The Battle of Mlava (1939)
Only on July 14, 1939, construction began on a line of fortifications running along the northern slopes of the hills north of Mlava under the command of Major Juliusz Levitt from the engineering battalion of the 20th DP. To the east, it was continued by the Zhegnovskaya position, separated from Mlava Street by the Nemie marshes. The Battle of Mlava took place here.
The fortifications were based on two lines of concrete pillboxes and barriers against infantry and tanks. Before the start of the war, the construction of the position was not completed due to lack of time and building materials. Of the 67 combat bunkers, 49 were built (according to some sources, 49 at the Mlava position and 6 at the Rzhnovsk position). The second line of fortifications was the least prepared. The fortifications were built by soldiers of the 78th and 80th rifle regiments and the local population.
The position in Mlava was occupied by troops of the 20th Infantry Regiment (commander Colonel Wilhelm Lishka-Lavich) from Modlin's army. The army still had the Novogrodek and Mazovian cavalry brigades and national defense units at its disposal. There were 8 DP in reserve.
Fortifications near Mlava in 1939
On September 1, German troops of the 3rd Army from East Prussia dealt the main blow to Mlava by the forces of the 1st Army Corps (Commander Lieutenant General Walter Petzel) consisting of:
Panzer Division Kempf - Commander Major General Werner Kempf.
11th Infantry Division - Commander Lieutenant General Max Bock.
The 61st Infantry Division is commanded by Major General Siegfried Henicke.
And the forces of the Vodrig Army Corps Corps (Commander Lieutenant General Albert Vodrig) as part of:
The 1st Infantry Division is commanded by Lieutenant General Joachim Korzfleisch.
The 12th Infantry Division is commanded by Lieutenant General Ludwig von der Leyen.
The 1st Cavalry Brigade is commanded by Colonel Kurt Feldt.
Task Force Brand - Commander Major General Albrecht Brand
Goldap Infantry Brigade - Commander Colonel Hans-Erich Nolte
Infantry Brigade Letzen - Commander Major General Konrad Offenbecher
In the morning, the first attack on the positions of the 20th Infantry Division began. Colonel Franciszek Dudzinski commanded the defense. Despite the support of 50 tanks (6 of which were destroyed), he was repelled by heavy machine guns and anti-tank guns, like all the others that took place that day. The Germans suffered heavy losses.
On September 2, the Germans launched dive bombers, inflicting heavy losses on Polish infantry in firing positions. However, they did not cause much damage to the bunkers. The attacks carried out with the support of tanks also did not break the defense. sensuelas.com
The fortifications were based on two lines of concrete pillboxes and barriers against infantry and tanks. Before the start of the war, the construction of the position was not completed due to lack of time and building materials. Of the 67 combat bunkers, 49 were built (according to some sources, 49 at the Mlava position and 6 at the Rzhnovsk position). The second line of fortifications was the least prepared. The fortifications were built by soldiers of the 78th and 80th rifle regiments and the local population.
The position in Mlava was occupied by troops of the 20th Infantry Regiment (commander Colonel Wilhelm Lishka-Lavich) from Modlin's army. The army still had the Novogrodek and Mazovian cavalry brigades and national defense units at its disposal. There were 8 DP in reserve.
Fortifications near Mlava in 1939
On September 1, German troops of the 3rd Army from East Prussia dealt the main blow to Mlava by the forces of the 1st Army Corps (Commander Lieutenant General Walter Petzel) consisting of:
Panzer Division Kempf - Commander Major General Werner Kempf.
11th Infantry Division - Commander Lieutenant General Max Bock.
The 61st Infantry Division is commanded by Major General Siegfried Henicke.
And the forces of the Vodrig Army Corps Corps (Commander Lieutenant General Albert Vodrig) as part of:
The 1st Infantry Division is commanded by Lieutenant General Joachim Korzfleisch.
The 12th Infantry Division is commanded by Lieutenant General Ludwig von der Leyen.
The 1st Cavalry Brigade is commanded by Colonel Kurt Feldt.
Task Force Brand - Commander Major General Albrecht Brand
Goldap Infantry Brigade - Commander Colonel Hans-Erich Nolte
Infantry Brigade Letzen - Commander Major General Konrad Offenbecher
In the morning, the first attack on the positions of the 20th Infantry Division began. Colonel Franciszek Dudzinski commanded the defense. Despite the support of 50 tanks (6 of which were destroyed), he was repelled by heavy machine guns and anti-tank guns, like all the others that took place that day. The Germans suffered heavy losses.
On September 2, the Germans launched dive bombers, inflicting heavy losses on Polish infantry in firing positions. However, they did not cause much damage to the bunkers. The attacks carried out with the support of tanks also did not break the defense. sensuelas.com