Piatek Push ETO (id:#67280)

(Schwerpunkt #25 ID: SP289)   [next]   [previous]

Piatek, Poland 1939-09-10 (3 others)

Overview:

The first week of fighting in Poland went very well for Germany. Polish defenses were often stubbornly held, but German numerical superiority would eventually carry any Polish position, and German motorized troops drove deep into Poland with little to stop them. German success, however, had left many active - and large - Polish formations in the German rear. Many German units had long frontages to cover in order to free the largest number of German motorized divisions for deeper offensive operations. On the night of 9 September, the Polish Poznan Army began a push from the Bzura River toward the rear of the German 8th Army, which was advancing between Leczyca and Lowicz and heading towards Stryków. The German 30th Infantry Division, stretched over a thirty-kilometer defensive line, would be shown that Polish troops were very capable opponents when they had a slight numerical superiority and an element of surprise. The Poles had a difficult time capturing Piatek, which was the location of the 30th Division's headquarters, but after throwing in tankettes the German defenses finally crumbled. By late on 10 September, two German divisions were in retreat with nearly 3,000 captured. Polish infantry was as good as German infantry when the odds were close to even.

Defender: German (30th Infantry Division)  

Errata (source)