Siege of Warsaw (1939)

• 1. Aerial Bombardment Campaign

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  The German Luftwaffe began its unrestricted aerial bombardment of Warsaw on the 1st of September 1939. This campaign targeted both military facilities and civilian infrastructure. Hermann Göring controlled the air force operations that day. Pilots attacked infantry barracks, the Okęcie airport, and an aircraft factory. They also struck water works, hospitals, market places, and schools. These attacks caused heavy human casualties and lowered morale among Polish defenders. The Pursuit Brigade under Colonel Stefan Pawlikowski defended the city with 54 fighter aircraft. Most planes were obsolete PZL P.7 or PZL P.11 types. Anti-aircraft artillery units led by Colonel Kazimierz Baran operated 86 pieces of equipment. By September 6, these forces had shot down 43 German aircraft. Another similar number of bombers fell to anti-aircraft fire. Nine victories remained unconfirmed while twenty more enemy planes suffered damage. However, the brigade lost over 38 pieces of equipment by September 7. This represented approximately 70% of their initial strength. On September 5, military authorities ordered eleven AA batteries withdrawn toward Lublin, Brześć, and Lwów. The defense crumbled as the war progressed. German high command redirected more bombers to attack historical sites like the Royal Castle. At the peak on September 10, more than 70 German bombers flew above Warsaw. That day became known as Bloody Sunday with seventeen consecutive bombing raids.

• 2. Defense Organization And Leadership

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  On September 3, Marshal Edward Rydz-Śmigły ordered creation of an improvised Command of the Defence of Warsaw. General Walerian Czuma, head of the Border Guard, became its commander. Colonel Tadeusz Tomaszewski served as Chief of staff. Initial forces under Czuma were very limited. Most city authorities withdrew along with large parts of police and fire fighters. Warsaw held only four infantry battalions and one artillery battery. A garrison spokesman issued a communique ordering all young men to leave the city. Czuma appointed Stefan Starzyński as Civilian Commissar of Warsaw to coordinate civilian efforts. Starzyński organized the Civil Guard to replace evacuated police and fire fighters. He ordered all administration members back to their posts. His daily radio releases asked civilians to construct barricades and anti-tank barriers. On September 7, the 40th Infantry Regiment Children of Lwów joined the defense. Lt.Col. Józef Kalandyk commanded this unit while transiting through Warsaw toward Army Pomorze positions. Gradually, Czuma gathered volunteers composed mostly of civilians including women and children. Rearguard troops and units withdrawing from the front also reinforced his forces.

• 3. Initial Clashes And Counterattacks

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  On the morning of September 8, suburbs of Grójec, Radziejowice, Nadarzyn, Raszyn, and Piaseczno fell to German XVI Panzer Corps. At exactly 5pm, the German 4th Panzer Division assaulted Warsaw's western borough of Ochota. The assault was repulsed with heavy German casualties. Many Panzer I and Panzer II tanks were lost. The following day, the division received artillery and motorized infantry reinforcements. They began another assault towards Ochota and Wola. Well-placed Polish 75 mm anti-tank guns fired at point-blank range. Barricades erected on main streets successfully managed to repel all initiated assaults. One barricade at Opaczewska and Grójecka streets was defended by the 4th company of the 40th Children of Lwów Regiment. A monument later commemorated that specific battle spot. Lack of armament forced ingenuity in some areas. Turpentine from a nearby factory covered one street leading toward the city center. When German tanks approached, the liquid ignited and destroyed them without a single shot fired. The 4th Panzer Division alone lost approximately 80 tanks out of 220 participating. Heavy casualties forced German forces to retreat westward to counter the Bzura River offensive.

• 4. The Battle Of Bzura Impact

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  By then General Czuma had gathered an equivalent of two infantry divisions under his command. His forces included 64 pieces of artillery and 33 tanks including Vickers E, 7TP, R-35, TK-3, and TKS tankettes. On September 8, Marshal Edward Rydz-Śmigły ordered creation of Warsaw Army under General Juliusz Rómmel. This new force combined defending units with those holding Modlin Fortress. It also included Polish units between Narew and Pilica river lines. Czuma continued as commander of the Warsaw Defence Force split into East and West sectors. Lt.Col. Julian Janowski led Praga district while Colonel Marian Porwit commanded the western sector. Army Poznań under General Tadeusz Kutrzeba and Army Pomorze under General Władysław Bortnowski started an offensive on the left flank. This became known as the Battle of Bzura. German commanders withdrew the 4th Panzer Division to counter this threat near Kutno. Their positions were replaced by a weakened German 31st Infantry Division. The desperate attempt to buy time for organizing defense succeeded. Defenders joined by routed Prusy Army units. Several new units formed from reserve centers of 8th Polish Infantry Division and 36th Academic Legion Infantry Regiment.

• 5. Black Monday And Final Assaults

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  On September 15, the German Third Army attacked Praga from both sides of the Vistula. Heavy fighting occurred in the Grochów area where the German 23rd Infantry Regiment was annihilated. Polish defenders of the 21st Children of Warsaw Infantry Regiment under Stanisław Sosabowski achieved victory. After the Battle of Bzura ended, remnants of Poznań and Pomorze armies broke through encirclement between 18, the 21st of September. They arrived in Warsaw and Modlin from Kampinos Forest. Defender forces amounted to approximately 140,000 soldiers. German assault preparations numbered 13 divisions with one thousand artillery pieces. On September 22, last communication lines between Warsaw and Modlin were cut. City shelling continued day and night using heavy railway guns and mortars. Two entire air fleets participated in raids against civilian and military targets. Daily attacks on Praga suburb started after September 20 but were successfully counter-attacked. On September 24, all German units around Warsaw came under General Johannes Blaskowitz command. An initial attack on September 23 was repulsed. The next day began an artillery and air bombardment including 1,200 aircraft. This became known as Black Monday. Early morning general assaults started on all fronts. Western parts attacked by five German divisions while eastern part faced four divisions. Approximately 70 field batteries and 80 heavy batteries supported the attack. Two entire air fleets bombarded continuously causing heavy civilian losses. On the 26th of September, Forts of Mokotów, Dąbrowski, and Czerniaków fell.

• 6. Civilian Suffering And Capitulation

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  General Czuma managed to gather enough forces to defend for several weeks longer. However, civilian situation became increasingly tragic. Constant bombardment destroyed water works leaving boroughs without potable water or fire-fighting capability. Lack of food and medical supplies resulted in heavy casualties among population. Soviet Union entry into war made defense pointless. Lack of support from Western Allies heavily demotivated volunteers. On September 26, Army Warsaw General Juliusz Rómmel started capitulation talks with German commander. At 12:00 on September 27, ceasefire agreement was signed halting all fighting. Soon afterwards Warsaw officially capitulated. Several units declined to put down weapons requiring personal visits by generals Czuma and Rómmel. On September 29, garrison began hiding or destroying heavy armament. Some hidden material later used during Warsaw Uprising. Evacuation of Polish forces to prisoner camps started on September 30. The following day German units entered capital. City remained occupied until the 17th of January 1945 when Wehrmacht troops abandoned it due to Soviet advance. Around 18,000 civilians perished during siege. Ten percent of city buildings entirely destroyed while further 40% heavily damaged.