Fighting in the Polish Corridor - Sep 1939

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more.............

Fighting for Chojnice / Konitz.

The actions.

Meanwhile at 04:45 hours the German artillery unleashed its barrages over the hills north of Konitz and simultaneously, three combat patrols of IR 90 crossed the border (right Lt. v. Klitzing to Zgl, center, Lt. d R. Lübke to Point 179 and left Lt. Kleist towards the positions located south of Kl. Konitz). At 05:30 hours all the I. / IR 90 had launched the attack.

At 05:45 hours the 2./ IR 90 crossed the Reich's border by Poggenkrug, attacking towards Point 179. By 09:00 hours the fog lifted a little and the German companies came within 500/700 meters of the target but the advance was stopped due to the intense Polish fire. The German battalion requested more fire support and the whole I./ AR 20 was committed in that sector.

Sources: http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obrona_Chojnic
http://arcanahistorii.prv.pl/slowo/pdf2/3.pdf
Kriegstagebuch 1. Bataillon Infanterie Regiment 90 Polenfeldzug.
http://www.odkrywca.pl/pokaz_watek.php?id=647842#796294

Cheers. Raúl M .

[Ponury]

Krojanty Battle near Chojnice: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge_at_Krojanty

Do not forget about german crimes in Chojnicka Death Valley:

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egzekucje_ ... ie_Śmierci”

Executions in Chojnice "Valley of Death" - mass executions of Polish nationals carried out by the German on the Champs Igielskich near Chojnic. Between October 1939 and January 1940 members of the paramilitary Selbstschutz murdered on the Champs Igielskich approx. 500 county residents Chojnice - mainly representatives of the local intelligentsia and patients in a mental hospital Chojnice. Polish population christened the place of execution as the "Valley of Death". Another 800-1000 people were killed there in January 1945. According to some estimates - but probably overstated - during the German occupation in the "Valley of Death" could have killed up to 2000 Polish citizens

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more.............

Fighting for Chojnice / Konitz.

The actions.

At 11:00 hours the attack against Point 179 was renewed and was committed the 1. / IR 90 so far in reserve; that height was captured at 11:45 hours, taking 15 prisoners. At 13:15 hours the 2. / IR 90 deployed on the northern slope of Height 179 received strong machine guns and rifles fires from Kl. Konitz. By order of the regiment, the bulk of the I. / IR 90 moved due north, while the 1. / IR 90 secured to the south and east. The I. / IR 90 was prepared to launch the attack on Kl. Konitz by 15:00 hours without artillery support. Meanwhile patrols reported that the land east of Height 179, between Konitz and Zandersdorf was free of enemy.

At 14:00 hours the commander of the Group "Chojnice" was ordered to leave the city. The Polish units retreated towards Rytel, behind the Brahe, where a second line of defense in charge of the 81 bp (formerly ON "Tuchola") was established. Particularly strong were the struggles in the field of 85 bp, north of the road Chojnice - Bytow.

Sources: http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obrona_Chojnic
http://arcanahistorii.prv.pl/slowo/pdf2/3.pdf
Kriegstagebuch 1. Bataillon Infanterie Regiment 90 Polenfeldzug.
http://www.odkrywca.pl/pokaz_watek.php?id=647842#796294

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more.............

Fighting for Chojnice / Konitz.

The actions.

Shortly before 15:00 hours the regiment commanded the battalion was to attack towards the southeast, to Konitz, in order to meet with the II. / IR 90. The battalion moved at 16:00 hours. At 17:30 hours the I. / IR 90 came marching in the city of Konitz greeted by the population of ethnic Germans. Together entered the town from the southwest part of the III. / IR 90. The I. / IR 90 suffered the loss of 4 killed and 25 wounded in the action.

Sources: http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obrona_Chojnic
http://arcanahistorii.prv.pl/slowo/pdf2/3.pdf
Kriegstagebuch 1. Bataillon Infanterie Regiment 90 Polenfeldzug.
http://www.odkrywca.pl/pokaz_watek.php?id=647842#796294

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more.............

The 73rd ID in the Polish Campaign 1939.

Among the divisions that marched against Poland with the 4. AOK, was the 73. ID under Generalleutnant von Rabenau (August 26 till September 28, 1939). The first Commander of the division had promoted to Generalleutnant on January 1, 1937 and was appointed Chief of the Army Archives on the proposal of the then Generalstabschef des Heeres, General Ludwig Beck before assuming this command. The unit had barely been organized in Nürnberg as a division of the 2nd wave on August 26, 1939. On August 30 the orders had been issued and the transport had begun on August 31, 1939 with an unknown direction. In fact the 73. ID had its starting position in the Schneidemühl / Deutschkrone area, was part of the Army reserve and had been given the task of raking the Tucheler Heide after the advance of the troops that had attacked in the first place.

At dawn of September 3, 1939 and as the vanguard of the First marching echelon, the II. / IR 213 (Major Görner) crossed the Polish border by Flatow to the sound of military marches; As company head marched the 6./ IR 213. The goal of the march was Sypniewo. The average of march was approaching the 30 km daily. On September 4, the I./ IR 213 made a short march to Vandsburg, a town that reached at 2:00 p.m.; The other battalions had a rest day in Sypniewo and Tobolke. The march then continued through the Tucheler Heide following the advance of the German front to the Vistula near Mewe without finding resistance. After that began the retreat, first to Könitz and then to Westwall in the Warndt area.

