Fighting in the coast of Pomerania and Hela - 1939.

[tigre]

Thanks Domen for that interesting complement . Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

Fighting in the coast of Pomerania, Danzig and Hela

Westerplatte – September of 1939.

War!.

On September 3, 1939, the German command held a meeting on board the Schleswig-Holstein to decide on courses of action to follow to achieve an effective attack.

During the 04 and 05 of September, 1939 the Germans subjected the stronghold of Westerplatte to an intensive land and naval bombardment, took part of it a battery of 88 mm from Heubude, a coastal battery from Glettkau and two batteries of 210 mm mortars. Besides the "Schleswig-Holstein” and two torpedo boats located near Brosen the T-196, which from a distance of 2800 meters fired 65 projectiles and the "Von der Groeben".

Sources: The German Campaign in Poland 1939. Army Pamphlet Nº 255.
WESTERPLATTE FIGHTS ON. SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1945.
Anexo 31 Westerplatte. http://www.polish-online.com/geschichte-polen/index.php
Wehrmacht. Die Wehrmacht. Der Freiheitskampf des großdeutschen Volkes. 2. Aufl. 1940. 2 WK Weltkrieg Frankreich
Militär-Fotoalbum: Marine,Beschuß der Westerplatte,2.WK
http://www.flusspioniere-schierstein.de ... _henke.pdf
groß_Nachlass-Danzig-Polen 1939-Kronik + 60 org_Fotos!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 04_09_09 182000 MESZ)
http://www.nexusboard.net/sitemap/6365/ ... 9-t297266/
http://forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/index. ... 658.0.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

Fighting in the coast of Pomerania, Danzig and Hela

Westerplatte – September of 1939.

War!.

The bombardment was resumed on the morning of September 6, 1939 and by afternoon the Germans tried to burn the Polish emplacements Nº 1 and Nº 5 with tanks filled with fuel transported by rail, but this plan also failed.

The "Schleswig-Holstein" in action........................

Sources: The German Campaign in Poland 1939. Army Pamphlet Nº 255.
WESTERPLATTE FIGHTS ON. SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1945.
Anexo 31 Westerplatte. http://www.polish-online.com/geschichte-polen/index.php
Wehrmacht. Die Wehrmacht. Der Freiheitskampf des großdeutschen Volkes. 2. Aufl. 1940. 2 WK Weltkrieg Frankreich
Militär-Fotoalbum: Marine,Beschuß der Westerplatte,2.WK
http://www.flusspioniere-schierstein.de ... _henke.pdf
groß_Nachlass-Danzig-Polen 1939-Kronik + 60 org_Fotos!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 04_09_09 182000 MESZ)
http://www.nexusboard.net/sitemap/6365/ ... 9-t297266/
http://forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/index. ... 658.0.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

Fighting in the coast of Pomerania, Danzig and Hela

Westerplatte – September of 1939.

War!.

On September 7, 1939 at 04:00 hours a company belonging to the Pionier-Lehr-und Versuch-Bataillon Dessau-Roßlau (Oberstleutnant Karl Henke) with flamethrowers was alarmed in order to carry out the attack later. The assault would have naval gunfire support from the "Schlesvig-Holstein" and was planned in three phases:

1 st phase - assault of two Platoons of the engineers company.
2 nd phase - a Platoon of engineers on the right flank and a Platoon of the company's assault on the left flank.
3 rd phase - Two Platoons of the assault company.

At 4:26 hours started the preparation fire from the ship and heavy weapons shooting from the Neufahrwasser, the fire of preparation ended at 4:48 hours. Then it was developed the first phase and the engineers platoons penetrated about 150 meters inside the outpost forts and blew up all the emplacements found. Meanwhile the troops of the following phases secured the first phase projection, especially against snipers in the trees. Enemy resistance was negligible and the Poles had been withdrawn entirely. The Germans suffered three wounded. Then went into the redoubt a tank which sprayed fuel on trees and set afire them with flamethrowers.

Sources: The German Campaign in Poland 1939. Army Pamphlet Nº 255.
WESTERPLATTE FIGHTS ON. SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1945.
Anexo 31 Westerplatte. http://www.polish-online.com/geschichte-polen/index.php
Wehrmacht. Die Wehrmacht. Der Freiheitskampf des großdeutschen Volkes. 2. Aufl. 1940. 2 WK Weltkrieg Frankreich
Militär-Fotoalbum: Marine,Beschuß der Westerplatte,2.WK
http://www.flusspioniere-schierstein.de ... _henke.pdf
groß_Nachlass-Danzig-Polen 1939-Kronik + 60 org_Fotos!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 04_09_09 182000 MESZ)
http://www.nexusboard.net/sitemap/6365/ ... 9-t297266/
http://forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/index. ... 658.0.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[Piotr Kapuscinski]

especially against snipers in the trees.

