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Battle of Modlin
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| Battle of Modlin | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Invasion of Poland | |||||||
.JPG) Ruins of the southern bridgehead | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Germany |
 Poland | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Hermann Hoth Adolf Strauss Werner Kempf |
Wiktor Thommée | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
German Units
|
Polish Units | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
4 infantry divisions 2nd Light Division Panzer Division Kempf 100 aircraft [1] |
40,000 men (peak) 96 guns 7 TK-3 tankettes Armoured train "Śmierć" | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
900 killed 670 wounded |
1,300 killed 4,000 wounded 35,000 captured | ||||||
The Battle of Modlin took place during the 1939 German invasion of Poland at the beginning of the Second World War. Modlin Fortress was initially the headquarters of the Modlin Army until its retreat eastwards. From 13 to 29 September 1939, it served as a defensive citadel for Polish forces under the command of General Wiktor Thommée against assaulting German units. The fighting was closely linked with the strategic situation of the Battle of Warsaw.
The Polish forces defending the fortress included the armoured train Śmierć ("death") and the Modlin anti-aircraft battery, which was credited with shooting down more Luftwaffe planes than any other in the entire September campaign.
Fortress Modlin capitulated on 29 September, one of the last to lay down its arms in the campaign, and surrendered 24,000 troops.[1]: 78 Several days earlier, Rochus Misch had attempted to negotiate the surrender of the fortress despite being wounded, an act for which he was awarded the Iron Cross.[2]
Soldiers of the Panzer Division Kempf committed the Massacre in Zakroczym on 28 September 1939.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Zaloga, S.J., 2002, Poland 1939, Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd., ISBN 9781841764085
- ^ Schnoor, Stefan; Boris (15 May 2011). "The last survivor of Hitler's downfall - The Fuhrer's bodyguard gives last interview". Daily Express.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Siege of Modlin (1939).
- Modlin fortress as seen from a satellite - green cross marks the southern bridgehead pictured above
Battle of Modlin
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Background
Modlin Fortress and Its Historical Role
The Modlin Fortress occupies a strategically vital position at the confluence of the Vistula and Narew rivers, roughly 30 kilometers northwest of Warsaw, enabling control over northern access routes to the Polish capital and serving as a natural barrier against invasions from the east and north. This location's defensive advantages were exploited by multiple powers over centuries, with early earthen fortifications dating to the 17th-century Swedish Deluge, but the site's full militarization occurred in the Napoleonic era.[5][6] On December 1, 1806, Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the construction of a modern fortress at Modlin to anchor defenses for the newly created Duchy of Warsaw against Russian and Austrian threats. Construction, directed by French engineers, proceeded from 1807 to 1812, yielding a bastioned citadel with extensive ramparts, barracks, and artillery emplacements capable of supporting a division-sized force. Napoleon personally oversaw aspects of the design, envisioning it as a key redoubt in his eastern campaigns.[7][8][9] After Napoleon's 1812 retreat from Russia, Polish Duchy forces briefly held Modlin before Russian troops seized it in 1813, incorporating the site into their imperial defenses within Congress Poland. In response to the 1830-1831 November Uprising, where the fortress functioned as an insurgent stronghold, Russians renamed it Novogeorgievsk and undertook massive expansions between 1832 and 1841, adding outer forts, prolonged barracks—the longest in Europe at over 2 kilometers—and infrastructure to garrison tens of thousands. Late-19th-century upgrades included concrete elements and dispersed forts, adapting to rifled artillery, though the core remained a symbol of Russian dominance over Polish lands.[5][7][6] During World War I, German forces captured the fortress in 1915 after prolonged siege, utilizing it as a forward base. Regained by Poland post-1918, Modlin served as a garrison during the 1920 Polish-Soviet War, hosting troops amid the Battle of Warsaw. By September 1939, despite vulnerabilities to aerial and mechanized assault, its robust walls and riverine moats positioned it as a critical fallback for Polish armies retreating from initial German advances, underscoring its enduring role in national defense.[9][10][11]
Strategic Context of the 1939 Invasion
