military@cbnews.att.com (09/09/89)
From: military@cbnews.att.com Sunday, 10 September, 1939 The Battle of Bzura continues to build, as more Polish forces are committed to the counterattack. The German 8th Army is hard-pressed to hold its line. Army Group HQ, however, is ignoring its pleas for reinforcements, instead preparing to encircle the attacking Army of Poznan. The Poles capture an important staging area for future offensive action. German Army Group North, attacking out of East Prussia, makes several breakthroughs, encircling most of the Narev Operational Group near Zambrowo. XIX Panzer Corps literally drives through the center of the Polish Forces, smashing the Polish 18th Infantry Divison. This drive toward Brest shatters Polish hopes of building a final defensive line behind the River Bug. Canada declares war on Germany. In a case of mistaken identity, the British submarine Triton torpedoes the submarine Oxley in the North Sea, with only 2 survivors. 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 "A low-flying aircraft circled over corps battle headquarters, and everyone let fly with whatever he could grab. An air-liason officer ran about trying to stop the fusilade and shouting to the excited soldiery that this was a German command plane - one of the good old Fieseler Storche. Soon afterwards the aircraft landed, and out stepped the Luftwaffe general responsible for our close air support. He failed to appreciate the joke." - Major General F.W. von Mellenthin, in _Panzer Battles_