Battle of Modlin

Battle of Modlin
Part of Invasion of Poland
Ruins of the southern bridgehead
Date 13–29 September 1939 Location Modlin village, Modlin Fortress, Warsaw Voivodeship, Poland Result German victory
Belligerents
Germany	Poland
Commanders and leaders
Hermann Hoth Adolf Strauss Werner Kempf	Wiktor Thommée
Units involved
German Units II Army Corps: Panzer Division Kempf 32nd Infantry Division XIV Army Corps: 29th Motorized Infantry Division XV Army Corps: 1st Light Division 2nd Light Division Wehrmacht Reserves: 213th Infantry Division 221st Infantry Division 228th Infantry Division	Polish Units Army Modlin: 8th Infantry Division 20th Infantry Division Army Łódź: 2nd Legions Infantry Division 28th Infantry Division 30th Infantry Division
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

Map of the battle by Lonio17

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

• List of World War II military equipment of Poland
• List of German military equipment of World War II

References

1. Zaloga, S.J., 2002, Poland 1939, Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd., ISBN 9781841764085
2. Schnoor, Stefan; Boris (15 May 2011). "The last survivor of Hitler's downfall - The Fuhrer's bodyguard gives last interview". Daily Express.

External links

• Modlin fortress as seen from a satellite - green cross marks the southern bridgehead pictured above

52°26′18″N 20°40′55″E