Battle of Piotrków Trybunalski

Coordinates: 51°24′N 19°41′E / 51.400°N 19.683°E / 51.400; 19.683
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Battle of Piotrków Trybunalski
Part of Invasion of Poland, World War II
Date4-6 September 1939
Location
Piotrków Trybunalski, Łódź Voivodeship, Poland
Result Polish withdrawal
Belligerents
 Poland  Germany
Commanders and leaders

Second Polish Republic Stefan Dąb-Biernacki

Second Polish Republic Wiktor Thommée		 Nazi Germany Erich Hoepner
Units involved

Army Łódź
:

Army Prusy
:

XVI Panzer Corps
:

Casualties and losses
2 tanks[1]: 60  17 Panzers, 2 self propelled guns, 14 armoured cars[1]: 60 
Polish memorial for the battle.

The Battle of Piotrków Trybunalski was a battle in the German Invasion of Poland from 4 to 6 September 1939, which involved Polish and German tank formations.

Opposing forces

Polish Army

The core of the Polish force consisted of most of the

Marshall Edward Rydz-Śmigły, was also the last to be mobilised in the summer of 1939. Intended as a reserve of Łódź Army and Kraków Army, the Prusy Army was to support its neighbours and relieve them once the main German attacks were slowed. However, the Battle of the Border did not gain the Poles enough time to fully mobilise the reserves.[1]
: 60 

While most of Polish Army had been successfully

7TP tanks) stationed between Opoczno and Końskie
, and the 81st Motorised Sappers Battalion.

Apart from units of the Prusy Army, the Polish side also included a number of smaller units from Łódź Army. In the city of Piotrków Trybunalski itself the 146th Infantry Regiment was being mobilised for the 44th Reserve Infantry Division and was dispatched to the front as part of an improvised battle group under Col. Ludwik Czyżewski. In addition, 2nd Light Tank Battalion including elements of the

Wołyńska Cavalry Brigade and the 2nd Legions' Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Legions Infantry Division
also took part in the battle as part of Col. Czyżewski's group.

Wehrmacht

The German force fighting in the battle consisted of the entire XVI Panzer Corps. The unit, part of German 10th Army, was the strongest Panzer corps in the Wehrmacht and on 1 September 1939 included between 616 and 650 tanks of all types (the entire Polish Army had 313 proper tanks altogether, not including reconnaissance tankettes). The XVI Corps included the 1st and 4th Panzer Divisions as well as the 14th and 31st Infantry Divisions.[1]: 60 

Battle

On the morning of 4 September,

Wilenska Cavalry Brigade and 29th infantry division nearby, which Biernacki
intended to use for a night attack on the armored troops attacking Piotrków. Permission for this attack was given at night and the attack was scheduled for the night of September 5/6.

At dawn on September 5, Hoepner moved north and at 10 a.m. 1st panzer division attacked Piotrków. This was a surprise to Biernacki who thought that Rozprza was still defended by the "Lodz" army. The attack was repelled with the participation of 2nd tank battalion which counterattacked on the flank. However, the Polish tanks soon began to retreat due to the numerical superiority of the Germans. Hoepner collected more forces and after a strong artillery fire at 2 p.m. the second attack on the city began. This time, the Polish defensive line was pierced and german tanks began to pour through. The two battalions of the 19 infantry division were decimated, having lost more than 80 percent of their personnel and equipment.[2] The Germans occupied the city by evening. At the same time, Biernacki, unaware of the loss of the city due to missing reports, continued to prepare for a night attack. However, 19th division was badly battered and Wilenska Cavalry Brigade began to retreat to the northeast. Only 29th division continued the advance by marching into the fighting area. At midnight the Biernacki realized the situation and ordered to recapture the city with the forces of 29th infantry division and four battalions from 19th infantry division that had not yet taken part in the fighting. The attack, however, was not carried out and the troops withdrew to the north. 29th division lost two infantry battalions already fighting near Piotrków, which did not receive new orders.

See also

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 9781841764085
  2. ISBN 978-1-4728-3495-9
    .

51°24′N 19°41′E / 51.400°N 19.683°E / 51.400; 19.683

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