The German invasion of Poland, codenamed Fall Weiss, began at 0445 hours on 1 September 1939, following planning directives issued by the Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH) on 15 June 1939 and approved by Adolf Hitler in late April.[12] [13] The operation deployed two principal army groups: Army Group North under Colonel General Fedor von Bock, comprising the Third Army (General Georg von Küchler) and Fourth Army (General Günther von Kluge), and Army Group South under Colonel General Gerd von Rundstedt, including the Eighth, Tenth, and Fourteenth Armies.[12] Germany's strategic objective was to achieve a rapid Bewegungskrieg (war of movement) to encircle and annihilate Polish forces west of the Vistula-Bug line, with Warsaw as the central target for junction by northern and southern thrusts, preventing any Polish retreat eastward into the Pripet Marshes.[12] [13] Overall, Germany committed approximately 1.5 million troops, supported by 2,750 tanks, 2,315 aircraft, and 9,000 guns, leveraging combined arms tactics including Panzer divisions and Luftwaffe close air support.[14] In the northern sector, the Third Army—tasked with advancing from East Prussia toward the Narew River (about 25 miles north of Warsaw)—faced Polish defenses anchored by the Modlin Army under Brigadier General Emil Przedzymirski-Krukowicz, consisting of two infantry divisions and two cavalry brigades positioned along the Mława-Łomża line.[12] [15] Modlin Fortress, situated at the strategic confluence of the Vistula and Narew rivers northwest of Warsaw, served as a fortified pivot to cover the capital's northern approaches, with Polish plans emphasizing initial delay actions before fallback to its bunkers and river barriers.[12] [15] German forces in this sector, including eight infantry divisions, one Panzer brigade, and one cavalry brigade, aimed to outflank Polish positions rapidly, bypassing strongpoints like Mława to secure Vistula crossings and contribute to Warsaw's encirclement by 7–10 September.[12] [15] Poland mobilized around 1 million troops but faced disadvantages in equipment (only 880 armored vehicles and 800 aircraft) and doctrine, relying on linear defenses and fixed fortifications while anticipating Anglo-French intervention that failed to materialize decisively.[14] The secret protocols of the 23 August Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact neutralized immediate Soviet threats, enabling Germany's single-front focus, though the Soviet invasion on 17 September ultimately sealed Polish collapse.[14] Polish strategy prioritized holding key nodes like Modlin to shield Warsaw, but rapid German penetrations in the north exposed flanks, isolating forward units and compelling retreats that preserved limited forces for fortress defense.[15]Prelude to the Engagement
The Modlin Fortress, situated at the strategic confluence of the Vistula and Narew rivers approximately 30 kilometers northwest of Warsaw, formed a critical element of Poland's northern defensive line against potential German aggression. Established in the early 19th century and modernized in the interwar period, it was intended to anchor defenses protecting the capital from incursions via East Prussia and the Polish Corridor.[16] Polish Army Modlin, under Brigadier General Emil Krukowicz-Przedrzymirski, was deployed to cover this sector with roughly 28 infantry battalions, 37 cavalry squadrons, 180 artillery pieces, and supporting elements including anti-aircraft units and an armored train. Tasked with initial delaying actions along the frontier before falling back to the Narew River line and ultimately the fortress, the army included the 8th and 20th Infantry Divisions alongside the Nowogródzka and Mazowiecka Cavalry Brigades.[17] The German invasion commenced on 1 September 1939, with Army Group North's Third and Fourth Armies thrusting toward the Narew-Vistula line. Polish forces immediately engaged in defensive battles, notably the Battle of Mława (1–4 September), where the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade and elements of the 20th Infantry Division under Colonel Kazimierz Mastalerz inflicted significant casualties on the German 1st Panzer Division, delaying its advance despite eventual Polish withdrawal amid overwhelming air and armored superiority.[18] By 3 September, German forces captured Przasnysz, compelling Army Modlin to retreat southward; orders issued on 6 September directed units to consolidate at the Bug-Vistula juncture near Modlin.[19] As German II Corps of the Fourth Army reached positions near Strasburg and Lypin by 8 September with minimal opposition, surviving Polish elements from the northern front funneled into the fortress, bolstering its garrison. This withdrawal positioned approximately 20,000–25,000 troops within Modlin's fortifications by mid-September, transforming it into a bastion amid the collapsing Polish defenses elsewhere, even as the Battle of the Bzura (9–20 September) unfolded to the west.[19][15]Opposing Forces
Polish Defenders