There were no snipers in the trees. Poles resisted in Wartownia 1 and outposts "Fort" and "Tor".

Actually, there were almost no undamaged trees on 07.09.1939.

On 07.09.1939 only one Polish soldier died (he was wounded in Wartownia 1 in the morning).

At 4:26 hours started the preparation fire from the ship and heavy weapons shooting from the Neufahrwasser, the fire of preparation ended at 4:48 hours.

Wartownia 2 was destroyed as the result of this fire, but noone was killed inside.

[tigre]

Thanks for that complement Peter . Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

Fighting in the coast of Pomerania, Danzig and Hela

Westerplatte – September of 1939.

War!.

Georg Wolf recalled:

On 7 September at 0420hr my platoon has to attack after the cistern-carriage, which has to be pushed through the gate and set afire. Unteroffizier Waschynski took command over the engineers to push the carriage. We see the explosion (...) Then we resume the attack (...) and reach the main building. (...) Silence. The white flag on the roof. The Poles have surrendered. (...) It's 0930hr.

The whole crew of 5 officers, 28 NCOs and 156 enlisted men had surrendered.

Sources: The German Campaign in Poland 1939. Army Pamphlet Nº 255.
WESTERPLATTE FIGHTS ON. SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1945.
Anexo 31 Westerplatte. http://www.polish-online.com/geschichte-polen/index.php
Wehrmacht. Die Wehrmacht. Der Freiheitskampf des großdeutschen Volkes. 2. Aufl. 1940. 2 WK Weltkrieg Frankreich
Militär-Fotoalbum: Marine,Beschuß der Westerplatte,2.WK
http://www.flusspioniere-schierstein.de ... _henke.pdf
groß_Nachlass-Danzig-Polen 1939-Kronik + 60 org_Fotos!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 04_09_09 182000 MESZ)
http://www.nexusboard.net/sitemap/6365/ ... 9-t297266/
http://forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/index. ... 658.0.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Fighting in the coast of Pomerania, Danzig and Hela

Westerplatte – September of 1939.

Sources: The German Campaign in Poland 1939. Army Pamphlet Nº 255.
WESTERPLATTE FIGHTS ON. SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1945.
Anexo 31 Westerplatte. http://www.polish-online.com/geschichte-polen/index.php
Wehrmacht. Die Wehrmacht. Der Freiheitskampf des großdeutschen Volkes. 2. Aufl. 1940. 2 WK Weltkrieg Frankreich
Militär-Fotoalbum: Marine,Beschuß der Westerplatte,2.WK
http://www.flusspioniere-schierstein.de ... _henke.pdf
groß_Nachlass-Danzig-Polen 1939-Kronik + 60 org_Fotos!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 04_09_09 182000 MESZ)
http://www.nexusboard.net/sitemap/6365/ ... 9-t297266/
http://forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/index. ... 658.0.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

Fighting in the coast of Pomerania, Danzig and Hela

Westerplatte – September of 1939.

Sources: The German Campaign in Poland 1939. Army Pamphlet Nº 255.
WESTERPLATTE FIGHTS ON. SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1945.
Anexo 31 Westerplatte. http://www.polish-online.com/geschichte-polen/index.php
Wehrmacht. Die Wehrmacht. Der Freiheitskampf des großdeutschen Volkes. 2. Aufl. 1940. 2 WK Weltkrieg Frankreich
Militär-Fotoalbum: Marine,Beschuß der Westerplatte,2.WK
http://www.flusspioniere-schierstein.de ... _henke.pdf
groß_Nachlass-Danzig-Polen 1939-Kronik + 60 org_Fotos!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 04_09_09 182000 MESZ)
http://www.nexusboard.net/sitemap/6365/ ... 9-t297266/
http://forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/index. ... 658.0.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

Fighting in the coast of Pomerania, Danzig and Hela

Westerplatte – September of 1939. Polish prisoners.

