by Domen121 on 01 Nov 2007 20:43 As a result of a 3-days battle, Germans encircled Polish 18th Infantry Division which was part of SGO "Narew", in Łętownica - Krajewo Borowe - Ostróżne - Srebrny Borek - Tabędz region, and crushed it while it was trying to break through German lines in town Andrzejewo and along Czyżewska Road (Andrzejewo was going from hands to hands 6 times).
When Polish forces were attacking Germans between Łętownica and Andrzejewo, and along road to Czyżew, Germans attacked Poles north of Łętownica and also from flanks - Polish forces were slowly being drove back from the north, west and east, closer and closer to Łętownica.
German artillery bombed Łętownica, and it started to burn. Polish forces were still desperately attacking from burning Łętownica towards Andrzejewo and road to Czyżew - they were also trying to defend their positions around and north of Łętownica -being outnumberred and suffering heavy casualties.
During the battle, German forces recaptured more than 500 German soldiers from Polish captivity (most of them were captured during the victorious for Poles Battle of Zambrów, which had taken place on 11th September), captured more than 5,000 Polish soldiers (most of them were wounded) and addiional 1,000 Polish civilians. However, seven Polish units from division - more than 1,500 troops - managed to avoid defeat, and to break through the ring of encirclement. Also small groups of disorganized soldiers from crushed units - around 800 additional troops - managed to break through and avoid captivity.
Polish 18th division was fighting alone against 4 German divisions - all units from 20th Motorized Infantry Division, most part of 10th Panzer Division, huge motorized group from 21st Division, and whole 206th Infantry Division. Polish 18th Infantry Division lost more than 400 KIA during this battle.
Town Andrzejewo today:
http://www.andrzejewo.info/readarticle. ... icle_id=12
Map of battle:
Black lines and arrows - Polish forces
White lines and arrows - German forces
And now my question:
According to Forum Odkrywca, in the battle near village Andrzejewo on 12th - 13th September 1939, Infanterie Regiment 76 (from 20th Division) lost at least 52 KIA men (52 is a number of graves of German soldiers from 76. IR killed in this battle, found, and photographed).
Here is this photo, it was originally published by somebody in Forum Odkrywca ( http://www.odkrywca.pl/forum.php ):
This photo was taken on 23. IX. 1939
52 graves of German soldiers from IR 76 who were killed in Andrzejewo
And now my question - has anybody got any reliable German sources (combat reports will be best) about casualties of IR 76 during the September campaign and in the Battle of Andrzejewo - is it possible to isolate IR 76 casualties from Andrzejewo?
I would be grateful for any source - i'd like to compare what reports say with information from this photo.
If somebody has any sources about casualties suffered by other German regiments / divisions in this battle, it would also be nice if He or She share with us with his info
.
In general - any information about German & Polish point of view for this battle is nice to see for me.
Cheers!
