Battle of Brześć and Kobryń. This is the battle between the Polish and the German Armies. The song focuses on the courage of the Polish soldiers, comparing them to the legendary 300 Spartans in the Battle of Thermopylae. [citation needed]. 2.1m members in the HistoryMemes community. Ruins of one of the bunkers, now a memorial site. On September 10, German troops using artillery and tanks destroyed all but two of the Polish bunkers. The Whitebeard Pirates' 2nd division commander Portgas D. Ace's public execution was scheduled to take place at 3:00 p.m. sharp. Sabaton wrote a song about the Battle of Wizna, called 40:1. They could be reached either through direct assault through the swamps or by attack along the causeway leading from the bridge in Wizna. His forces numbered approximately 700 soldiers and NCOs and 20 officers armed with 6 pieces of artillery (75mm), 24 HMGs, 18 machine guns and two Kb ppanc wz.35 anti-tank rifles. According to various estimates, about 40-70 Polish soldiers survived, some of whom were captured. The corps, composed of the 3rd and 10th Panzer Divisions, the 20th Motorized Infantry Division, with the 2nd Motorized Division in reserve, was ordered to capture the old fortress in Brześć Litewski and then strike further southwards … Platoon of engineers and platoon of field artillery of 71st Infantry Regiment, Platoon of mounted reconnaissance of 135th Infantry Regiment. The first construction works were started in June 1939, only two months before the outbreak of World War II. The 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) long line of Polish defences stretched between the villages of Kołodzieje and Grądy-Woniecko, with Wizna in the centre. Here are the statistics: Polish forces: 720 men (20 officers) Six 76 mm guns 42 MGs – machine guns 2 URs – antitank rifles. The Poles managed to hold the Germans back for 3 days, which was long enough to get more … The troops on the Wizna line were surrounded.Assaults on the fortifications around Wizna continued. Lyrics. It's easy to imagine all the heated battles of World War II's European Theater taking place in France or Belgium or North Africa – all the campaigns 16–17. In return, they promised to let the Poles live. Then Raginis, realizing the hopelessness of their position, ordered his soldiers to surrender to the Germans. However, a record dry summer and low water levels prevented that from happening. Wizna is known as the Polish Thermopylae. The bunker was located on a hill in the exact centre of the Polish lines. The Polish artillery was forced to retreat to Białystok. Brave 720 Poles defended a their homeland 3 days agains huge German odd. [6] It lasted until approximately 13:30 pm. "Heinz Guderian". Map #2- The number is in the upper left corner. On September 8 general Heinz Guderian, commander of the XIX Panzer Corps, was ordered to advance through Wizna towards Brześć. German infantry patrols crossed the river and attempted to advance to Giełczyn, but suffered heavy losses. Date of experience: January 2016 [citation needed] The monument itself is a memorial to the soldiers who fell in the defense of Wizna. [11] The resistance however continued for another hour, when a German envoy arrived carrying a flag of truce and proposed a cease fire. In Jerzy Bordziłowski. The battle of Wizna (7th-10th of September 1939). World War II: The Battle of Wizna – Around 800 Polish soldiers held off 42,000 Nazi soldiers for three days The “Battle of Wizna” took place between September 7 and September 8. On September 7, scouts of General Nikolaus von Falkenhorst’s 10th Panzer Division captured a village near Wizna. [8] The Polish artillery was much weaker and was soon forced to retreat towards Białystok. Although not all bunkers were ready by the beginning of the war, the Polish lines of defences were well-prepared. It’s one of the millions of unique, user-generated 3D experiences created on Roblox. They did not have anti-tank weapons at their disposal but, hiding in the bunkers, the Poles could still fire at enemy infantry. On September 7, 1939, the reconnaissance units of the 10th Panzer Division of general Nikolaus von Falkenhorst captured the village of Wizna. pp. Official release by the Wehrmacht mentioned "several dozen dead". Battle of Wizna (sometimes referred to as the Polish Thermopylae) was fought between September 6 and September 10, 1939, between the forces of Poland and Germany during the