearance of German tanks, even before it could get off the road. Coming from the rear and following the sound of battle, the second battalion moved forward and supported by artillery stormed the Tuszyny. Already an hour later, 15:00 hours, the Germans, who were reinforced in the meantime, pushed back the Polish battalion up to a railway track. There gathered also the broken III. battalion, and right behind them in the second line was already the I. Battalion of 23.pp (that very night this battalion clashed with the 8./ PR 6 at Polskie Łąki - see pictures below)

Source: III. Okres II wojny światowej. Lata 1939 – 1945. Z dziejów Nadleśnictwa Zamrzenica. Marek Sass
http://polski-wrzesien.bloog.pl/id,3382 ... index.html
http://odkrywca.pl/bukowiec-1939-2009-2 ... 57753.html

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Pz Kw IV Ausf. A of 8./PR 6 (Hptm  Bernewitz) destroyed due to Polish anti tank fire at Polskie Łąki......................
Pz Kw IV Ausf. A of 8./PR 6 (Hptm Bernewitz) destroyed due to Polish anti tank fire at Polskie Łąki......................
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View of the turret...........................
View of the turret...........................
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Re: Tuszyny september 1939.

Post by tigre »

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

Tuszyny - Polskie Łąki.

Source: http://odkrywca.pl/panzer39-wraki-czesc ... tml#700425

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Another picture of the Pz Kw IV Ausf. A of the 8./PR 6 (Hptm Bernewitz) destroyed due to Polish anti tank fire at Polskie Łąki......................
Another picture of the Pz Kw IV Ausf. A of the 8./PR 6 (Hptm Bernewitz) destroyed due to Polish anti tank fire at Polskie Łąki......................
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Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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