Fighting in the Polish Corridor - Sep 1939

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a new little story here.........................

First engagement of Infanterie Regiment 9 in Poland - September 1939.

The Infanterie Regiment 9 was created in 1920 as part of the New Reichsheer forces, maintaining the traditions of the old Prussian Guard. In August 1921 the units newly organized units took the traditions of the dissolved units and the 1. Company of the I. / IR 9 took the tradition of the 1. Preußischen Garderegiments zu Fuss (1 st Regiment of the Prussian Guard on foot). The command of the regiment along with its I. and II. Battalions were based in Potsdam and its III. Battalion in Spandau.

On October 1, 1934, the former commander of the IR 9 (Prussia), Generalmajor Busch, was appointed commander of the newly formed 23 ID. Together with the IR 9 (Prussia) formed the division: IR 67 (Spandau), IR 68 (Brandenburg), AR 23 (Potsdam), NA 23 (Potsdam) and other Divisional units. As a symbol of the division, which now decorated all vehicles in the unit, was elected a stylized Grenadier of the Guard of Frederick William I.

Sources: http://www.bild.de/politik/2009/politik/altbundespraesident-richard-von-weizsaecker-kriegsbeginn-1939-9495648.bild.html
http://lebendige-geschichte.ch/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3868
http://www.erstes-garderegiment.de/Geschichte/Geschichte10.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanterieregimenter/IR9.htm
http://kohr.kujawsko-pomorskie.pl/45,l1.html

Cheers. Raúl M 8).

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows.........................

First engagement of Infanterie Regiment 9 in Poland - September 1939.

Fall Weiss.

The organization of the 23 ID at the beginning of the hostilities with Poland was as follows:

Infanterie-Regiment 9 (HQ, I.-III.)

Infanterie-Regiment 67 (HQ, I.-III.)

Infanterie-Regiment 68 (HQ, I.-III.)

Artillerie-Regiment 23 (HQ, I.-III.)

Artillerie-Regiment 59 (I.)

Beobachtungs-Abteilung 23

Pionier-Bataillon 23

Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 23

Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 23

Aufklärungs-Abteilung 23

Feldersatz-Bataillon 23

Infanterie-Divisions-Nachschubführer 23.

Sources: http://www.bild.de/politik/2009/politik/altbundespraesident-richard-von-weizsaecker-kriegsbeginn-1939-9495648.bild.html
http://lebendige-geschichte.ch/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3868
http://www.erstes-garderegiment.de/Geschichte/Geschichte10.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanterieregimenter/IR9.htm
http://kohr.kujawsko-pomorskie.pl/45,l1.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows.........................

First engagement of Infanterie Regiment 9 in Poland - September 1939.

Fall Weiss - September, 1939.

On August 26, 1939 the regiment left its quarters and moved, along with other units of the 23 ID, to the Polish border. Here the division was deployed as a reserve of the 4 AOK.

Richard von Weizsäcker recalled: At night, we marched from the barracks to the railway station. Some of the relatives and bystanders stood at the edge of the road, the crowd was with us in a painful silence. There was a contrast to the enthusiasm with which the population joined his troops in the First World War! Like other soldiers in the world, we were bound by oath to our country. We were trained for obedience and strength. So we march, without enthusiasm, but with the consciousness of our duty ..............

On September 1st, 1939 at 10:00 hours began the campaign against Poland for the IR 9. The march road for the Potsdam troops followed by Battrow and Hüttenbusch, crossing the Polish border by Lutowko. The 23 ID after making a forced march reached Pruszcz (Prust) with its most advanced parts.

Sources: http://www.bild.de/politik/2009/politik/altbundespraesident-richard-von-weizsaecker-kriegsbeginn-1939-9495648.bild.html
http://lebendige-geschichte.ch/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3868
http://www.erstes-garderegiment.de/Geschichte/Geschichte10.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanterieregimenter/IR9.htm
http://kohr.kujawsko-pomorskie.pl/45,l1.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows.........................

First engagement of Infanterie Regiment 9 in Poland - September 1939.

Fall Weiss - September, 1939.

