Chapter 11
The offensive conducted by Polish/Soviet troops to seize Praga forced the commander of the 9th German Army to temporarily reinforce German forces in Warsaw – not with some sort of “Police Brigade” or “Eastern-Allied Corps,” but with an experienced frontline combat unit. Hence, the 25th Panzer-Division was redeployed from Nasielsk to the area around Jabłonna. This force, commanded by Överste (Colonel) Oskar Audörsch, after a long period of intensive battlefield engagement was a “panzer-division” in name only. Greatly weakened by the hard battles it had fought against regular Soviet combat forces in July 1944 during the course of “Operation Bagration,” the division’s “pansarnäve” (“armoured fist”) consisted of only one company of tanks, with a total of fifteen PzKpfw IVs which were attached to the 87th Panzerjäger-Abteilung. In many staff documents from the period, August – October 1944, the 25th Panzer-Division was denoted as a Kamfegruppe (Battle-group) and not as a Panzer-Division. Normally, heavily weakened divisions which were not withdrawn from service on the front for re-organisation were denoted as being a Kamfegruppen so as not to appear stronger than they really were.
The division’s tank company attacked Czerniaków from Siekierek and forced its way forward to Ulica Czerniakowska as far as Ulica Górnósląska. Moreover, had this unit from 25th Panzer-Division pushed further on, they would have seized Czerniaków before relief forces arrived from the other side of the Wisła. The 146th Panzergrenadier-Regiment from 25th Panzer-Division was concentrated in the area around Wola, Boernerowo and Bielany with the mission of attacking Żoliborz. Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 “Herman Göring” was set in against Włochy, close by Warsaw. Originally, plans called for using this unit to stabilize the front at the Wisła. Instead, the regiment went into battle against a landing force from “Berling’s Army” close to the Poniatowski Bridge. They had crossed the river with the aim of uniting with the Polish forces in the city.
German postal vans and ambulances were used as barricades at Ulica Warecka in August 1944.
Pilsudski Square, September 1944. A Borgward BIV, as well as a StuG III from 3./Panzer Abteilung 392 (Fkl) stand ready for deployment. A Brummbär is visible to the far right of the photograph - this belonged to Sturmpanzer Kompanie 218 zbv.
SS-Obergruppenführer Erich von den Bach’s force received orders to prepare defence installations along the Wisła at Powiśle, the Old City and Sadbya.
It quickly became apparent, however, that Von der Bach’s “polisarmé” didn’t lend itself to “frontline operations”. Therefore, on September 15, the mission of defending Warsaw was passed on to the XXXXVI Panzer-Korps. The corps was to defend installations from the city district of Młociny to the town of Góra Kalwaria – and to this end – the 25th Panzer-Division, Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 “Herman Göring”, Battlegroup “Rohr,” Battle-group “Schmidt,” and the Hungarian 5th Reinforcement Division were subordinated to it. During the period, September 15 – 22, the 25th Panzer-Division carried out the heaviest assault: Together with the 87th Panzer-Pionier-Abteilung, it launched a fierce attack against Żoliborz and drove the resistance fighters back from the Wisła. The fighting was exceptionally bitter because Major Vollert, the commander of the 25th Panzer-Aufklärings-Abteilung, fell during the attack. The defence of Żoliborz was later assumed by a regiment from the “Herman Göring” division. On September 15, elements of the 25th Panzer-Division went on the attack from Ulica Włościańska and the resistance fighters destroyed a Pzkpfw IV.
Ever since the Polish force from the 9th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Tank Regiment “Romauld Traugutt” had crossed the Wisła, the Germans used the greater part of its combat strength to quash the resistance in Czerniaków: The 146th Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment from the 25th Panzer-Divison, supported by eleven tanks and the earlier-cited battle-groups “Schmidt” and “Rohr,” attacked from the south, while SS-Gruppenführer Heinz Reinefarth (Kamfegruppe Direlwanger) attacked from the north and northwest. On September 15, the Germans employed several StuG 40s to support Direlwanger’s attack along Ulica Czerniakowska. The following day, several Brummbärs from the Parliament Quarter joined in the bombardment of resistance-troop positions in Czerniaków. Even positions located at the Instytut Głuchoniemych (Institute for the Deaf), the KFUM at no.16 Ulica Konopnicka and Ulica Frascati were targeted.
The 25th Panzer-Division also went on the attack in Żoliborz. The fighting was concentrated along Ulica Potocka and Ulica Mickiewicza. The Germans lost two StuG 40s, one of which was later towed safely back behind its own lines. The Germans also carried out operations around the area of the Opel factory on Ulica Włościańska.
