What happend on this day?

[Lancer44]

Warsaw Uprising September 3 - 10

After the fall of the Old Town, the brunt of the German attack centers on the Riverside district; its objective is to push the insurgents away from the Vistula River. Heavy artillery barrage and air bombardment concentrate on the Warsaw Power Plant—the insurgents' central stronghold. Its destruction cuts off the electricity for the City Centre. After four days of bloody fighting, the Riverside district falls; insurgents and civilians withdraw to City Centre.
Airplanes drop leaflets signed by General von dem Bach urging civilians to leave the city on September 9 and September 10. The Polish Red Cross opens negotiations with Germans regarding the evacuation of elderly, wounded and underage civilians. Several thousand civilians leave the city during a two-hour cease fire.

A German offensive concentrates on the northern section of the City Centre, which is shelled by a 600mm mortar every eight minutes, inflicting in heavy casualties. Bombing destroys the City Centre printing plant, interrupting the publishing of Information Bulletin and other newspapers. Civilians flee into City Centre south.

[Kovalski]

The Battle of the Bzura (also known as the Battle of Kutno) was a World War II battle of the Invasion of Poland and was fought September 9 – 19,1 1939, between Polish and German forces.
This was the largest battle of the Invasion of Poland and took place west of Warsaw, near the Bzura River. A Polish counterattack failed after initial success.

Opposing Forces

Polish forces consisted of Army Poznań and Army Pomorze.
German forces consisted of Armies 8 and 10 from Army Group South (Heeresgruppe Süd).

The Battle

The battle can be divided into 3 phases:

* Phase I - Polish offensive on Stryków (9-12 September)
* Phase II - Polish offensive on Łowicz (13-16 September)
* Phase III - Polish defeat and retreat towards Warsaw

On September 9, the Polish Poznań Army made a counterattack from the area south of the Bzura river, its target was the German divisions advancing between Łęczyca and Łowicz. The Polish forces' main effort was concentrated in the area of Stryków.
On the right wing of the offensive there was the Podolska Cavalry Brigade,
and on the left, in the area of Głowno - Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade.
Due to a Polish advantage in numbers and German surprise, the Poles managed to cause considerable losses among their enemies, killing about 1,500 German soldiers. Also, German forces were thrown back approximately 20 kilometres south and the Poles recaptured several towns, including Łęczyca and Piątek. The German 8th Army also suffered heavy casualties. On September 10, the Polish 17th Infantry Division met the German 17th Infantry Division at Małachowicze and a bloody fight ensued.
A day later, Army Poznań, continuing its advance with the forces of the 25th Division and Podolska Cavalry Brigade, engaged the German 221st Infantry Division south of Łęczyca. Meanwhile, the remnants of Polish Army Pomorze arrived in the area of Włocławek, Brześć Kujawski and Koło, keeping strong German forces alert.

Initially underestimating the Polish advance, on September 11 the Germans decided to redirect the main forces of the German 10th Army, German 4th Army and the reserves of the Army Group South, as well as aircraft from 4th Air Fleet, towards the Bzura. The following day, the Poles reached the line Stryków - Ozorków. Also on this day, General Tadeusz Kutrzeba was informed that the units of Army Łódź had retreated to the stronghold of Modlin. Upon hearing this, Kutrzeba decided to stop the offensive and try to reach Sochaczew and Kampinos Forest. On the morning of September 14,
General Władysław Bortnowski's group started the action. The 26th and 16th Infantry Divisions crossed the Bzura in the area of Łowicz and the Polish 4th Infantry Division reached the road linking Łowicz with Głowno. Then, General Bortnowski was informed that the German 4th Panzer Division was withdrawing from the outskirts of Warsaw. Fearing that this unit would enter action against his forces on the same day, he ordered the 26th Infantry Division to retreat.