Sources: The German Campaign in Poland 1939. Army Pamphlet Nº 255.
WESTERPLATTE FIGHTS ON. SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1945.
Anexo 31 Westerplatte. http://www.polish-online.com/geschichte-polen/index.php
Wehrmacht. Die Wehrmacht. Der Freiheitskampf des großdeutschen Volkes. 2. Aufl. 1940. 2 WK Weltkrieg Frankreich
Militär-Fotoalbum: Marine,Beschuß der Westerplatte,2.WK
http://www.flusspioniere-schierstein.de ... _henke.pdf
groß_Nachlass-Danzig-Polen 1939-Kronik + 60 org_Fotos!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 04_09_09 182000 MESZ)
http://www.nexusboard.net/sitemap/6365/ ... 9-t297266/
http://forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/index. ... 658.0.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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

Fighting in the coast of Pomerania, Danzig and Hela

Westerplatte – September of 1939. Polish prisoners.

Sources: The German Campaign in Poland 1939. Army Pamphlet Nº 255.
WESTERPLATTE FIGHTS ON. SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1945.
Anexo 31 Westerplatte. http://www.polish-online.com/geschichte-polen/index.php
Wehrmacht. Die Wehrmacht. Der Freiheitskampf des großdeutschen Volkes. 2. Aufl. 1940. 2 WK Weltkrieg Frankreich
Militär-Fotoalbum: Marine,Beschuß der Westerplatte,2.WK
http://www.flusspioniere-schierstein.de ... _henke.pdf
groß_Nachlass-Danzig-Polen 1939-Kronik + 60 org_Fotos!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 04_09_09 182000 MESZ)
http://www.nexusboard.net/sitemap/6365/ ... 9-t297266/
http://forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/index. ... 658.0.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[Piotr Kapuscinski]

On September 2, 1939 the guard on duty aboard the "Schleswig-Holstein" reported seeing a white flag waving over the Westerplatte, but when German troops came to take possession of the garrison they were repulsed by heavy fire. According to the testimony of the Polish 2nd in Command, Kpt Franciszek Dąbrowski, after violent bombings of those early days, Maj Sucharski lost control and ordered to hoist the white flag but Dąbrowski relieved him immediately and he personally knocked the signal down, ordering to resume the fight.

"Soon after 18:00 two Gruppen come flying over Westerplatte and drop few dozen tons of bombs. The effect is thunderous. The barracks and the guard-houses are "floating" in explosions. Guard-house number 5, directly hit, was destroyed with almost entire crew. The barracks were hit twice. Four modern mortars abandoned at their positions by troops were destroyed. Communication between the outposts was interrupted. Soldiers are shaken and there is a close call to panic. Crews of "Elektrownia" and "Fort" outposts arbitrarily abandon their positions. After the bombing a 100 meters thick heavy cloud of smoke and dust which covers everything floats over Westerplatte. Germans think that nobody survived on Westerplatte. Sucharski is in severe shock. Thrilled, he issues an order of burning secret documents. Capitulation seems to be yet just a matter of minutes. Major issues an order of hoisting the white flag on the roof of the barracks. Despite the smoke it is spotted by soldiers on the Schleswig-Holstein battleship. An order is transfered to the Marinesturmkompanie: "... nicht schissen, warte, weisse Flagge auf Westerplatte...". At the same time Captain Dabrowski, irate, orders to immediately break off the flag. After the news about the breaking off the flag gets an attack of nerves. On Dabrowski's command Lieutenant Grodecki together with the doctor, Captain Slaby, cramp their commander on the bed. Major gets a sedative injection. On Dabrowski's order officers take an oath that they will not reveal to their soldiers the fact, that Sucharski did not withstand the psychological stress."

On 2 September Westerplatte was bombed by around 58 Ju-87Bs from I./St.G.2 and III./St.G.2., they dropped in total ca. 26,5 tons of bombs (including 8 x 500kg, 50 x 250kg and 200 x 50kg) against previously recognized targets. The bombing lasted for around half an hour and was conducted from the altitude of 3000 - 4000 meters.

Apart from the destruction of sentry (guard-house) number 5 and 4 mortars 81mm, the barracks were damaged, sentry number 2 was damaged, the NCO casino was partially destroyed, ammunition shelters number 2, 4, 5 and 7 were partially destroyed (but fortunately they were empty when the bombing started), wooden garages near the barracks were also partially destroyed as well as the telephone lines. Also the radio station and the waterwarks were destroyed. The chimney of the kitchen was completely destroyed too, which precluded preparing warm meals.

Apart from dropping bombs the dive bombers were also firing from their MGs to living targets.