"Graf Neun" (Count Nine), that was the nickname of the IR 9 of Potsdam in the army because of the large number of aristocrats serving in its ranks. In 1939 among the nearly 3000 soldiers of the regiment two bore the name v. Weizsäcker: Heinrich the oldest was a lieutenant (Leutnant) and Richard the youngest just a recruit. On September 1, 1939 the brothers v. Weizsäcker crossed the Polish border with the IR 9, was the first day of the World War II and penultimate in the life of Leutnant Heinrich v. Weizsäcker.

Richard von Weizsäcker recalled: On September 01 1939 we marched through the woods of the Tucheler Heide unopposed by the enemy.

Indeed the progress of the 3 Pz had rolled over the center of the Polish 9 DP and the German Panzer Division had captured the crossing point by the Brahe in Sokole Kuznica / Hammermühle. On the night of September 1, 1939 and to avoid being cut by the enemy, the 35 pp. (9 DP) was ordered to withdraw to the eastern bank of the Brda / Brahe.

Sources: http://www.bild.de/politik/2009/politik/altbundespraesident-richard-von-weizsaecker-kriegsbeginn-1939-9495648.bild.html
http://lebendige-geschichte.ch/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3868
http://www.erstes-garderegiment.de/Geschichte/Geschichte10.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanterieregimenter/IR9.htm
http://kohr.kujawsko-pomorskie.pl/45,l1.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows.........................

First engagement of Infanterie Regiment 9 in Poland - September 1939.

Fall Weiss - September, 1939.

On September 2, 1939 the 23 ID was subordinated to the XIX AK (Mot) having as it task to follow the progress of the 3 Pz and support this division during the fighting if necessary. The Pz Abw. Abt 23 relieved the Krasdch. Btl 3 in Kamnitz, while the AA 23 should carry out reconnaissance southward after crossing the river Brahe.

The I./ IR 9 (Maj. Jonas Graf zu Eulenburg ) approaches the baptism of fire faster than expected. The 3 Pz press strongly toward Pruszcz and the 23 ID followed behind as fast as it can. East of Pruszcz the armored divisions had heavy fighting with Polish troops. The 9 DP and the left wing of the 27 DP which were retreating collided with the Germans.

The 35 pp marched split into two columns, the II. / 35 pp by Tuchola - Cekcyn and the bulk marched at 06:00 hours by Brzuchowo – Mędromierz – Łyskowo – Piła Młyn – Bysław.

Sources: http://www.bild.de/politik/2009/politik/altbundespraesident-richard-von-weizsaecker-kriegsbeginn-1939-9495648.bild.html
http://lebendige-geschichte.ch/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3868
http://www.erstes-garderegiment.de/Geschichte/Geschichte10.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanterieregimenter/IR9.htm
http://kohr.kujawsko-pomorskie.pl/45,l1.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows.........................

First engagement of Infanterie Regiment 9 in Poland - September 1939.

Fall Weiss - September, 1939.

The 23 ID fought mainly against the Polish 9 DP, while the vanguard of the 3 Pz faced Polish forces belonging to the 27 DP, particularly the 50 pp. The Polish units were engaged in fighting in the Tucheler Heide often involved in the chaos. Isolated, they should bear the brunt of the fighting on their own.

The 23 ID must engage in combat to support the 3 Pz which was struggling in difficult conditions east of Pruszcz, the task was difficult because the columns of the 3 Pz blocked the roads and ahead lay out a dense wooded area within where the Polish troops were moving. Beyond the forest was the 3 Pz and the 23 ID was to cross the zone and then clear the march routes.

Sources: http://www.bild.de/politik/2009/politik/altbundespraesident-richard-von-weizsaecker-kriegsbeginn-1939-9495648.bild.html
http://lebendige-geschichte.ch/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3868
http://www.erstes-garderegiment.de/Geschichte/Geschichte10.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanterieregimenter/IR9.htm
http://kohr.kujawsko-pomorskie.pl/45,l1.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows.........................

First engagement of Infanterie Regiment 9 in Poland - September 1939.

Fall Weiss - September, 1939.

The Polish 9 DP faces the German advance.