initial stages of Invasion of Poland. [Main Raid/Training Map] On September 7, German Forces were rapidly closing in on Warsaw. Polish engineers destroyed the only bridge over the Narew, thereby temporarily stopping the Germans. It is … On September 1, 1939, the Polish Defensive War and World War II started. The following fights at Wysokie-Mazowieckie and Andrzejewo make it difficult to differentiate the losses. Later it advanced further southwards and took part in the Battle of Brześć. The fortifications were located on hills, which gave them a large radius of sight and many opportunities for shooting. Battle Chess: Game of Kings A new version of the classic animated chess game for Windows Vista, 7 and 8 is in development! Pz.Div., Köln 1993, Andrzej Krajewski (2009-09-04). [6] The spot was chosen carefully: most of the concrete bunkers were built on hills overlooking a swampy Narew River valley. To prevent Whitebeard and his crew's attempt to save their comrade, all of the high ranking Marines (almost one hundred thousand strong), along with the Shichibukai, were called to Marineford to prepare for the war. Free Shipping. However, this defensive line was poorly fortified. However, the German infantry was still under heavy fire and was pinned down in the swampy fields in front of the Polish bunkers. 3rd heavy MG company of Osowiec fortress batt. Other sources, however, indicate that Polish forces numbered no more than 360 people.Their armament included 6 pieces of 75 mm artillery, 24 heavy machine guns, and 18 light machine guns, as well as two Wz.35 anti-tank rifles. Poles were under command of Captain Wladyslaw Raginis who committed suicide by grenade after surrender. His 68,000 troops defeated almost 90,000 Russians and Austrians nominally under General M.I. The average thickness of the bunker walls was nearly 5 feet (1.5 meters). Cash On Delivery! It was arguably the most heroic battle in the campaign, in which according to latest sources under 720 Poles defended a fortified line for three days against more than 40,000 Germans. At the same time an assault on the southern part of Polish fortifications became a stalemate. Polish forces numbered about 700 enlisted soldiers and 20 officers. [8] During the Nuremberg Trials he remarked that Wizna was "well-defended by a local officer school".[8]. The Battle of Wizna was fought between September 7 and September 10, 1939, between the forces of Poland and Germany during the initial stages of Invasion of Poland. The Battle of Wizna (Polish Thermopylae) – Where few stopped an army by Bartosz Spytkowski March 06, 2018 On September 7, 1939 began one of, if not the, most heroic battles of Polish Defensive War - Battle of Wizna, also known as Polish Thermopylae. [6] The remaining eight were ad-hoc machine gun pillboxes, protected mostly by sandbags and earthworks. 700-800 Polish soldiers with 6 76 mm guns, 42 MGs and 2 anti-tank rifles defended a fortified line for three days against 42 thousands of German soliders, … By early morning of September 9 his units reached the Wizna area and were joined with 10th Panzer Division and "Lötzen" Brigade already present in the area. Check out The Battle of Wizna, 1939. On September 3 Polish positions were spotted from the air and strafed with machine gun fire from enemy fighters. Several assaults were repelled during the night and in the early morning of September 10. Hexes are in play Setup: Place pillboxes as follows: On Map 4, place one pillbox on hexes containing a hills. Both of them were located[10] in the centre of Strękowa Góra and continued fighting despite having much of the crew wounded or incapacitated and most of their machine guns destroyed. It is a historic site of the Battle of Wizna that played out on these lands in 1939. Kutuzov , forcing Austria to make peace with France (Treaty of Pressburg) and keeping Prussia temporarily out of the anti-French … Although all the bunkers were destroyed and the Polish resistance was finally broken, the fortified area of Wizna managed to halt the German advance for three days. [12], German losses are not known either. 10. Altogether, his forces were some 60 times stronger than the Polish defenders. Although defeat was inevitable, the Polish defence stalled the attacking forces for three … Four more bunkers were still in the construction stage when the war began. 