Although soldiers of the Marinesturmkompanie were impressed by the results of the bombing ("Germans think that nobody survived on Westerplatte"), the German command evaluated them differently. It underestimated the effects of the bombing and at the beginning it thought that it didn't inflict much damage to the defense. This was caused also by the fact that Germans overestimated the strength of Westerplatte in general (they thought that there were armored domes, underground tunnels and bunkers made of reinforced concrete there - which was not the case).

The fact of underestimating the effects of the bombing is probably the primary reason of postponing the planned assault (the third assault on WTT was planned to be conducted on 2 September, immediately after the bombing).

In their memoirs defenders agree that if the assault started immediately after the bombing, they wouldn't be able to repulse it. Damages caused to important facilities and shock among the defenders were considerable.

It's worth to note that German sources (including combat diary of Schleswig-Holstein) recorded Polish soldiers firing from MGs to the attacking Stukas, Polish sources also confirm that some of the defenders did not hide and stayed on their posts trying to repulse the Stuka attack despite lack of AA means and huge power of the bombing.

=====================================================================

A video recorded from one of the Stuka bombers attacking Westerplatte can be found here:

http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/17073,1,haslo.html

Westerplatte today:

[tigre]

Thanks Peter, fully appreciated . Cheers. Raúl M .

[Piotr Kapuscinski]

German forces reported the following losses in the battle against LOW:

Unit = amount of soldiers killed and wounded (percentage of total strength):

Grenzwacht = 73 (3 officers) killed, 271 (3 officers) wounded
207 ID = 332 (18 officers) killed, 639 (22 officers) wounded
Eberhardt = 117 (4 officers) killed, 247 (6 officers) wounded
Heimwehr = 13 (2 officers) killed, est. 50 wounded = ca. 63*
12 ID (part) = est. 250 = ca. 250 (incl. at least 2 KIA officers)
Smaller units = ???

In total ca. 2000 killed or wounded, not including smaller units.

Heavy losses were also suffered by some paramilitary units from 6. SA-Brigade.

*Aditionally in previous combats near Tczew it lost 26 killed and a large number of wounded.

12 ID (part) = estimated 250 = ca. 250 (incl. at least 2 KIA officers)

This includes Killed In Action (Gefallen) of III./Inf.Rgt.48:

07.09.1939 - 7 (vor Soppieschin)
08.09.1939 - 4 (vor Soppieschin)
09.09.1939 - 3 (vor Marienhain (Gnewau))
10.09.1939 - 1 (vor Gnewau)
11.09.1939 - 1 (vor dem Eichberg)
12.09.1939 - 6 (vor dem Eichberg)
13.09.1939
14.09.1939 - 1 (auf dem Eichberg)
15.09.1939 - 2 (auf dem Eichberg)
16.09.1939
17.09.1939 - 1 (bei dem Dorf Eichberg)
18.09.1939 - 3 (bei Suchy-Dwor)
19.09.1939 - 2 (a.d. Muhle bei Suchy-Dwor) + 4 (im Hexenkessel)
Im Lazarett verstarben* - 6; including:
- 1 (verwundet bei Gnewau)
- 1 (verwundet bei Rahmel)
- 3 (verwundet bei Eichberg)
- 1 (verwundet bei Suchy-Dwor)

In total - 41 KIA - all of them men and NCOs (no officers).

*In original report there is "verstarben" (correct form should be "verstorben").

When it comes to those 2 KIA officers - they are:

Lt. Trofin von Baranoff, 9./Inf.Rgt.89. (III./Inf.Rgt.89), 09.09.1939
Lt. Siegwart Hans Paul Rudolf von Waldow, II./Art.Rgt.12

So this increases the confirmed total number of casualties of regular units to:

Grenzwacht - 73 (3) killed ----------------------------- 271 (3) wounded
207. Inf.Div. - 332 (18) killed ------------------------- 639 (22) wounded
Eberhardt - 117 (4) killed ------------------------------ 247 (6) wounded
Heimwehra - 13 (2) killed ----------------------------- ? (?) wounded
III./IR.43 - 41 (0) killed ------------------------------- ? (?) wounded
III./IR.89 - ? (1) killed --------------------------------- ? (?) wounded
II./AR.12 - ? (1) killed --------------------------------- ? (?) wounded
Other units - ? (?) killed ------------------------------- ? (?) wounded

If not counting 26 KIA of Heimwehr (SS Heimwehr-Danzig) in combats near Tczew.

[Piotr Kapuscinski]

After the news about the breaking off the flag gets an attack of nerves.

Of course there should be: "... Sucharski gets an attack of nerves".