Battle of the Bzura
Poland's defense plan, known as Plan West, ordered troops to hold the nation's borders against a German invasion. Marshal Edward Rydz-Śmigły prioritized political concerns over military reality when he approved this strategy. The Polish leadership feared that Germany would end the war by keeping territories lost after World War I if they did not fight at the frontier. This decision left Army Pomorze under General Władysław Bortnowski trapped in the Polish Corridor while surrounded on two fronts. Army Poznań, commanded by General Tadeusz Kutrzeba, found itself pushed to the westernmost edges of Poland and cut off from its primary defensive positions. By the 4th of September, Army Poznań moved through the city of Poznań and abandoned it to the enemy without significant contact with German forces. On the 6th of September, Armies Pomorze and Poznań linked together to form the strongest operational unit in the entire campaign. General Bortnowski accepted command from General Kutrzeba during this merger. Meanwhile, advanced German troops reached Warsaw on the 8th of September, marking the start of the Siege of Warsaw. The German command assumed that Army Poznań had been transported by rail to aid Warsaw's defense. They were unaware that Army Poznań had actually merged with Army Pomorze.
The Polish forces consisted of Army Poznań and Army Pomorze fighting against multiple German units. The German offensive included the 8th Army under Johannes Blaskowitz and the 10th Army led by Walther von Reichenau. Elements of the 4th Army under Günther von Kluge also participated from Army Group North. Air support came from Luftflotte 1 and Luftflotte 4 under Hermann Göring. The Polish army deployed cavalry brigades like the Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade under General Roman Abraham. The Podolska Cavalry Brigade was commanded by Colonel L. Strzelecki. Infantry divisions such as the 15th Uhlan Regiment and 6th Uhlan Regiment formed the core of these mobile units. The Germans brought armored strength through the 1st Panzer Division and the 4th Panzer Division. The SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler regiment joined the fight as a newly formed infantry unit. The 30th Infantry Division stretched over a 30 km defensive line while the rest of the German army advanced toward Warsaw. The main thrust of the Polish offensive involved units under General Edmund Knoll-Kownacki known as the Knoll-Kownacki Operational Group.
On the night of the 9th of September, the Polish Poznań Army commenced a counterattack from the south of the Bzura river. Their target was the German forces from the 8th Army advancing between Łęczyca and Łowicz towards Stryków. Tadeusz Kutrzeba noticed that the German 8th Army was weakly secured from the north by only the 30th Infantry Division. The cavalry brigades moved to threaten the flanks and rear of the advancing German units. These groups included TKS and TK-3 reconnaissance tanks alongside horse-mounted soldiers. They inflicted considerable losses on the German defenders with some 1,500 German soldiers killed or wounded. An additional 3,000 men were lost as prisoners during the initial push. The German forces were thrown back approximately 20 km during this phase. Poles recaptured several towns including Łęczyca and Piątek along with the village of Góra Świętej Małgorzaty. On the 10th of September, the Polish 17th Infantry Division met the German 17th Infantry Division at Małachowicze. The following day, Polish forces continued their attack and advanced on Modlna, Pludwiny, Osse and Głowno.
German air superiority had a significant impact by making it very costly and difficult for the Poles to move units during the day. On the 11th of September, the Germans decided to redirect the main force of the German 10th Army toward the Bzura river. Forces included the German 1st Panzer Division and the newly-formed SS Infantry regiment Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler. On the 14th of September, General Władysław Bortnowski ordered the 26th Infantry Division to retreat after learning that the German 4th Panzer Division was moving from Warsaw outskirts. To encircle and destroy the Polish forces, the Germans used most of their 10th Army. This included two armored divisions, one motorized division, and three light divisions equipped with some 800 tanks altogether. The attack from all sides on Polish positions started on the 16th of September with support from the Luftwaffe. On the 15th of September, the Poles were forced out of Sochaczew, a town on the Bzura river. They became trapped in a triangle formed by the Bzura, Vistula rivers, and German forces. The German 1st Panzer Division managed to capture Ruszki before its advance was halted.
During the night of the 17th of September, the main forces of Army Poznań attacked the German forces to break out of the encirclement between Witkowice and Sochaczew. The 15th Infantry Division and Podolska Cavalry Brigade again crossed the Bzura in Witkowice. In Brochow, the 25th and the 17th Infantry Divisions crossed the Bzura. The 14th Infantry Division was concentrated in Łaziska while Army Pomorze marched towards Osmolin, Kierozia and Osiek. The largest air operation of the campaign began as the Luftwaffe attacked retreating Polish forces. German howitzers shelled Polish positions for the entire day taking advantage of their position on high ground. After two days of heavy fighting with no ammunition or food rations remaining, further attempts at breakout became impossible. The Polish forces were forced to abandon most of their heavy equipment while they crossed the river. Only a few units managed to break out of the encirclement and cross the Kampinos Forest. These groups fought German units in the area such as at the Battle of Wólka Węglowa before entering Warsaw and Modlin.
Polish casualties were estimated at 20,000 dead including three generals: Franciszek Wład, Stanisław Grzmot-Skotnicki and Mikołaj Bołtuć. German casualties are estimated at 8,000 dead during the battle. Among those who surrendered between 18 and the 22nd of September were Generals Kutrzeba, Knoll-Kowacki and Tokarzewski along with two cavalry brigades. The remainder of the army including the 4th, 14th, 17th, 26th and 27th Infantry Divisions did not manage to cross the river. After the battle, the remaining German divisions rushed towards Warsaw and Modlin and soon encircled both cities. The Bzura campaign ended in defeat for the Poles but halted the German advance on Warsaw for several days. That helped Polish units defending Warsaw organize their own long-term defense of the capital. The campaign proved that horse cavalry units were still an important factor on the battlefield despite modern warfare trends. It also confirmed that simple numerical superiority still mattered in large scale engagements.
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Common questions
What was the outcome of the Battle of the Bzura for Poland?
The Bzura campaign ended in defeat for the Poles but halted the German advance on Warsaw for several days. Polish casualties were estimated at 20,000 dead including three generals: Franciszek Wład, Stanisław Grzmot-Skotnicki and Mikołaj Bołtuć.
When did the Polish counterattack begin during the Battle of the Bzura?
On the night of the 9th of September, the Polish Poznań Army commenced a counterattack from the south of the Bzura river. Their target was the German forces from the 8th Army advancing between Łęczyca and Łowicz towards Stryków.
Which German units participated in the Battle of the Bzura?
The German offensive included the 8th Army under Johannes Blaskowitz and the 10th Army led by Walther von Reichenau. Elements of the 4th Army under Günther von Kluge also participated from Army Group North along with Luftflotte 1 and Luftflotte 4 under Hermann Göring.
How many German soldiers died during the Battle of the Bzura?
German casualties are estimated at 8,000 dead during the battle. An additional 3,000 men were lost as prisoners during the initial push while some 1,500 German soldiers were killed or wounded.
Who commanded the Polish forces at the Battle of the Bzura?
Army Poznań was commanded by General Tadeusz Kutrzeba who accepted command over Army Pomorze after their merger on the 6th of September. The main thrust of the Polish offensive involved units under General Edmund Knoll-Kownacki known as the Knoll-Kownacki Operational Group.