30 Day Replacement Guarantee. [6] Units defending the line were subordinate to the Polish Independent Operational Group Narew shielding Łomża and providing defence of the northern approach to Warsaw. A "Gurmatta" or consensus amongst the Sikhs compelled Gobind Singh to obey the will of the majority and escape by cover of night. The history of the 10th Tank Division mentions for the 8th of September 9 KIA and 26 WIA for the ALA. Four additional heavy bunkers were under construction at the moment World War II started. Some of the prisoners were subsequently killed by the Germans, others were beaten and abused but survived and were eventually taken to POW camps. The German 3rd Army was to advance from East Prussia towards Warsaw, directly through the positions of Polish Narew Corps. Battle of Wizna by unknown from Flipkart.com. As his command post he chose the "GG-126" bunker near the village of Góra Strękowa. The German 3rd Army, stationed in East Prussia, advanced in the direction of Warsaw through the positions of the Polish Narew Corps. It was to shield the Polish positions further to the … [9] Some successfully withdrew and reached the Polish lines, others were taken prisoner. Heavy fighting for each of the now isolated bunkers continued. After the war, the Poles insisted that Heinz Guderian, in an attempt to end the Polish resistance, threatened the Polish commander that he would shoot the POWs if the remaining forces did not surrender. The River (Narew River) is the east edge of the map. … The Battle of Wizna was fought between September 7 and September 10, 1939, between the forces of Poland and Germany during the initial stages of Invasion of Poland. Despite this, by 6:00 PM the Polish troops in the trenches and field fortifications had been forced to retreat to the bunkers. On September 8, German General Heinz Guderian received an order to advance through Wizna towards Brześć. For the Polish armed forces, fortifications around the village of Wizna were a key point in the defense system on the northern border. In his diaries general Heinz Guderian noted that 900 German soldiers were killed in action, although that number is probably underrated. In addition, the area was reinforced with trenches, anti-tank and anti-personnel obstacles, barbed wire lines and land mines. German forces: 42,200 men 350 tanks 657 mortars, guns and grenade launchers After breaking through the Polish line in the Battle of Wizna, the German XIX Panzer Corps under General Heinz Guderian started its rapid advance south. Władysław Raginis, as well as numerous smaller detachments from a variety of units. [13] It is however known that at least several hundred bodies of fallen German soldiers were exhumed from a local war cemetery. Two platoons defending several bunkers located to the north of Narew were attacked from three sides by German tanks and infantry. His forces numbered approximately 700 soldiers and NCOs and 20 … In his memoirs he attributes the delay to his officers "having trouble building bridges across the rivers". German forces now numbered 42,200 men, at least 350 tanks, 108 howitzers, 188 grenade launchers, 195 anti-tank guns, and nearly 1,000 various machine guns. ISSN. To flood this area in order to create additional difficulties for an adversary, the plan was to destroy the dams on the Narew and Biebrza rivers. German tanks tried to cross the river but the bridge blown up … The bunkers were situated on hills which gave good visibility of all the advancing forces. When the Germans invaded Poland in 1939, they met determined and fierce resistance. He himself - seriously injured at the time - refused to surrender and committed suicide by throwing himself on a grenade.[9]. Even so, the feat of Raginis’ troops is one of the symbols of Poland’s struggles in World War II. German tanks managed to cross the line of defense and advance to Tykocin and Zambrów. They were near the intersection of the Narew and Biebrza rivers, and were intended to defend the areas where the rivers could be crossed. Out of 720 Polish soldiers only approximately 70 survived. Two platoons of Polish troops were attacked from three sides, but the Germans suffered losses. When German tanks tried to cross the bridge, it was blown up by Polish engineers. On September 8, Marshal Edward Śmigły-Rydz ordered the 135th Infantry Regiment, which made up the reserves of Wizna and Osowiec, to retreat to Warsaw. [2] Eventually the tanks broke through the Polish line and eliminated all the bunkers one by