We will continue to follow the war diaries of three officers from each side of the battle.

Diaries have been translated for your convenience.

Captain Jandl

Cpt. Jandl: It was midday when we reached the target area. The Sun was glaring down and warming up this early September day. My two companies of motorcycle infantry, supported by SkKfz222 armoured cars, raced down the Polish roads. Our objective was to capture the nearby towns and hilltop. Securing the bridge was also a primary objective.

From the sidecar I lifted my binoculars to my eyes and scanned the eastern horizon. I saw dustclouds approaching. Soon, coming over a small ridge, hundreds of Polish horse appeared. We were easily outnumbered. I hoped that the Major with the infantry battalion wasn’t too far behind, but there was no way the Major would beat the Polish cavalry.

I spotted some more Polish advancing west on the south side of the river. They were moving swiftly across the open ground on bicycles. So I ordered a few platoons to occupy the bridge and the village by the river to ensure that we didn’t get flanked by them. That only left me with a single company of motorcycle infantry to capture, secure and hold the northern town.

The hill was vulnerable, so the armoured cards were ordered to secure the road and not let any Polish cavalry through.

The Polish were getting nearer, and we hadn’t reached the northern town yet. We were in grave danger of being caught in the open…

The Polish horse beat us to the town and I took some motorcycles onto the hill. The cavalry charged my position and one of my platoons was lost! My men were demoralised and we were on our own. Where were the reinforcements?! Some Polish Wz.34 armoured cards assaulted us, aided by the Polish cavalry, and the remainder of my men were killed or captured. My driver tried to flee, but he was hit and fell off the bike. Without a driver the bike toppled and the sidecar detached. I was flung through the air and came down hard on the ground.

My vision was blurred. I felt my head and my helmet was lost in the tumble. The warm red lifeblood covered my hand and my consciousness slipped away.

Porucznik Maczek

Por. Maczek: Under the leadership of Pulkownik Wazbowski our cavalry charged westward across the plains. We heard news that the German blitzkrieg was moving quickly eastwards and we had orders to stop them at Wellwisher’s Hill. It was just after noon when we saw the Germans racing northwards up the main road between the villages.

Plk. Wazbowski ordered us forward, and we headed towards the hill while suppressing fire from our artillery ensured a safe advance.

We charged and engaged the enemy. Our sabres flashed in Polish glory and the Germans began to rout. I spotted the German captain fleeing and pulling out my pistol, shot the captain’s driver. I watched the bike tumble as the bodies were tossed from the vehicle. As I turned around to rejoin my men, a large artillery shell blasted next to me. My horse toppled and fell heavily on top of me. Concussed, I was unable to push the heavy body off of mine and the world darkened around me.

Lieutenant Jekubik

Lt. Jekubik: September 6, 1939. We were approaching the objective. Captain Jandl was about an hour ahead of us and was to occupy the objectives with his morotcycles and armoured cars. Our two companies of infantry were to relieve Captain Jandl’s men and secure the area against any possible Polish counter-attack. At least that was the plan.

We were running on schedule. I was travelling with two infantry companies in the north approaching the hill. My compatriot, Lt. Schiwy, was advancing up the river’s edge with the HMG platoons and Mortar batteries.

As we reached the hill, the sight made me weak in the knees. Captain Jandl’s forces were overrun! Motorcycles were scattered all over the eastern side, and Polish Horse were chopping them down! I was mortified. My platoon came to a stop and I grabbed the radio. Soon our 105mm guns were covering the hill with shells. I saw one or two horses go down, which helped relieve a bit of the dread. But when the cavalry charged us, I broke. Completely demoralised.

The battle for the hill continued for about an hour, with both sides taking heavy losses. My Sergeant was killed when his platoon was overrun by some cavalry supported with Wz.34s from the north. My captain succeeded in a counter-attack which eliminated some fleeing horse, but was in turn decimated by another cavalry charge shortly after. Ordering more artillery, our big guns fired true, and the Captain’s death was soon avenged as the cavalry platoon was directly hit.

Surrounded by the dead, I fled on foot to the southwest towards the town being held by Lt. Schiwy. The hill was lost.

