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Battle of Pszczyna (Polish: Bitwa Pszczyńska) refers to the series of battles between 1 and 4 September 1939 near the town of Pszczyna during the Invasion of Poland. Battle of Pszczyna formed part of the battle of the border.
Overview
The battle can be divided into four phases:
- 1 September: Polish defense of the outer positions near the Brzeźce and Wielka Wisła villages
- 2 September, morning: Polish defense of the main positions near Pszczyna
- 2 September, afternoon: battles near Ćwiklice
During those two days Polish forces suffered a defeat and were forced to retreat.
The main reason of the Polish defeat (apart from huge German material and numerical superiority) was wrong anticipated direction of the main German attack on 2nd of September.
As the result of it, the whole Polish plan of defense failed, because then it became impossible to activate a huge trap, which was prepared for German tanks - "big bag", which was weak in front, but strong on sides - with strong artillery there.
Also overmuch certainty after great successes of the previous day (espeially fierce, few hours-long combat - with use of "big bag" trap - near Brzeźce village) contributed to Polish defeat.
Because of this overmuch certainty, Polish commanders decided to make "the big bag trap" more shallow - which caused that it was less elastic, and Polish positions were easier to crush, if the defence was not successful (as it happened) - but on the other hand - if the defence was successful (which didn't happen - the unexpected direction and strength of the German main attack were deadly), shallow "bag" would be more effective because German attack would be stopped faster and with greater casualties for the enemy (greater concentration of firepower).
The defeat suffered on the 2nd of September (with loss of significant per-cent of divisional artillery) forced the Polish High Command to pull back the entire frontline, and cede the territory of Upper Silesia to the Germans.
- 3 September - 4 September - Polish successful separation and withdrawal, however paid dearly (Polish withdrawal was successful mainly thanks to counterattack on Ćwiklice made by two battalions from 16th infantry regiment - they gave time for other units to regroup and withdraw).
- German equipment casualties and Polish equipment and men casualties (list may be incomplete):
On 1st of September:
| Place | German casualties | Polish casualties | Polish dead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rybnik | 7 tanks | 7+ cars | 16+ dead |
| Rydułtowy | none | none | 2 dead |
| Mszana | 7 armoured cars | none | none |
| Branica | 2 tanks | none | unknown |
| Łąka | few tanks | unknown | unknown |
| Brzeźce | 13 - 14 tanks and 1 tank surrendered to the Poles (with 2 soldiers) and was destroyed | 1 AT gun | 1 - 2 dead |
| Równie | 4 tanks (including 1 Pz-IV) | 1 75mm cannon | unknown |
| Żory | 4 tanks | none | 11 dead |
| Głożyny | none | none | 7 dead |
| Wilchwy | none | none | 2 dead |
| Wodzisław | none | none | 1 dead |
| Jastrzębie | 2 tanks and 4 - 6 armoured cars | none | 3 dead |
| Warszowice | none | none | 2 dead |
| Kryry | 3 tanks and 2 more tanks drown in the swamps (on 3. IX were taken out) | none | none |
| Wisła Wielka | 4 tanks | 1 75mm cannon | 15 dead |
| Strumień | 1 light tank (by Polish tankettes TK), 1 Luftwaffe recon plane shot down over Strumień | none | 2 dead |
| Unknown place | unknown | unknown | 3 dead |
| Total 1st of September: | 45 - 47+ tanks & 11 - 13+ armoured cars, 1 recon plane | 2 cannons, 1 AT gun, 7 cars+ | 65 - 66+ dead |
Between 2nd and 4th of September:
| Place | German casualties | Polish casualties | Polish dead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Łąka | none | unknown (all are included in summary for the day) | 27 dead |
| Pszczyna | 5 tanks | unknown | 10 dead |
| Ćwiklice | 17 - 18+ tanks (including at least 1 Pz-IV) and 3 more got stuck in the mud (1 later pulled out, 2 captured by Poles) | unknown, but very high - including 6 batteries of light artillery & at least 3 AT guns (all included in summary for the day) | 226 or 251 dead and estimated 300 - 350 wounded |
| Stara Wieś | 3 - 8 tanks (3 for shure by mines, up to 5 by AT gun but this is doubtful) | unknown | 9 - 13 dead |
| Jankowice | none | unknown | 6 dead |
| Miedźna | 1 tank | unknown | none |
| Góra | 1 tank | unknown | 3 dead |
| Goczałkowice | none | unknown | 1 dead |
| Unknown place | unknown | unknown | unknown |
| Total 2nd of September: | 30 - 36+ tanks | 23 - 24 75mm cannons, 4 105mm cannons, 4 AT guns | 282 - 311+ dead |
| Międzyrzecze | several tanks | none | unknown |
| Bojszowy | 5 tanks | none | none |
| Jankowice | none | 1 AT gun | 2 dead |
| Piasek | none | none | 1 dead |
| Uknown place | unknown | unknown | unknown |
| Total 3rd of September: | 7 - 8+ tanks | 1 AT gun | 3+ dead |
| Rajsko - 4 IX | 5+ tanks | 5 AT guns, 4 75mm cannons | 80 - 83 dead + 11 drown in the river Soła |
| Unknown place 4 IX | unknown | 2 tankettes - non-combat losses (1 was left without combat because of technical failure during withdrawal, the second 1 drown in the canal with its crew) | unknown |
| Grand Total Battle of Pszczyna: | 87 - 96+ tanks & 11 - 13+ armoured cars, 1 Luftwaffe recon plane | 2 tankettes, 29 - 30 75mm cannons, 4 105mm cannons, 11 AT guns | 441 - 474+ dead |
Casualty list according to: the latest book about the battle: "Bitwa Pszczyńska 1939" ("Battle of Pszczyna 1939") by Janusz Ryt
After the long and bloody combat of Ćwiklice on the 2nd of September, German war correspondent K. Frowein - after seeing one of the Polish heavily wounded - wrote:
War correspondent K. Frowein – 2 IX 1939:
"This was the first Polish soldier I have ever seen. Bloody piece of human suffering. Legs pulled up to his chest because of pain, face – greenish-pale.
From his thin lips almost inaudible scream was getting out – "Water! Water!". We unbuttoned his uniform jacket – smeared with blood and entrails. German orderly gave him canteen with water. For the last time smile appeared on his face, when he whispered: "Danke". - Few minutes later he died. Now he rests in piece in place where he fallen, under straight, wooden cross, decorated with Polish helmet and a plate with inscription: "Six Polish soldiers".
This Polish infantryman died like a real soldier. Until the end he was defending his post, completing his orders. When deadly bullets reached him, his munition holds were empty, and in the magazine of his rifle there were only 2 bullets."
K. Frowein's relation according to the book: "Polen Feldzug. Hitler und Stalin zerschlagen die Polnische Republik".
References
- This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding Polish Wikipedia article as of 1 April 2006.
- "Battle of Pszczyna 1939" by Janusz Ryt, published by infopres, Pszczyna 2007
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- This page was last modified on 27 November 2008, at 16:51.
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