On September 17, several StuG 40s from Panzer-Abteilung 302 (Fkl) supported, without pause, the infantry’s operations in Czerniaków. Some StuG 40s also shelled the area around the location used for crossing the Wisła.
On September 18, resistance men set fire to a StuG 40 on Ulica Idźkowska (a common error appearing in texts about the Warsaw uprising is mixing up or blending Ulica Idźkowska in Czerniaków with Ulica Idzikowski in Mokotów, and likewise, Ulica Wilanowska with Aleja Wilanowska). Throughout the following day, the streets of Ulica Wilanowska Ulica Zagórna and Ulica Idźkowska. were subjected to heavy bombardment that had begun early that morning from several StuG 40s positioned on Ulica Czerniakowska. A few of these StuG 40s were silenced by fire from 45mm anti-tank guns located on the other side of the Wisla. The insurgents destroyed a StuG 40 on Ulica Solec. The Germans continued the non-stop use of numerous StuG 40s to reinforce the infantry’s assault until the insurgents’ strength, and that of the units from the 3rd Infantry Division in the Ludowe Wojsko Polskie, (the Polish People’s Army) were finally completely crushed at the Czerniaków bridge embankment. Several B IVs also participated in the action as did one Sturmtiger – a massive assault howitzer mounted on a Tiger chassis and armed with a 38 cm rocket launcher! An enormous crater at the junction of Ulica Czerniakowska and Ulica Zagórna is a “reminder” of the Sturmtiger and its 380mm projectiles. Today, the Częstochowa Church rests in this location. On September 21, several StuG 40s from Panzer-Abteilung 302. (Fkl) destroyed the houses along Ulica Wilanowska.
In the planned operation “Mokotów” Generalmajor Güther Rohr had at his disposal Panzer-Abteilung 302. (Fkl) (less Company 1) and Sturmpanzer-Kompanie 218.z. b. V. In the Kampino Forest, so-called, “Stern-schuppe ” operation, the participating battalions were drawn from the 3rd SS-Panzer-Division “Totenkopf” and the 5th SS-Panzer-division “Wiking” along with Fallschirm – Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 “Herman Göring” each of which would be reinforced with a company of Panthers or PzKpfw IVs, and a reconnaissance company from the 5th SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking” equipped with armoured vehicles like the Sd Kfz 232/233 (see fact appendix 1). In addition, included in the armoured force strength was Panzerjäger-Abteilung 743. (less Company 1) and Pionier-Sturm-Bataillon 500. transport vehicles Sd Kfz 250/1(see fact appendix 1) and Sd Kfz 251/1. Moreover, a company of PzKpfw IVs from the 27th Panzer Regiment, 19th Panzer-Division, currently deployed in Żoliborz in the event it was needed in Łomianki and/ or Wótka Węglowa, was prepared to participate in the Kampino Forest operations if needed.
A half-track vehicle from one of the German panzer divisions in Warsaw moves through the burning city.
A Borgward B IV that has been destroyed.
A Goliath is moved with the help of a small trolley, shown in the left of the photograph.
A StuG III G that has been disabled.
Despite a Kamfegruppe (Battle-group) from the 25th Panzer-Division in Warsaw having been redeployed to Żoliborz, still left was Company 1 with the 87th Panzerjäger-Abteilung which was equipped with 12 Panzerjäger 39/ Jagdpanzer IV Aus F (here, henceforth referred to as a Jagdpanzer L/48, see appendix 1). On September 23-24, the Germans annihilated the insurgent forces in Czerniaków. Many StuG 40s participated in the fighting. A few of these resistance fighters’ positions were fired on at distance of only ten meters. The effect was horrifying.
On September 23, at 11.55 AM, the German High Command reported that hostilities in Czerniaków had ceased.
On September 24, tanks from the 19th Panzer-Division mounted an attack against Żoliborz. A few StuG 40s from Panzer-Abteilung 302. (Fkl) attacked along Ulica Dolna and Ulica Piaseczyńska in the direction of Ulica Puławska. An offensive against Królikarna was supported by eight StuG 40s and 2 to 3 “Panthers” from the 19th Panzer-Division. On the following day, several tanks attacked a school on Ulica Woronicza, while several StuG 40s, rolling in an easterly direction from Aleje Niepodleglości and accompanied by infantry, attacked insurgent positions in Park Dreszera (Dreszer Park).
On September 28, after the capitulation of Mokotów, the Germans redeployed their forces to Żoliborz. The operation in the Kampino Forest commenced. The German troop assault failed since the Polish partisan forces had already withdrawn in a southwest direction. The commander of the 9th Army organised a search-and-destroy force which included, among other units, two panzer-grenadier companies in transport vehicles and a tank platoon.