The Polish defenders at Modlin Fortress were commanded by General Wiktor Thommée, who assumed control after the retreat of his Łódź Army remnants following initial defeats against German forces in early September 1939.[1] Thommée coordinated the defense from 13 September onward, integrating stragglers from the disbanded Modlin Army under its prior commander, General Emil Przedrzymirski-Krukowicz, to form a cohesive garrison.[20] The garrison's strength totaled approximately 24,000 troops by mid-September, comprising infantry, artillery, and support personnel drawn from multiple depleted units.[21] Key components included elements of four infantry divisions, primarily the 8th Infantry Division stationed at Modlin pre-war, supplemented by survivors from the 20th Infantry Division and Nowogródzka Cavalry Brigade, which provided mobile reserves despite heavy prior losses.[1] Smaller specialized units bolstered the force, such as the Modlin anti-aircraft battery, credited with downing several German aircraft, and the armored train Śmierć ("Death"), which conducted reconnaissance and fire support missions until ammunition shortages limited its operations.[1] Equipment emphasized fixed defenses over mobility, leveraging the fortress's 19th-century earthworks, concrete bunkers, and artillery emplacements modernized in the interwar period, with approximately 200 field and heavy guns available.[7] Anti-tank capabilities were rudimentary, relying on 37mm Bofors guns and improvised obstacles, while ammunition and supplies were rationed amid encirclement, reflecting broader Polish logistical strains from the rapid German advance.[19] These forces held out until capitulation on 29 September, inflicting disproportionate casualties relative to their numbers due to terrain advantages and determined close-quarters fighting.[21]German Attackers
The German forces tasked with assaulting the Modlin Fortress primarily belonged to the II Army Corps (II. Armee-Korps), commanded by General der Infanterie Adolf Strauß. This corps operated under Army Group North (Heeresgruppe Nord), advancing from positions secured after the initial border battles and the Battle of Mława in early September 1939. Strauß's units encircled and besieged the fortress starting around 13 September, coordinating ground assaults with Luftwaffe bombing to weaken Polish defenses.[2][22] Key infantry formations included the 228th Infantry Division (228. Infanterie-Division), a second-wave reserve unit that conducted supporting attacks and siege operations against Modlin from mid-September onward; its regiments engaged in direct assaults on fortress positions near Warsaw. The 217th Infantry Division (217. Infanterie-Division), under Generalleutnant Richard Baltzer, contributed to the encirclement and combat against remnants of the Polish Modlin Army in the surrounding area, including operations in the Kampinos Forest and along approach routes to the fortress. Additionally, elements of the Kempf Panzer Division (Panzer-Division Kempf), commanded by Generalleutnant Werner Kempf, provided armored support in the northern sector, leveraging tanks such as Panzer I and II models for breakthroughs against Polish cavalry and infantry screening the fortress.[23][24] These divisions were equipped with standard Wehrmacht infantry weaponry, including MG 34 machine guns, 7.92mm Karabiner 98k rifles, and 81mm mortars, supplemented by corps-level artillery such as 10.5 cm leFH 18 howitzers for bombardment. Armored elements from Kempf added mobility, though terrain and fortifications limited their role to exploitation rather than decisive penetration. Luftwaffe units from the 1st Air Fleet (Luftflotte 1) delivered aerial strikes, targeting fortifications and supply lines to facilitate the ground siege. Overall, the attackers outnumbered the Polish garrison, employing combined arms tactics that emphasized encirclement over frontal assault until the final phases.[19][23]Course of the Battle
Initial German Assaults (13–18 September)
The German Fourth Army, under Generaloberst Günther von Kluge, initiated assaults on the Modlin Fortress on 13 September 1939, as its II Corps completed encirclement of the position after capturing Płock on 10 September and Wyszogród on 12 September, isolating the Polish defenders from Warsaw.[19] Elements including the provisional East Prussia Panzer Unit (Panzer-Division Kempf), 2nd Light Division, and several infantry divisions conducted probing infantry attacks supported by roughly 100 Luftwaffe aircraft bombing runs and artillery fire aimed at outer fortifications along the Vistula and Narew rivers.[25] These units, drawn from the broader northern advance following the defeat of Polish Army Modlin in early border battles, sought a rapid capture to secure the northern flank for operations against Warsaw.[19] Polish forces under General Wiktor Thommée, consisting of approximately 24,000 troops from retreating Modlin Army remnants including the Pomorska Cavalry Brigade and independent infantry, manned the fortress's extensive 19th-century fortifications, concrete bunkers, and riverine defenses, repelling the initial ground pushes with machine-gun fire and counter-battery artillery.[1] German tactics emphasized combined arms but encountered stiff resistance, with no significant breaches achieved; Thommée's command maintained cohesion despite supply shortages and maintained limited communication with Warsaw until 22 September.[19] From 14 to 18 September, German operations shifted to consolidating the blockade west, north, and east of the fortress while launching limited assaults with flak and security battalions such as Infanterie-Fla-Bataillon 814 and Sicherungs-Bataillon 865, supplemented by dive-bomber groups from Schlachtgeschwader 1.[26] These efforts inflicted casualties through aerial and shelling attacks—estimated at several hundred Polish dead and wounded—but failed to overcome the defenses, as Thommée's troops conducted sorties and exploited the terrain to deny penetrations, forcing the Germans to prepare a formal siege under a special staff led by General Strauss starting 19 September.[19] The period highlighted the fortress's role as a resilient anchor, delaying German consolidation in the region amid broader Polish retreats.[26]Polish Counteractions and the Battle of the Bzura