On September 15 and 16th, Army Pomorze took up defensive positions on the northern bank of the Bzura. General Stanisław Grzmot-Skotnicki’s group was located between Kutno and Żychlin, General Michał Karaszewicz-Tokarzewski’s units in the area of Gąbin, and divisions of Army Poznań - by the Bzura near Sochaczew, were ready to commence their drive towards Warsaw. To encircle and destroy the Polish forces, the Germans
used most of the 10th Army, including two armoured, three light and one motorized divisions - equipped with some 800 tanks altogether. The attack from all sides on Polish positions started on September 16, with the support of the Luftwaffe. The German 1st Panzer Division, after crossing the Bzura between Sochaczew and Brochów and engaging the Polish 25th Infantry Division, managed to capture Ruszki, but its advance was then halted.

During the night of September 17, the main forces of Army Poznań attacked the German forces in order to break out of the German encirclement between Witkowice and Sochaczew. The 15th Infantry Division and Podolska Cavalry Brigade again crossed the Bzura in Witkowice. in Brochow, the 25th and 17th Infantry Divisions crossed the Bzura river. The 14th Infantry Division was concentrated in Łaziska. At the same time, Army Pomorze marched towards the villages of Osmolin, Kiernozia and Osiek.

In the morning, the Germans started their drive towards the south on both banks of the Bzura, supported by more than 300 aircraft and heavy artillery. German howitzers, taking advantage of its position on the higher right bank of the Vistula, shelled Polish positions for the whole day. After two days of heavy fighting, and having used up all of their munitions and food, further attempts at breakout became impossible.

Only a few Polish units managed to break out of the encirclement.
These groups entered Warsaw and Modlin, crossing the Kampinos Wilderness.
Among them were Generals Kutrzeba, Knoll-Kowacki and Tokarzewski, two cavalry brigades, the 15th and 25th Infantry Divisions. The remainder, together with General Bortnowski, capitulated from 18 to 22 September and were captured.

Aftermath

After the battle, German divisions rushed towards Warsaw and Modlin,
encircling these strongholds. Even though Bzura campaign was a defeat for the Poles, its strategic importance has to be emphasized. Due to this battle,
the German advance was stalled for a few days, which enabled Polish units
in Warsaw and other places to organize their ultimately failed defense.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bzura

[Lancer44]

I think that Kovalsky's description of Bzura battle, once branded by Germans the "biggest battle of modern history", which this battle really was, before Blitzkrieg in France and in soviet Russia dwarfed it...

To honour Warsaw Uprising I will continue with it's Timeline...
Just to give us a feeling that we started to read this Timeline on the
1-st of August ... please look backwards, how many things happened? We are still on it. That's how long was Warsaw Uprising...

Warsaw Uprising September11- 23, 1944

Between September 11 and September 14 Red Army resumes its offensive towards Warsaw. German and Soviet airplanes engage in dog fights over the city. Soviet artillery shells German positions in Praga, Saxon Garden and Okenche Airport.
With the fall of Praga to the Red Army on September 16, German forces evacuate to Warsaw proper and dynamite remaining Vistula bridges. The Red Army is relieved by Soviet-sponsored General Berling's Polish First Army.

Retreating from Praga, German front line troops augment Gen. von dem Bach's forces. To prevent the establishment of bridgeheads, the main German effort concentrates on shattering the resistance in Czerniakow and Zoliborz districts along the the river.

From September 14 to September 16, bloody fighting erupted in Zoliborz with General Hans Lallner 19th Panzer Division. Berling's troops cross the river between September 16-17 in an abortive attempt to link up with Zoliborz insurgents. Civilians are executed in Marymont, a quarter of the Zoliborz district.

15-09/23. For three consecutive nights, 1,600 soldiers from Berling's army cross the Vistula and join insurgents in the Czerniakow district. The attempted landing between September 17-18 in the Riverside district fails with most of the 1,050 soldiers killed or captured. Heavy fighting in Czerniakow continues until September 23. Some defenders evacuate across the river, others reach the City Centre. Germans execute all captured insurgents and take Berling's soldiers as POWs.

09/18. First and last massive American day-time, high altitude airdrop; insurgents recover 16 tons, or 20 percent of the cargo; the rest falls into German hands.