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... n/73ID.htm
Das Infanterie-Regiment 213 (Grenadier-Regiment 70) 1939-1945
73.I.D. Wehrmacht Polenfeldzug 39 :Einmarsch in VANDSBURG Viecbork 3.9.39 (2) !
73.I.D. Wehrmacht Polenfeldzug 39 :Einmarsch in Zempelburg !

Cheers. Raúl M .

[Kelvin]

Hi, Tigre, did fighting in the Polish Corridor focus was on battle of Tuchola Forest ? In accordance with Guderian 's memoir, German engaged 3. Panzer division and 2. and 20. Motorized infantry divisions and 23.Infanterie division for that battle. But the attack of 2.Mot. Division seemed not going well. Only 9.DP was annhilated while other units like 27 DP and cavalry unit escaped it.

[tigre]

Hello Kelvin ; sorry just now I saw your query..................................

Tucheler Heide 1939.

Yes it was that way; the first day the 20. ID (Mot) took Konitz but hardly advanced further to the east, the 2. ID (Mot) was bogged down till Guderian himself ordered the withdrawal of the regiment on the left in order to follow the 3. Pz next day..............But on Sep 03, 1939 the German succeeded in encircling a large body of Polish troops North of Schwetz and West of Graudenz (also the 23. ID was employed here) and on Sep 04, 1939 also a regiment of the 32. ID.

However on Sep 03, 1939 at 20:00 hours, General Bortnowski (Commander of the Pomorze Army) reported: the following units left the cauldron, with the 27. DP its commander circa 3 infantry battalions and 5 batteries; with the 9. DP the 22. pp (reduced) and one battery and with the Cavalry Brigade its commander, the 2 iC, 5 weak squadrons, 1 of machine-gun and 2 batteries from two groups. All others units should be considered destroyed.....................

Sources: Panzerleader. Heinz Guderian.
http://www.dws-xip.pl/wojna/walka/pomorze4.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; something more.............

Hussars of the Division - Baptism of fire of a Panzer-Abwehr Abteilung (Anti-Tank Detachment).

September 1: at 04:45 o'clock sharp, the Panzer Division ahead of us went on the attack. In broad front our division will follow its example. Now it stops at the border, the artillery fire breaks loose. There is nothing we can do? At 09:00 o'clock sharp, it turns out that the tanks have broken through disproportionately fast, the left division is clinging to a line of pillboxes, the division on the right apparently continues a little slower. In the middle there is a big gap. Division Order: The Anti-Tank Detachment will move eastward and finally secure the wing of the two neighboring divisions on the line ... The commander will contact the Panzer Division ...

The orders are issued quickly in a short time during the journey, through a landscape that seems even summer. After 20 kilometers, the Combat Post of the Panzer Division is finally reached. After a brief orientation, we go back by another way. Here it seems to be pure Polish population.

Meanwhile, the detachment has occupied the ordered security line. No shot has yet fallen in front of us. The infantry approaches with its vanguard to our unit and enters under our protection to rest. At night we received heavy artillery fire from the north. The Polish cavalry tries to break through to the south and goes into battle with our main security line. The night increases the uncertainty .....................

Sources: https://www.tradera.com/item/292217/293 ... -nr-6-1940

I think it's the Pz.Abw.Abt. 23 following the 3. Pz. Cheers. Raúl M .

[Ponury]

No shot has yet fallen in front of us. T

Until they met our heroes ... Gdynia and Hel!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Danzig_Bay

[Kelvin]

Hello Kelvin ; sorry just now I saw your query..................................

Tucheler Heide 1939.

Yes it was that way; the first day the 20. ID (Mot) took Konitz but hardly advanced further to the east, the 2. ID (Mot) was bogged down till Guderian himself ordered the withdrawal of the regiment on the left in order to follow the 3. Pz next day..............But on Sep 03, 1939 the German succeeded in encircling a large body of Polish troops North of Schwetz and West of Graudenz (also the 23. ID was employed here) and on Sep 04, 1939 also a regiment of the 32. ID.

However on Sep 03, 1939 at 20:00 hours, General Bortnowski (Commander of the Pomorze Army) reported: the following units left the cauldron, with the 27. DP its commander circa 3 infantry battalions and 5 batteries; with the 9. DP the 22. pp (reduced) and one battery and with the Cavalry Brigade its commander, the 2 iC, 5 weak squadrons, 1 of machine-gun and 2 batteries from two groups. All others units should be considered destroyed.....................

Sources: Panzerleader. Heinz Guderian.
http://www.dws-xip.pl/wojna/walka/pomorze4.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

Hi, Tigre, thank and I only notice that post now

That mean one third 27.DP and more than 70% of 9.DP were destroyed.

[tigre]

Indeed, as per the sources. Cheers. Raúl M .

[Sid Guttridge]

Hi Ponury,

Gdynia did hold out determinedly, but the German opposition, 207th Infantry Division and Brigade Danzig (Eberhard), were not high quality troops.

There is a good quality, two volume history called, I think, Gdynia 1939. Recommended.

Cheers,

Sid.