The Battle of Cześniki took place on 21 and 22 September 1939 during the German and Soviet invasion of Poland, around the village of Cześniki near Zamość.[1] It was an armed engagement between the Polish reserve 39th Infantry Division and a large German detachment of the 14th Army, comprising the 27th Infantry Division and 4th Light Division.
| Battle of Cześniki | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Invasion of Poland | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Germany |
 Poland | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Wilhelm List Friedrich Bergmann |
Stefan Dąb-Biernacki Bruno Olbrycht | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
27th Infantry Division 4th Light Division | 39th Infantry Division | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
~200 killed ~600 wounded 100 captured 150 vehicles captured |
~200 killed 600 wounded | ||||||
Outcome edit
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The result of the battle was inconclusive, though the Polish units successfully forced the Germans to retreat and broke through on their way from Zamość towards the Hungarian border. However, instead of breaking through towards Hungary, the division was ordered to attack towards the besieged city of Lwów. The 39th Division reached Tomaszów Lubelski but was destroyed in the Second Battle of Tomaszów several days later.
Both sides suffered similar losses: approximately 200 killed and 600 wounded. The Poles took some 100 Germans prisoner and captured about 150 motor vehicles and motorcycles.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Dr Jacek Feduszka, Muzeum Zamojskie w Zamościu (3 September 2008). "Bitwa pod Cześnikami i Barchaczowem, 20-21 & 22 September 1939". Zamojski wrzesień 1939. Zamość i Roztocze, ZamoscOnline.pl.
- Krzysztof Komorowski, Boje Polski 1939, Przewodnik encyklopedyczny.
- Zygmunt Puźniak, Kampania wrzesniowa na zamojszczyznie w okolicach Józefowa II kampania wrzesniowa. RzeczpospolitaJozefowska.pl.
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