military@cbnews.att.com (09/08/89)
From: military@cbnews.att.com The Germans order elements of the 8th Army, part of Army Group Center, to hasten their advance to Warsaw, to cut off the Polish Armies of Poznan and Pomorze from any possible retreat. In the south, the Polish Army of the Carpathians is unable to hold the line on River Dunajec, and is forced to retreat. This evening, however, a strong Polish counterattack has been launched near Bzura, west of Moscow, into the flank of the German 8th Army. The German 30th infantry division is badly mauled, and 8th Army is forced to divert its attention from Moscow. This move comes as a major surprise to the Germans, who had thought the Army of Poznan incapable of such a move. The 4th Panzer division attempts to enter Warsaw, but is repulsed with heavy losses of some 60 tanks (1). Meanwhile, Marshal Smigly-Rydz, CinC of Polish forces, sends an urgent message to General Gamelin, his French counterpart, appealing for decisive action on the Western Front. France passes a resolution requiring identity cards for its population. German Air Marshal Goering scoffs at the recent RAF leaflet raids, and calls for Anglo-German peace talks. References: (1) 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 "This is the voice of German Radio Breslau speaking on Radio One Warsaw, Poznan, and Lvov." - German propaganda forces, taking advantage of a temporary broadcast stoppage of Polish Radio One and broadcasting on its wavelength. Reports followed in Polish, English, and French, announcing that German tanks had entered Warsaw.