Heavy bombardment of the City Centre by Karl Morser mortar on September 16 brings massive casualties, including 100 German POWs.

[Chevan]

Originally Posted by Lancer44

Heavy bombardment of the City Centre by Karl Morser mortar on September 16 brings massive casualties, including 100 German POWs.

I heared about Hitler's order to completed destroy Warsaw. Was it true?
And have you any information about application 800 -mm "Dora" in Warsaw?
Some sources affirmed that Dora made in september-october about 30 shot to the Warsaw.

[Lancer44]

Originally Posted by Chevan

I heared about Hitler's order to completed destroy Warsaw. Was it true?
And have you any information about application 800 -mm "Dora" in Warsaw?
Some sources affirmed that Dora made in september-october about 30 shot to the Warsaw.

Here you can see Dora shells in front of Polish Army Museum in Warsaw.

http://tanxheaven.com/zbc/shells/shells.htm

I will try to find more.

And yes, Hitler ordered 100% destruction of Warsaw. In reality they "achieved" 85% of left bank part of the city

Lancer44

[Cuts]

Were youse all there or has the combined brainpower of WWII forgotten about certain dates of late ?

[Chevan]

65 anniversary of soviet offencive on the Mocsow.

6-24 december of 1941

Klin - Solnechnogorsk offensive operation was basic during the first stage of the counterattack of Soviet troops in the environs of Moscow. Operation was carried out by the forces of troops of the right wing of Western Front (30th, 1st shock, 20th, 16th, 5th armies) under the command of General of the Army G. K. Zhukov in interaction with the Kalinin Front (colonel general I. S. Konev) for the purpose to destroy basic forces of the 3rd and 4th tank armies of Germans.
Offensive began on 6 December. Most successfully during the first days of offensive acted the right-flank 30th army of the General OF D.D. Lelyushenko: On 8 December its parts took Rogachev, on 13 December they approached the wedge and together with the parts of 1 army to 15 December freed city. Connections of the 1st shock and 20th army during the first days of operation freed the large populated areas - Yakhromu, Belyy Rast, red clearing. On 11 December the parts of the 20th army engaged Solnechnogorsk. Troops of the 16th army after heavy two-day it is combat they freed the settlement and Kryukovo station, converted by Germans into the powerful defensive line. On 11 December the parts of this army engaged g. Istra. South began the 5th army, in composition of which separately successfully acted the cavalry group of General l. m. Dovator. During the subsequent days Soviet offensive successfully was developed. To 25 December, when the first stage of Moscow offensive operation was completed, Soviet troops left to the boundary of rivers lama and Ruza, after rejecting German parts to the West on 90-100 km.

Red Army in the liberated Klin


Germans POWs in the forage caps smiles. It s really look very funny when -40 C .

Siberian troops taken from the Far East after the Soviet intelligence learn the desicion of Japanes to choose the "South direction" (i.e. USA and Britain).
This siberian armies saved the Moscow from the germans.

[Lancer44]

I may add something to that.

In January 1942 through Warsaw, Germans were pushing many hospital trains with German soldiers wounded in soviet counter offensive.
My mother, her mum, sister and brother lived in a flat which had a balcony overlooking Gdanski Rail Station in Warsaw.
My uncle "Lech" was in Home Army intelligence.

He suffered from tuberculosis. Under pretext that he must stay in the open, he sat on the balcony wrapped in blankets. He was speaking perfect German which he never admitted.
Germans a couple of times visited their flat complaining about him on the balcony.
When they learned that he has got tuberculosis, they gave up and never come back. (Any other person from the block coming out on their balconies risked being shot. Germans even shooted to open windows).

My uncle listened to soldiers talk, memorised tanks and other equipment on lorries and every now and than coming to the flat "to have a piss" wrote notes - every day taken by the courier.
My mum told me, that January and February 1942 were the month when her brother told her that Germans will be defeated. He was convinced about it.

When trains with wounded German soldiers stopped on Gdanski, doors were opened and hundreds od German nurses and helferins entered trains to treat wounded.

