military@cbnews.att.com (09/15/89)
From: military@cbnews.att.com Thursday, 14 September, 1939 The Battle of the Bzura reaches a climax as the Army of Pomorze launches a surprise attack from Lowicz, driving toward Warsaw. General von Rundstedt, commander of German Army Group South, takes personal command of the situation, and draws reinforcement including the 16th Panzerkorps from the 10th Army, between the encircled Poles and Warsaw. This leaves Warsaw under attack only from the north, by 3rd Army. The German 8th Corps crosses the Vistula at Annapol, southeast of Warsaw. In southern Poland, the 14th Army reaches Lvov, cutting off the Polish Army of the Carpathians. The deep pincer headed by the 22nd Panzerkorps (von Kleist) reaches Hrubieszow as it drives north to meet with 19th Panzerkorps (Guderian), now at Brest. The Polish forces are now in near total disarray, save in the Bzura area. Gdynia, Poland's only seaport, surrenders. The U-39 attacks the carrier HMS Ark Royal northwest of Ireland; the submarine is depth charged until it surrenders. 43 sailors are captured. References: C.Argyle, _Chronology of World War II_ J. Piekalkiewicz, _Tank War 1939-1940_ R.Dupuy and T.Dupuy, _The Encyclopedia of Military History_ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "Charred German tanks litter the streets of Ochota" - Express Poranny, a Polish newspaper, speaking of the battles in the Warsaw suburbs.