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The 'Battle of the Bzura' (also known as the 'Battle of Kutno') was a World War II battle of the Invasion of Poland and was fought September 9 – 19,^[1] 1939, between Polish and German forces.
This was the largest^[2] battle of the Invasion of Poland and took place west of Warsaw, near the Bzura River. A Polish counterattack failed after initial success.

Contents

Opposing Forces

The Battle

Aftermath

Notable participants

Notes

External links

Opposing Forces

Polish forces consisted of Army Poznań and Army Pomorze. German forces consisted of Armies 8 and 10 from Army Group South (''Heeresgruppe Süd'').

The Battle

The battle can be divided into 3 phases:

★ Phase I - Polish offensive on Stryków (9-12 September)

★ Phase II - Polish offensive on Łowicz (13-16 September)

★ Phase III - Polish defeat and retreat towards Warsaw
On September 9, the Polish Poznań Army made a counterattack from the area south of the Bzura river, its target was the German divisions advancing between Łęczyca and Łowicz. The Polish forces' main effort was concentrated in the area of Stryków. On the right wing of the offensive there was the Podolska Cavalry Brigade, and on the left, in the area of Głowno - Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade. Due to a Polish advantage in numbers and German surprise, the Poles managed to cause considerable losses among their enemies, killing about 1,500 German soldiers. Also, German forces were thrown back approximately 20 kilometres south and the Poles recaptured several towns, including Łęczyca and Piątek. The German 8th Army also suffered heavy casualties. On September 10, the Polish 17th Infantry Division met the German 17th Infantry Division at Małachowicze and a bloody fight ensued. A day later, Army Poznań, continuing its advance with the forces of the 25th Division and Podolska Cavalry Brigade, engaged the German 221st Infantry Division south of Łęczyca. Meanwhile, the remnants of Polish Army Pomorze arrived in the area of Włocławek, Brześć Kujawski and Koło, keeping strong German forces alert.
Initially underestimating the Polish advance, on September 11 the Germans decided to redirect the main forces of the German 10th Army, German 4th Army and the reserves of the Army Group South, as well as aircraft from 4th Air Fleet, towards the Bzura. The following day, the Poles reached the line Stryków - Ozorków. Also on this day, General Tadeusz Kutrzeba was informed that the units of Army Łódź had retreated to the stronghold of Modlin. Upon hearing this, Kutrzeba decided to stop the offensive and try to reach Sochaczew and Kampinos Forest. On the morning of September 14, General Władysław Bortnowski's group started the action. The 26th and 16th Infantry Divisions crossed the Bzura in the area of Łowicz and the Polish 4th Infantry Division reached the road linking Łowicz with Głowno. Then, General Bortnowski was informed that the German 4th Panzer Division was withdrawing from the outskirts of Warsaw. Fearing that this unit would enter action against his forces on the same day, he ordered the 26th Infantry Division to retreat.

On September 15 and 16th, Army Pomorze took up defensive positions on the northern bank of the Bzura. General Stanisław Grzmot-Skotnicki’s group was located between Kutno and Żychlin, General Michał Karaszewicz-Tokarzewski’s units in the area of Gąbin, and divisions of Army Poznań - by the Bzura near Sochaczew, were ready to commence their drive towards Warsaw. To encircle and destroy the Polish forces, the Germans used most of the 10th Army, including two armoured, three light and one motorized divisions - equipped with some 800 tanks altogether. The attack from all sides on Polish positions started on September 16, with the support of the Luftwaffe. The German 1st Panzer Division, after crossing the Bzura between Sochaczew and Brochów and engaging the Polish 25th Infantry Division, managed to capture Ruszki, but its advance was then halted.
During the night of September 17, the main forces of Army Poznań attacked the German forces in order to break out of the German encirclement between Witkowice and Sochaczew. The 15th Infantry Division and Podolska Cavalry Brigade again crossed the Bzura in Witkowice. in Brochow, the 25th and 17th Infantry Divisions crossed the Bzura river. The 14th Infantry Division was concentrated in Łaziska. At the same time, Army Pomorze marched towards the villages of Osmolin, Kierozia and Osiek.
In the morning, the Germans started their drive towards the south on both banks of the Bzura, supported by more than 300 aircraft and heavy artillery. German howitzers, taking advantage of its position on the higher right bank of the Vistula, shelled Polish positions for the whole day. After two days of heavy fighting, and having used up all of their amunitions and food, further attempts at breakout became impossible.
Only a few Polish units managed to break out of the encirclement. These groups entered Warsaw and Modlin, crossing the Kampinos Wilderness. Among them were Generals Kutrzeba, Knoll-Kowacki and Tokarzewski, two cavalry brigades, the 15th and 25th Infantry Divisions. The remainder, together with General Bortnowski, capitulated from 18 to 22 September and were captured.

Aftermath

After the battle, German divisions rushed towards Warsaw and Modlin, encircling these strongholds. Even though Bzura campaign was a defeat for the Poles, its strategic importance has to be emphasized. Due to this battle, the German advance was stalled for a few days, which enabled Polish units in Warsaw and other places to organize their ultimately failed defense.

Notable participants

★ Władysław Bortnowski, commander of the Pomorze Army

★ Roman Abraham, cavalry general

★ Wiktor Thommée, commander of the Piotrków Operational Group

★ Aleksander Krzyżanowski, commander of the 26th artillery regiment

★ Henryk Zieliński, became a German POW

★ Jerzy Kirchmayer, deputy Chief of Operations of the Pomorze Army

Notes

1. Sources vary regarding the end date, some giving 18th September while others 19th September. Brockhaus Multimedial Lexikon gives the date of 19 September as the end date of the battle.
2. ''The Second World War: An Illustrated History '', Putnam, 1975, ISBN 0399114122, Google Print snippet (p.38)

External links

★ Kawaleria w bitwie nad Bzurą (Cavalry in the Battle of Bzura) Juliusz Tym