WARSAW WITHSTANDS GERMAN ONSLAUGHT

Rough Translation:   Immortal City of Warsaw, where the West meets the East in Central Europe the city was founded,
so you know the fundamentals.

September 26, 1939

A general assault began early this morning on all fronts surrounding the besieged city of Warsaw. The western part of the city is under attack by 5 German divisions (10th, 18th 19th, 31st, and 46th) while 4 divisions (11th, 32nd, 61st and 217th) are attacking the eastern part of the city.  German forces are supported by 70 batteries of field artillery, 80 batteries of heavy artillery, and 2 entire air fleets (1st and 4th).  Bombing of the city is continuous. The city center is in flames. The German 8th Army under Commander-in-Chief von Brauchitsch has joined the other troops in a joint massive assault. The attack however was repelled by the Poles forcing the Germans to retreated to their original positions.  Reports indicate that the Poles have re-captured Mokotow Airport and have rebuilt 6 of their airplanes which have all taken to the air.

German infantry with 150mm Howitzer attacking Warsaw

German tanks surround Warsaw

Stuka Bombers Swarm Warsaw

 

On the Western Front, the French continue launching artillery fire on the forward defences of the German Siegfried Line. Meanwhile in France the Communist Party has been dissolved by a Presidential decree. It now becomes illegal to propagandize themes of the Third International. French communists are leading an anti-war movement. Some have been interned by the French government.

In the British House of Commons, the First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill announced that Britain is winning the U-boat war claiming that British fleets have destroyed a 10th of German submarines in the first 2 weeks of the war and that German losses are probably a quarter or a third by now.

The HMS Ark Royal narrowly escaped an attack today by German JU 88 Bombers. Yesterday the Royal helped rescue the submarine HMS Spearfish which had suffered damage by German warships off Horn Reefs, in the Kattegat (in the southwestern peninsula of Denmark). While returning to port today with Spearfish and HMS Nelson Rodney their location was discovered by 3 Luftwaffe Dornier airplanes.  The Ark Royal launched 3 Blackburn Skuas to disperse them shooting down one Dornier in what was the first British aerial kill of the war.  Realizing that the surviving Dorniers would report their location, the commander of the Royal ordered the aircraft be secured and the anti-aircraft artillery readied.  Four JU-88 bombers soon appeared but were driven away by the ships anti-aircraft fire. The fourth bomber launched a 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) bomb at the carrier.The Ark Royal turned hard to starboard heeling over and avoided the bomb which landed in the ocean 30 meters (98 ft) off her starboard bow and sent a spout of water over the ship.

The Germans claimed that the Ark Royal was hit and sank but the pilots could not confirm it. Not long afterward a German reconnaissance flight was made but only two ships were spotted - not the Ark Royal. To prove German propaganda wrong before it had a negative impact on the Allies, Winston Churchill personally assured President Roosevelt that the carrier was undamaged and invited the US naval attache to view the Ark in dock.

British Carrier HMS Ark Royal

Link:

Polish Greatness.com

POLES FIGHT THE GERMAN DRAGON

September 2, 1939

In the second day of fighting German troops suffered heavy casualties as they clashed with Polish infantry. The German armies are relentless  unleashing a continuous barrage of artillery fire and gunfire on Polish units. In response eighteen Polish bombers attacked and destroyed German positions in the Radom-Piotrkow area southwest of Warsaw.

The town of Tczew was taken by the German 3rd Army.  In an attempt to stop German advancements across the Vistula, Polish units destroyed the city's vital bridge. When the German task force, Group Medem was unable to seize a crossing they called in Army Group North to effect crossings at Gniew and near Marianwerder. The German 3rd Army Corps kept the bridge under constant artillery fire while trying to fight off fierce Polish counter-attacks during it's advance toward Grudziaz.

Poles destroyed bridge at Tczew

Reports indicate that the Germany Army Group South has already crossed over the Warta River into western-central Poland.  The 8th, 10th, and 14th German armies have made rapid advancements in the frontier battles but with heavy casualties. Krakow is now near the front line. In the north the German 4th Army has just rendezvoused with the Third Army unit from East Prussia. Two Polish divisions were destroyed while attempting to retreat back through the Polish Corridor. They were stationed too forward and found themselves trapped in the rear of the German advance preventing any movement by the Polish Reserves. Communication lines were broken. The Luftwaffe is spreading chaos in the Polish rear, already having made 6 air raids on Warsaw.

Fighting continues at Westerplatte where German units are making renewed efforts to defeat the Polish fighters.  A massive  2-wave air raid of 60 Junkers JU 87 Stuka dive bombers took out the Polish mortars. A Polish guardhouse was completely destroyed after it was hit by a 500 kg bomb. A total of 26.5 tons of bombs were dropped on Westerplatte today, smoke being seen for miles around. At least 8 Polish soldiers were killed.

The town of Wielun in central Poland surrendered. German bombers destroyed most of the town center including a clearly marked hospital and the historic Gothic church. Three quarters of the town was destroyed.  Nearly 1,300 civilians were killed. No Polish military units were present at the time.

Wielun in the first hours after bombing

British anti-war protesters

British Parliament debated frantically today on how to oppose Germany. The majority of the House has openly voiced it's disapproval of the passive line taken so far by Prime Minister Chamberlain in dealing with Germany.  By evening a consensus was reached that Britain should send Germany an ultimatum.  At the same time, a National Service Act was passed allowing for the conscription of men between the ages of 19 and 41.


A fleet numbering 10 bomber squadrons of the British RAF Advanced Striking Force touched down on French soil today. The French Parliament has also convened an emergency session to deliberate on how to oppose Germany and fulfill it's obligation to Poland.  They will join Britain in sending Germany an ultimatum. 

Britains Bomber, the Armstrong Whitworth Whitely

A 5-power peace conference proposed by Mussolini several days ago was rejected by Hitler. Meanwhile the German government announced that Norwegian neutrality would be respected provided that Britain and France do the same. The governments of Italy and Ireland both declared neutrality while Switzerland has ordered a general mobilization.

Mussolini and HItler

L-R: Chamberlain, Daladier, Hitler, Mussolini and Ciano (Munich Agreement 1938)

INVASION OF POLAND: A RE-ENACTMENT

On Wednesday, September 1, 2010 Polish Greatness (Blog) will be featuring a Special Documentary of the Invasion of Poland: A Re-Enactment. I will be making daily posts on this blog from September 1, to October 8, 2010.


This re-enactment includes shocking news reports accompanied by archival videos and photographs. 


This special presentation will bring history to life in a way that creates more awareness about the past. World War II was a terrible tragedy of epic proportions, but it's legacy is part of our culture. We cannot know who we are unless we know our past. We need to know our past so that we can change our future.

Although History has made its mark and is past, we never stop learning about it as there are always more stories to be discovered.

It all starts September 1st.  Please click the following link  Germany Attacks Poland!

http://polishgreatness.blogspot.ca/2010/09/germany-attacks-poland.html