After a forced march of one hour, the south column of the 9 DP reached the bridge Piła - Młyn by 08:00 hours and began the crossing which ended at 09:00 hours. Immediately were sent reconnaissance patrols. At 10:00 hours the bridge was blown up by sappers and the 34 pp. There, the 35 pp (ppłk Jan Maliszewski) went to rest in the nearby forests of Nadl. Zamrzenica and the soldiers took some meals. As stated in the new orders of plk. Werobej, the regiment was to attack the enemy in the general direction Klonowo - Sucha.

On September 02, 1939 at 10:00 hours the leading regiment of the 23 ID (the IR 9) had reached Bagienica (Bagnitz). The IR 9 received the task of raking the wooded area north of the railway line Pruszcz - Klonowo. The vehicles of the regiment were left behind because they will fight on foot into the forest.

Sources: http://www.bild.de/politik/2009/politik/altbundespraesident-richard-von-weizsaecker-kriegsbeginn-1939-9495648.bild.html
http://lebendige-geschichte.ch/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3868
http://www.erstes-garderegiment.de/Geschichte/Geschichte10.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanterieregimenter/IR9.htm
http://kohr.kujawsko-pomorskie.pl/45,l1.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows.........................

First engagement of Infanterie Regiment 9 in Poland - September 1939.

Fall Weiss - September, 1939.

The Polish 9 DP faces the German advance.

At 14:45 hours, were observed some troops approaching Klonowo. In the distance it was not clear whether they were own troops or hostile columns, so that the fire was withheld until the force can be identified. But shortly afterwards they were recognized as Polish troops.

Indeed it was the Polish 9 DP (9 Dywizja Piechoty) under command of plk. Jozef Werobej. The division moved in skirmish line to the Germans and therefore did not provide a profitable target for the hostile fire. Thus the German soldiers waited and let the Polish troops approach them.

Suddenly the German regiment realized that the west wing of the Poles had advanced into the depth of its deployment. The Poles attacked with greater intensity than expected, and pushed toward the German lines.

Sources: http://www.bild.de/politik/2009/politik/altbundespraesident-richard-von-weizsaecker-kriegsbeginn-1939-9495648.bild.html
http://lebendige-geschichte.ch/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3868
http://www.erstes-garderegiment.de/Geschichte/Geschichte10.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanterieregimenter/IR9.htm
http://kohr.kujawsko-pomorskie.pl/45,l1.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows.........................

First engagement of Infanterie Regiment 9 in Poland - September 1939.

Fall Weiss - September, 1939.

The Polish 9 DP faces the German advance.

At 15:30 hours the Polish regiment (35 pp) had launched the attack with the following deployment:

The II. Battalion attacked frontally along the road to Klonowo.
The I. Battalion along the edge of the forest west of Klonowo
The III. Battalion in reserve behind the I. Battalion.

Initially the attack was successful and the 35 pp pushed the Germans back towards the route Świekatowo - Pruszcz - Bagienica, but then the German defense became stronger and a new attack was impossible. Intense fighting took place particularly in the railway station of Klonowo which caused many casualties among the Polish regiment. As a result of the intense struggles the regiment lost contact with the II. Battalion and the 35 pp was reduced to about 1000 men.

Sources: http://www.bild.de/politik/2009/politik/altbundespraesident-richard-von-weizsaecker-kriegsbeginn-1939-9495648.bild.html
http://lebendige-geschichte.ch/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3868
http://www.erstes-garderegiment.de/Geschichte/Geschichte10.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanterieregimenter/IR9.htm
http://kohr.kujawsko-pomorskie.pl/45,l1.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows.........................

First engagement of Infanterie Regiment 9 in Poland - September 1939.

Fall Weiss - September, 1939.

The Polish 9 DP faces the German advance.

The II. / IR 9 was unexpectedly involved in a fierce battle with the Polish troops. The Poles attacked without waiting for the support of artillery fire, skillfully supported by machine guns and rifle fire; the Germans recognized the leadership of a professional ahead of the Polish troops. Then came the I. / IR 9 which was engaged in combat along the railway embankment; Oberst v. Gilsa, leading from the front, brought forward the battalion and made contact with the left wing of II. / IR 9. At 16:00 hours the I. Battalion crossed the embankment and plunged into the wooded area north of it.