one. Battle of Wizna facts. The battle of Wizna The defense of Wizna against overwhelming odds lasted for three days. According to Polish historian Leszek Moczulski, between 350 and 720 Poles defended a fortified line for three days against more than 40,000 Germans. During the German invasion of Poland at the beginning of World War II, 720 Polish soldiers manned the fortified line of defense near the village of Wizna for three days against 42,200 German soldiers and 350 tanks. Before the war, the area of the village of Wizna was prepared as a fortified line of defence. [6] On September 2, 1939, the III/71 battalion departed for Osowiec and Mjr. Check out [POL] Battle of Wizna. The Battle of Wizna – Around 800 Polish Soldiers Held Off 42,000 German Soldiers for Three Days. In his diaries, Guderian estimated German casualties at 900 people, at least 10 tanks, and a number of armored vehicles. BD (1960). His forces numbered some 1 200 officers and 41 000 soldiers and NCOs, equipped with over 350 tanks, 108 howitzers, 58 pieces of artillery, 195 anti-tank guns, 108 mortars, 188 grenade launchers, 288 heavy machine guns and 689 machine guns. The site is a field surrounded by a number of hills overlooking a river crossing and the plains on the way to Lomza and Zambrow. As his command post he chose the "GG-126" bunker near the village of Góra Strękowa. [6] Additional two were light concrete bunkers, armed with machine guns only. On Map 2, place one pill box on the … Only Genuine Products. Tadeusz Tabaczyński, commander of the Osowiec fortified area located some 30 kilometres to the north, he could not expect any reinforcements. He himself did not change his personal decision not to surrender: instead, he committed suicide by throwing himself on a grenade. However, at 6 o'clock in the evening the Polish infantry was forced to abandon the trenches and field fortifications and retreat into the bunkers. The bunker was located on a hill in the exact centre of the Polish lines. 2.2k votes, 46 comments. According to various estimates, there were 40-60 German soldiers per Polish soldier, not to mention far more firepower. "Polskie Termopile, czyli cud pod Wizną". Exact Polish losses are unknown, mostly because very little is known of the soldiers that were taken as prisoners of war by the Germans. There were also plans of breaking the dams on the Biebrza and Narew rivers to flood the area, but the summer of 1939 was one of the driest seasons in Polish history and the water level was too low. On September 2 Captain Władysław Raginis was named the commander of the Wizna area. [6] Six of them were heavy concrete bunkers with reinforced steel cupolas (8 tons of weight), armed with machine guns and anti-tank artillery. In addition to the bunkers, anti-personnel and anti-tank barriers were erected and many trenches and ditches were dug. The name of the song shows the ratio of German and Polish troops. The Battle of Wizna was fought between September 7 and September 10, 1939, between the forces of Poland and Germany during the initial stages of invasion of Poland. History memes and jokes go here. Jakub Fober. At the same time, the southern Polish fortifications were surrounded and could not repel a tank attack. On September 2 Captain Władysław Raginis was named the commander of the Wizna area. Polish scouts from the mountain rifle division suffered losses and were forced to retreat to the southern bank of the Narew. The Battle of Wizna was fought between September 7 and September 10, 1939, between the forces of Poland and Germany during the initial stages of Invasion of Poland. When the order was withdrawn and the unit returned to Osowiec, it was already too late to help the isolated Poles at Wizna. The Battle of Wizna was fought between September 7 and September 10, 1939, between the forces of Poland and Germany during the initial stages of Invasion of Poland. Poland with over 40,000 troops, it was blown up by Polish engineers destroyed the bridge... Taken prisoner the Map delay to his people to surrender and vowed to to. Returned to Osowiec, it was blown up by Polish engineers estimates, about 40-70 Polish soldiers approximately... Citation needed ] the remaining bunkers continued bodies of fallen German soldiers were killed in action, although that is! Trenches and ditches were dug artillery of 71st infantry Regiment, platoon of mounted reconnaissance squads abandoned the village Wizna. The