Porucznik Godlinksi

Por. Godlinski: Advancing with a company of Cycles, we made our way swiftly westwards on the southern bank supported by a few Wz.34 armoured cars.

With our cavalry charge north of the river drawing most of the Germans attention, our advance was only rarely challenged. Although my new Chorazy was demoralised and fled into the forest. I would deal with him most severely, but first there was a battle to be won.

Between 1300 to 1330 we neared the bridge and came under heavy fire from the German machine guns. I was deeply engaged rallying my men and holding the company together.

The Cavalry was making great advances on the north side of the river and I hoped that they would be able to apply some pressure from the north so that I could try to take the bridge from the south.

At 1400 I hit the bridge with as many men as I could muster. My men cowered and the Germans hit us hard with a counter-attack. One section of German motorcycles were neutralised, but I lost half of my armoured cars. I rallied my men as the remaining Wz.34s fled.

We held our ground until my Chorazy arrived with some reinforcements. We pushed the assault, but the German position was too strong.

Exhausted I fled the bridge, leaving the assault in the hands of my Chorazy. My part in this battle was over.

Campaign Notes

Por. Przbilski was travelling with the Polish artillery through the northernmost towns. He was in command of numerous AA and artillery strikes, and was instrumental in rallying many cavalry platoons that were routed.

Lt. Schiwy was manning the mortars just north of the bridge. He was not involved in any direct combat, but relentlessly pounded the cavalry, greatly slowing down their capture of the southeast Polish town, which stalled the cavalry enough that his town (apart from the bridge) was never threatened. This was a solid Polish victory. Total step losses were in favour of the Polish 26 to 16. The Polish gained another 10 VPs for undisputed control of the hill. Polish outnumbered the Germans 10 to 2 for town hexes (20 – 4 VPs) The contested bridge was worth 0 VPs.

Polish Total= 26+10+20 = 56 VPs

German Total= 16 + 4 = 20 VPs

Campaign Total

Polish: 11 + 56 = 67 VPs

German: 58 + 20 = 78 VPs

Pretty close!

Leadership Points

Lt. Jekubik: 5 - A steady stream of points (11), sullied by being demoralised twice (-6)

Capt. Jandl: 1

Lt. Schiwy: 12 - Steady stream of points gained primarily from directing mortar fire.

No Medals possible.

Por. Maczek: 2

Por. Godlinski: 2 - Lots of gains from combat (13), but disrupted twice, demoralised, and fled an assault! (-11)

Por. Przebilski: 9 – Gains from rallying troops and directing artillery and direct fire.

No medals possible.

Casualty Rolls:

Capt. Jandl: (with Survivor skill)…6! Captain Jandl is captured when the Polish find him unconscious on the hill. He dies on route to the prison camp outside of Warsaw.

Por. Maczek: …6! Killed by the German artillery strike.

Promotion Rolls:

No Promotions.

Aftermath

A housekeeping issue arose at the beginning of the battle. The Polish OOB says all their leaders are cavalry leaders, but the “Conclusion” states “Polish Leader Characters with cavalry leader skill…”, inferring that the Leader Characters do not automatically receive this skill. So, it was decided that the Polish Leader Characters could travel with the horse, but could not lead/order a cavalry (2-hex) charge (rule 6.3)

The Germans got a bit caught. Unable to secure the northern towns, they got overrun on the road. A better plan of attack would have been to secure the southern towns and put some force on the hill. This may have given them sufficient force (when combined with their infantry reserves) to keep the hill. As it was, their motorcycles were quickly overrun, and consequently the infantry was outnumbered and unable to keep the hill. Although that battle (for the hill) was incredibly close, with a lot of Thrust and Parry. Or perhaps, just a lot of thrust!

With the campaign totals very close the third instalment should prove a delight to play. Although, I’m not very good in advancing my leaders (all leaders will be purchasing the survival skill first, even though it didn’t help my only medal holder, Capt. Jandl!)

On the 4th of September 1939, our motley crews join battle again, this time on the Northern bank of the River Warta near Poznan. German mobile forces try to secure the bridge over the river so that the 8th Army has an extra crossing point. Polish Cozaky units are close by and are ordered to hold the bridge at all costs. Both mobile forces race on the battlefield, all trying to snap up as many key positions as possible. The German and Polish units divide the Northern towns between them, the Germans get to the bridge first while the Cozaky take possession of the dominant hill. Another contingent of Polish cavalry ride out towards the bridge, trying to get a foothold in the hamlet that covers the bridge and thus sealing the German defenders off from possible German reinforcements.