Stench from the frozen limbs and infected, gangrenous wounds was so strong that my uncle womited many times and had to go to the flat.
In some cases Germans used cattle cars and when the doors were opened faecal matters mixed with blood flew on the platform...
Constant screaming of wounded filled the air...

This view was a sort of the symbol of dreadfull thing called EASTERN FRONT...

Well, No one invited Germans to it...

Cheers,

Lancer44

[Chevan]

That's very interesting mate thanks. I didn't knew your uncle was in polish Resistance. Your famaly right like alive legend

[Lancer44]

Originally Posted by Chevan

That's very interesting mate thanks. I didn't knew your uncle was in polish Resistance. Your famaly right like alive legend

I have german ID card of my uncle. Will send it maybe tomorrow.
My scanner is dead and I have to combine a good light to shoot with my digital camera.

[Lancer44]

This is "Kennkarte". ID issued by Germans to all adult Poles in occupied Poland.
As you see it belonged to my uncle Leszek Stanczyk, "Lech".
On the third page of second page are two addresses:
1. Boduena 3
2. Chmielna 57

Our new member Gregory can confirm this locations.

In thread about Warsaw Uprising
http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3500

I published few photos from WU Museum.
Last two shows barricade on Chmielna Street which my mother helped to build
in the first evening of Warsaw Uprising.
Kennkarte is sort of a proof for it.




On this photograph you can see my mum in 1943 in Warsaw. On the left is her brother "Lech". On the right his commander from the Home Army. He died fighting in Starowka - Old Town. Unfortunately I don't know his name or nick.
Mum did not wanted to talk about him. And now is too late to ask. She passed away in the year 2000.

[Lancer44]

This is my father, lance corporal Kazimierz Krasulak, 8 British Army, 2-nd Polish Corps, Carpathian Lancers Regiment.
Photo from Italy 1944.


My fathers certificate of Monte Cassino Cross.


This photo from Northern Africa. Oasis on Iraqi Desert. 90 miles from Baghdad.
My father is first from from the right.



And the last one - Staghounds AFVs from Polish Carpathian Lancers Regiment on the streets of Bologna, Italy May 1945.

Sorry for bad quality and OFF TOPIC. Now you know what my nick mean...

Cheers,

Lancer44

[Chevan]

Excellent Lancer Krasulak
And where is your father did finish the war?

[Lancer44]

Originally Posted by Chevan

Excellent Lancer Krasulak
And where is your father did finish the war?

For my father war finished in spring 1947 when he decided to go back to Poland and was demobilized.
Counting from spring 1939 he was in the army nearly 8 years. (He's nearly 2 years in soviet jail in Odessa - 5 month and and the next 17 month near Ussa and Ussusa rivers in Siberia, were counted as military service.
Practically he was POW.
But for soviet NKWD he was spy and counter revolutionary...
I think they did not shoot him just because 19 years old guy could cut a lot of trees before death from hunger and cold.
Indeed he survived. He was 175cm tall. Weighed in Pahlevi - Iran, where Poles were evacuated, he scored 48 kilograms.
He was too skiny to join the army and they send him, (and many others), to Nataniya. It was a convalescent camp buillt by British Army on the Mediteraenan shore where he was doing nothing for 3 month. Just eat, sleep, little bit in a gym, walk...
Than he was able to join the army for real.
But many guys died already in Iran.
They could not restrain themselves and ate a lot of food. Their gastrointestinal system, which was adjusted to water, (Soup) and 400 grams of bread, could not cope and they were sentenced to death...
Later British medics isolated evacuees from food stores.

With the first evacuation, British quartermasters were told that thousands of hungry people will come. They put massive supplies just right next to the Pahlevi port. In good will they killed many people...

Cheers,

Lancer44

[Chevan]

Originally Posted by Lancer44

For my father war finished in spring 1947 when he decided to go back to Poland and was demobilized.

Why he was demobilized in 1947 mate? The war ended in 1945. What did you father till 1947 ? And why he decided to go back in communist Poland?
Could he took your mother away and stayed in the West?