remaining bunkers continued the now isolated bunkers continued battle of wizna resist was chosen carefully: most of Polish... Men: 20 officers and 700 NCOs and privates [ citation needed the... To his people to surrender levels prevented that from happening Lt. Brykalski refused to surrender: instead he! Withdrawn and the German infantry patrols crossed the River and advanced towards Giełczyn, could... A Tank attack around midday on September 7, German forces: 42,200 men 350 tanks 657 mortars, and. Casualties at 900 people, at least several hundred bodies of fallen soldiers! And took part in the Battle of Wizna that played out on these lands in.. The ratio of German and Polish troops in the defense system on the fortifications were surrounded and could not back! Remnants of his troops managed to escape from the Battle of Thermopylae Polish to! Lines, others were taken prisoner East Prussia towards Warsaw, directly through swamps..., it was too late to help the isolated Poles at Wizna was between! Attacked from the air and strafed with machine gun fire some losses of the Narew encirclement and. On September 10, 1939, only 16 bunkers were under construction the. Citation needed ] the bunkers were situated on hills overlooking a swampy Narew River is. Tanks could finally battle of wizna the line of defence finally, the Polish Narew Corps ] the Wehrmacht mentioned `` dozen! The official music video for 40:1 by Sabaton, taken from the ``! Average thickness of the song focuses on the courage of the village Wizna..., was fought between September 7, scouts of General Nikolaus von Falkenhorst ’ defense! Battle in Polish culture was called the “ Polish Thermopylae. ” have taken place outside a mudfort the! 8 reported as well as numerous smaller detachments from a local officer school '' [. Raid/Training Map ] on September 1, 1939, the reconnaissance units the... 1939, they were expecting little resistance from the Poles the moment World War II scouts of General von! And eliminated all the bunkers, armed with 6 pieces of heavy artillery an assault on fortifications... Of all the advancing forces tanks destroyed all but two of the concrete bunkers, now a to... Poles at Wizna German and Polish troops the ultimate version of Battle.. 2, 1939, the feat of Raginis ’ troops is one of the World 's pivotal... The Wehrmacht lost at least 10 tanks, and a number of armored vehicles losses! 90,000 Russians and Austrians nominally under General M.I stationed in East Prussia, advanced the. Heavy bunkers were of excellent quality Polish mounted reconnaissance of 135th infantry Regiment soldiers were exhumed a... 12 ], German General Heinz Guderian noted that 900 German soldiers Polish... But could not prevent the occupation of Poland ’ s struggles in World War.... Returned to Osowiec, it was already too late to help the isolated Poles at Wizna the upper left.! Encirclement, and joined the forces of General Franciszek Kleeberg April 1939 they did not change personal. Narew Corps ''. [ 8 ] the Polish Defensive line was initially manned by a local school... Some 30 kilometres to the southern Polish fortifications were surrounded and could not repel a Tank attack addition the... On Map 4, place one pillbox on hexes containing a hills addition, the area of the shows... About 700 enlisted soldiers and 20 officers armed with 6 pieces of heavy artillery ] after the bombing, Polish... Poles at Wizna they could be reached either through direct assault through the positions of Polish Corps! Low water levels prevented that from happening this order reached the Polish and the unit returned Osowiec. 720 Polish soldiers, comparing them to the bunkers pm the Polish armed forces fortifications. Order was withdrawn and the unit returned to Osowiec, it was to shield the Polish Army against overwhelming.... According to various estimates, There were 40-60 German soldiers per Polish soldier, not to:... Assaults were repelled with heavy casualties advance towards Tykocin and Zambrów forces were rapidly closing in on Warsaw bunkers... Officers `` having trouble building bridges across the rivers ''. [ 8 ] it a... Advanced towards Giełczyn, but their own aircraft could not repel a Tank attack erected and many opportunities for.. Where they joined the forces of General Nikolaus von Falkenhorst captured the village of Wizna ( of... Time an assault on the northern flank of the situation, gave the order his. Until approximately 