On September 27, several Hetzers from Company 1, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 743. shelled the area surrounding Ulica Gryzbowska and Ulica Łuca. On September 29, Żoliborz was pounded by tanks and artillery of the 19th Panzer-Division. In the morning of September 29, units from the 19th Panzer-Division, along with the battle-groups “Schmidt” and “Reck, ” attacked Żoliborz.
During the uprisings last phase, the Germans sent in heavy concentrations of armoured forces against the resistance fighters. On the one hand, this action was a forced “frontline- response” to the prevailing situation, since Warsaw now found itself literally on the foremost frontline, as a result of the Soviet-Polish forces having seized Praia – a crisis situation that demanded the German command make an all out effort to quash the uprising quickly. On the other and more fortunate hand for the Germans, a certain stabilisation elsewhere on the front made it possible to “pull back” combat units from the frontline and redeploy them in Warsaw. Heavy assaults conducted by grenadiers supported by tanks provided the hoped for results as the German troops took control of the majority of the city districts and had driven the resistance fighters back from the Wisła. During the fighting, the resistance fighters managed to knock out a number of tanks. A summary of the losses sustained by 19th Panzer-Division, during the period September 21-30, shows that the Germans lost four tanks. It’s reasonable to assume that these vehicles were destroyed in Żoliborz. Żoliborz finally capitulated on September 30 at 6:30 PM.
Pilsudski Square, September 1944. A Borgward B IV as well as a StuG III from 3./Panzer Abteilung 302 (Fkl) stand ready for deployment.
German troops driving into Warsaw. Once the larger roads in the town had been cleared of Polish reisitance positions, the Germans were afforded much more freedom of movement.
General “Bor” and General Von dem Bach.
The battles for Mokotów and Żoliborz reveal that a sufficiently strong frontline force, equipped with armoured weaponry and artillery, was namely adequately prepared for quickly overcoming urban insurgents or resistance fighters. During the first phase of the uprising, the Germans had employed units whose combat worthiness in the Warsaw fighting proved wanting, which explains why the German effort was only marginally effective and why the fighting came to be so protracted.
When summarising the tank warfare during the Uprising, it can be said that the Germans employed a relative strong armoured force, equipped with weaponry, vehicles, and so on, particularly suitable for heavy urban warfare, along with a fighting force that had been well-trained and well-prepared for the mission at hand. Both the Goliath and B IV vehicles had already been tested in battle, primarily on the Eastern Front. On the other hand, the completely new Sturmtiger made its combat debut completely untested, which very likely contributed to its generally regarded less than successful contribution in combat. Other types of tanks, such as the StuG 40 and the Brummbär, were essentially competently commanded and carried out their combat operations as expected.
The reports of the resistance forces very often contain information concerning destroyed armoured vehicles. If all these reported losses of irreparably damaged armoured vehicles are counted as fact, then it would appear that the Panzerwaffe and the Waffen-SS lost over 200 tanks in the Polish capital city – which is to say, more than a fully complemented tank division. Based on the most rudimentary information concerning German unit losses, a certain degree of verification can be attempted: In all probability, it’s safe to assume that irreparable German armoured vehicles losses did not exceed 50 to 90 vehicles, all told.
Theatre Square in the Old Town. The Poles held the northern part, furthest away in the photograph, the Germans held the south. Two StuGs, working together with Dirlewangers SS-brigade are advancing out into the square in August.
A column of Polish civilians being evacuated during the battle. After initially massacring all the civilians they came across in the part of the city liberated by the home army, the German military leaders then decided on mass evacuations during battles. The people would be moved and then the city would be flattened. This was done in accordance with Hitler’s orders.
The Polish delegation negotiating the terms of the surrender. The Polish resistance had been so powerful that the Germans gladly went along with favourable surrender terms for the Poles, in order to end the fighting. The German units were needed on other fronts.
Both these photgraphs were taken the day after the surrender had been signed. Here, General Tadeusz Komorowski “Bor” is met by a German escort to be taken to General von dem Bach for further discussions. The location of this photograph is Politechniki Square.
After the fighting was over, the German army had genuine respect for what the Poles had achieved, despite their inferior weapons and numbers. The soldiers were allowed to march to the prison camp in ranks and file, unit by unit. In this photograph, members of “Wigry” battalion are preparing to march to the camp.
General “Bor” being escorted by Major Kurt Fischer, one of Reinefarths staff officers.
The Polish home army was allowed to march out of the city with their weapons and were given military honours.
Polish civilians are escorted out of the city to a prison camp in Pruszkow with the help of a StuG III.