As German forces pressed their assaults on Modlin Fortress from 13 September 1939, the Polish Supreme Command initiated a major counteroffensive elsewhere to disrupt German advances toward Warsaw and its northern defenses, including Modlin. This operation, known as the Battle of the Bzura, represented the largest Polish counterattack of the invasion, involving the Poznań Army under General Tadeusz Kutrzeba and elements of the Pomorze Army, totaling around 175,000 troops with limited armor and artillery support. Launched on 9 September along the Bzura River west of Warsaw, it targeted the extended supply lines and flanks of the German 8th and 10th Armies, achieving initial surprises such as the recapture of Łęczyca and Piątek, and forcing German withdrawals in several sectors.[27] The offensive inflicted notable casualties on the Germans—estimated at 10,000 to 20,000 killed, wounded, or captured—while demonstrating Polish tactical resilience against superior mechanized forces, though Luftwaffe dominance and rapid German reinforcements curtailed deeper penetrations. By 16 September, coordinated German counterattacks with panzer divisions encircled much of the Polish grouping near Kutno, leading to intense fighting during breakout attempts from 17 to 19 September. Polish losses exceeded 150,000, including over 100,000 captured, marking a strategic defeat despite local successes that temporarily halted German momentum toward Warsaw.[27] In the chaos of the encirclement's collapse, several Polish units evaded capture and reinforced besieged positions, including Modlin. Remnants of the 25th Infantry Division, Podolska Cavalry Brigade, and Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade—battered survivors from the Bzura pocket—fought through German lines to reach the fortress between 18 and 20 September, bolstering General Wiktor Thomée's defenders with additional infantry, cavalry, and artillery assets numbering several thousand men. These arrivals enhanced Modlin's manpower amid escalating German siege operations, allowing sustained resistance until late September, though no coordinated relief effort directly targeted the fortress itself.[27][21] Local counteractions at Modlin during this period were limited to defensive sorties and artillery duels, as Thomée prioritized conserving ammunition and fortifying riverine approaches rather than risking sorties against entrenched German positions. The Bzura's diversionary effect indirectly eased pressure on northern fronts by compelling Germany to redirect reserves southward, but the failure to link up with Modlin or Warsaw underscored Poland's logistical isolation and the invasion's overwhelming asymmetry.[19]Intensified Siege and Final Phases (19–29 September)
On 19 September 1939, following the conclusion of the Battle of the Bzura, German forces under a special group commanded by General of Infantry Adolf Strauss initiated a formal siege of Modlin Fortress as part of operations by the German 4th Army.[19] The Polish defenders, led by Brigadier General Wiktor Thommée and numbering around 24,000 troops from remnants of the Pomorze and Poznań Armies, held fortified positions including the citadel and outer forts along the Vistula and Narew Rivers.[3] [1] German II Corps established a blockade to the west, north, and east of the fortress, while artillery and air units prepared for bombardment.[19] Polish forces maintained limited communication with Warsaw until 22 September, when German divisions on both sides of the Vistula River launched coordinated attacks that severed these links, isolating Modlin completely.[19] The assaults inflicted severe losses on the attackers but succeeded in encircling the garrison.[19] From 24 to 27 September, the Germans escalated the siege with intensified artillery barrages and Luftwaffe air strikes targeting fortifications and supply lines.[19] Polish anti-aircraft defenses, among the most effective in the campaign, downed several aircraft, while ground forces repelled infantry probes supported by elements of Panzer Division Kempf.[3] Ammunition and food shortages mounted, exacerbated by the fortress's pre-war under-modernization despite its strategic role.[19] The capitulation of Warsaw on 28 September rendered further resistance futile, as relief was impossible and Soviet forces approached from the east.[3] Thommée surrendered Modlin on 29 September, yielding approximately 24,000 troops, artillery pieces, and remaining supplies to the Germans, marking one of the final major Polish strongholds to fall in central Poland.[3] [19]