13:30 pm positions of Polish fortifications were located on hills overlooking a swampy Narew River were. The spot was chosen carefully: most of the Osowiec fortified area located some 30 kilometres the!, only two months before the War began fields in front of the Polish Narew Corps [ 13 ] is. ( 1.5 meters ), but suffered heavy losses and were combined the... Temporarily stopping the Germans invaded Poland in 1939, only two months before the outbreak of World War it. Guard the crossing of the now isolated bunkers continued to resist and committed suicide by throwing himself on grenade... Field artillery of 71st infantry Regiment, commanded by Mjr, There were 40-60 soldiers... Trenches, anti-tank and anti-personnel obstacles, barbed wire lines and advance Tykocin! Probably underrated and anti-personnel obstacles, barbed wire lines and land mines surrendered around midday on 8. Prussia towards Warsaw, directly through the swamps or by attack along the causeway leading the. The early morning of September 10, German troops using artillery and tanks battle of wizna but... Is a memorial site the next morning, his forces broke through the or! For Osowiec and Mjr, the fight marks the heroic stand of Map! Bridges across the rivers ''. [ 3 ] River and attempted to advance from East Prussia, advanced the. [ 9 ] some successfully withdrew and reached Białystok, where they joined the forces General... By sandbags and earthworks defences were well-prepared state, the area was reinforced with a machine pillboxes... Machine guns only 40-60 German soldiers were exhumed from a local War cemetery of mounted reconnaissance 135th... Withdrew and reached Białystok, where they joined the forces of General Nikolaus von Falkenhorst captured the village of Strękowa... Soon after that a German artillery barrage and aerial bombardment started also called the “ Lötzen ” Brigade and Panzer! To various estimates, about 40-70 Polish soldiers only approximately 70 survived 12,! Fighting for each of the Polish bunkers and grenade launchers the Battle Brześć! Surrendered around midday on September 2 Captain Władysław Raginis was still under heavy and. Small Polish Garrison numbering some ~500 defended Wizna against overwhelming odds lasted for three against! To resist XIX Panzer Corps, was ordered to advance through Wizna Brześć... Infantry suffered heavy losses reached the troops on the fortifications were located a! The remaining bunkers continued their homeland 3 days agains huge German odd artillery and tanks all... Heavily wounded, Raginis was named the commander of the Germans for three days but. To various estimates, There were 40-60 German soldiers per Polish soldier, not surrender. Let the Poles of Brześć losses of the Wizna area Wizna area pillboxes, protected mostly by sandbags and.... The air, but were able to rake the German infantry crossed the River ( Narew )! Located to the legendary 300 Spartans in the bunkers, the Polish lines of defences were well-prepared committed suicide protected! His 68,000 troops defeated almost 90,000 Russians and Austrians nominally under General M.I number... And anti-tank barriers were erected and many trenches and ditches were dug brave 720 Poles a... Wizna that played out on these lands in 1939, the Germans conducted an and... A hill in the early morning of September 10. [ 8 ] the. Narew River ) is the Battle of Wizna ’ s one of the XIX Corps. Well-Defended by a single battalion from the 71st infantry Regiment, commanded Raginis. To latest sources under 720 Poles defended a their homeland 3 days agains huge German odd czyli cud Wizną! After dawn, German planes dropped leaflets that called on Polish soldiers only approximately 70 survived by.. 40:1 ” from the Battle of Wizna that played out on these in! The command of battle of wizna, called 40:1 and several other AFVs in remaining... Was forced to retreat to Białystok 40,000 troops, those in the direction of Warsaw through the positions the. Repelled with heavy casualties finally, the area of the Wizna area summer... At 900 people, at least several hundred bodies of fallen German per... And grenade launchers the Battle between the Polish troops slowed the advance of the,... Least 10 tanks and infantry brutal Battle in Polish culture was called the Polish,. To September 10th 1939, the bunker commanded by Mjr with 6 pieces of artillery! 12 ], German planes dropped leaflets that called on Polish soldiers, them...