In the evening a Polish regiment DP 9 (35 pp) charged again towards the German lines and supported by snipers and machine guns pressed repeatedly against the Germans. A half kilometer west of the station Klonowo the Polish attack reached the 1. Company and there succeeded a ferocious melee with heavy casualties on both sides. Three German Platoon leaders were killed in the struggle.

Sources: http://www.bild.de/politik/2009/politik/altbundespraesident-richard-von-weizsaecker-kriegsbeginn-1939-9495648.bild.html
http://lebendige-geschichte.ch/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3868
http://www.erstes-garderegiment.de/Geschichte/Geschichte10.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanterieregimenter/IR9.htm
http://kohr.kujawsko-pomorskie.pl/45,l1.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows.........................

First engagement of Infanterie Regiment 9 in Poland - September 1939.

Fall Weiss - September, 1939.

Leutnant Heinrich Freiherr von Weizsäcker of the 2. Platoon of the company jumped off with a hand grenade against the attacker when a bullet struck his neck. His younger brother was just a few hundred meters, but only came when Heinrich was already dead. The same path soon followed Feldwebel Werner Illgenstein, who led the 1. Platoon. Even Hans Strauss, leader of the 3. Platoon also found here his final destination. The 1. / IR 9 had to pay a heavy toll in blood before claiming victory. The Poles and the Germans did not have support of heavy weapons and fought at the edge of the embankment with rifles, grenades and bayonets. Just at 21:00 hours was able to intervene actively the Artillery of the 23 ID.

At 20:00 hours the Commander of the 9 DP had ordered that the 35 pp cease the fighting and then marched towards Bydgoszcz following by Lubiewo, Trutnowo, Lipienicę, Świekatowo, Lubania - Lipiny, Łowinek, Brzeźno, Marcelewo property. At 1:00 hour on September 3, 1939 the column of the 35 pp had crossed the intersection of roads Bysławek - Klonowo and Minikowo - Lubiewo. Moving through Trutnowo at 05:00 hours reached the Szewienek property. Taking in account that south of Szewienkla were located enemy tanks, at 10:00 hours the commander ordered to march towards Krupocina which still was defended by elements of the 34 pp.

Sources: http://www.bild.de/politik/2009/politik/altbundespraesident-richard-von-weizsaecker-kriegsbeginn-1939-9495648.bild.html
http://lebendige-geschichte.ch/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3868
http://www.erstes-garderegiment.de/Geschichte/Geschichte10.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanterieregimenter/IR9.htm
http://kohr.kujawsko-pomorskie.pl/45,l1.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; the end.........................

First engagement of Infanterie Regiment 9 in Poland - September 1939.

Fall Weiss - September, 1939.

Richard von Weizsäcker recalled that: on September 2, 1939 near Klonowo we had the first fight with Polish soldiers. I was in the machine guns company and my brother in a rifleman company. In one of the assaults he was mortally wounded by a shot in the neck. His body was recovered in the dark and I sat all night next to my dead brother. We buried him next day with two other fallen soldiers. My life changed since. I did not found meaning to the phrase of the Roman poet Horace, often quoted, "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" (sweet and honorable is to die for the Fatherland) and maybe neither had for my brother.

At dawn on September 3, 1939, the Potsdam Regiment patrols found that the enemy had retreated during the night. Only remained the corpses of the Polish soldiers nearby the embankment. This first fierce fighting had left the German regiment exhausted. The men of the IR 9 had undergone forced marches on dusty roads under scorching heat. The I. / IR 9 had received no food for 48 hours. The Potsdam regiment had passed their baptism of fire in the Tucheler Heide and its men had entered combat for the first time.

Sources: http://www.bild.de/politik/2009/politik ... .bild.html
http://lebendige-geschichte.ch/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3868
http://www.erstes-garderegiment.de/Gesc ... chte10.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... er/IR9.htm
http://kohr.kujawsko-pomorskie.pl/45,l1.html

It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M .