And sure enough, at one in the afternoon those German reinforcements arrive, punctually as usual. Immediately the German officer dispatches his AT power to the Northern German occupied village, and sends the rest of his troops to relieve the bridge. However, Polish cavalry get to ambush the AT column while still in sight of the Major and this action forces his hand a bit. He decides to half his relieving force and to deal with those pesky hillside Cozaky once and for all. Just north of the hills, a bloody fight ensues that soon draws in all the units of both sides in the near vicinity.

In the mean time, Lt Jung and his troops try to reach the village at the bridge, but accurate artillery fire break up this column fairly quickly, and the advance stops dead. The Polish Cavalry Major sees in this his chance to redeem himself after screwing up 3 days earlier! He charges, once again leaving his strong defendable position in the hamlet open. This unhoped for situation was a godsend for the German Armored Cars as they can now relieve the bridge without having to fire a shot. The Polish Pulkownik curses his rash Major and orders every untied unit and leader towards the bridge. Por. Kowalski and Lubanski respond and with their troops, they attack the riverside hamlet to regain the just lost positions.

At this point, the Polish situation looks very bleak, all their troops are involved in combat, being very vulnerable to direct and indirect fire. And then Lady Luck decides to fart in the general direction of the Germans! It all starts with the untimely death of the German Major at the foot of the hill. Within minutes the German morale tumbles and the Cozaky have a field day running down the fleeing invaders. At the bridge, an all out Polish attack succeeds in driving of the German defenders, although at terrible costs. Several leader casualties are suffered, in particular, Lt Nutzlos, the replacement for the much lamented Lt Hartmann, gets seriously wounded. Adding insult to injury, Lt Jung is never able to regroup his units and the Germans lose a lot of key positions. The Poles end the battle on a high note, so much so that Por. Lubanski earns himself a much deserved Cross of Valor, the first medal of the campaign!

At battle end, the German force is in tatters and almost all key positions are in Polish hands, with these numbers as a result: German VP: 14 Polish VP: 62

A resounding Polish victory that pretty much evens up the campaign so far, although that the Polish commander should burn a few candles to thank the Gods of Fortune.

There are words that just seem to fit what they describe. Crumple is one of them. The art of crumpling a piece of paper in a single hand so that it is appropriate to toss into the trash can is one that is valued in many offices. No doubt, the Germans in this scenario do not have quite the same respect for the art of crumpling.

This is a meeting engagement of sorts. The Polish control the entire board but do not occupy any of it. The Germans came in two waves. The first is a recon group including armored cars and motorcycle troops. The second is more substantial including infatry, mortars and HMGs. The Poles, however, enter with an entire cavalry regiment (16 platoons) and a bicyclist section. They arrive all at once at the beginning of the scenario.

The Poles got the initiative and set the tone by moving towards the northern group of towns. The Germans, hoping to delay the combat until their reinforcements arrived entered to occupy the town with the bridge and the 40 meter hill, both of which provide significant victory points.

The primary use of leader characters in this engagement was forrural assault on the hill. The Poles quickly attacked the few Germans on the hill and began the process of crumpling the Germans towards the bridge. The German reinforcements arrived promptly but were charged by cavalry almost immediately and through involvement in these assaults were unable to reinforce the motorcycle troops on the hill which were slaughtered to a man. Lt. Ascher was slightly wounded in the fight for the hill and Captain Stressemann was able to escape and get to the bridge.

Having established a strong overwatch position on the 40 meter hill overlooking the bridge, the Polish cavalary backed off to avoid heavy weapons fire on the fragile horse borne units. In addition, it would be necessary to bring up some heavy artillery to shake the Germans in the town around the bridge.

The action was a clear Polish success with the score 47-18. The scenario description indicates a swirling battle given the German and Polish mobility but the failure of the initial German force to hold in battle with the initial Polish assault permitted the cavalry to set up a very tight cordon around the Germans. This was a fun scenario in any venue.