Chapter 14
On August 2, 1944, resistance fighters captured two model PzKpfw VSd Kfz 171 Ausf. G Panther tanks. Their affect on the Warsaw Uprising is an unusually interesting episode in the war. Even though this episode as been given a great deal of mention in historical texts dealing with the uprising; there remains even to this day a number of unresolved details. The most reliable informational sources are: a monographic account of the “Zośka” battalion (A. Borkiewicz-Celinska, Batalion “Zośka”, Warsaw 1990), and Batallion “Parasol” (P.Stachiewicz, “Parasol”, Warsaw 1984), along with Pamiętniki żołnierzy batalionu “Zośka”, Warsaw 1981. A text which was published in 1989 in “Wojskowy Przegląd Historyczny” issue no. 2/1989 (H.Kuczmierowska, M. Piekarski, “Neimiecka broń pancerna w Powstaniu Warszawskim”) appears to be packed with factual material, but is actually of little worth. Another, and seemingly inexhaustible source of information, is provided in accounts written by people who participated in the uprising itself. The most exhaustive picture of the fighting is offered in a book by Anna Wyganowska-Eriksson (Pluton Pancerny w Powstaniu Warszawaskim, Warszawa 1994.)
When the uprising broke out at 1700 hours on August 1, 1944, the Panthers intended to reinforce the units battling east of Warsaw (i.e. the two panzer divisions from the Waffen-SS: the 3rd SS-Panzer-Division “Totenkopf”, and the 5th SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking” along with other units drawn from the Panzerwaffe, for example, the 4th Panzer-Division) were not present in Warsaw. Nor were the tanks from the 5th SS-Panzer-Division “Wiking” – which had been driven through the capital city on July 28-30 – any longer in evidence. Moreover, there is no confirmation as to the nearby presence of units from the 19th Panzer-Division. Tanks from II./Fallschmir-Panzer-Regiment “Herman Göring” were deployed in Wola in the western part of the city. In Ulrychów, there were PzKpfw IV tanks, but no Panthers. On the morning of August 1, a portion of these tanks turned towards the front. Left in the city were possibly a total of ten tanks in the process of being made combat-ready by manufacturer personnel and tank crews. This estimate, however, cannot be fully confirmed.
In the photograph are three resistance members from “Piesc” battalion standing at the Lutheran cemetary close to the Karolkowa Street and Mireckie Street intersection. It was from the building in the background that resistance members of 3. Kompanie in “Zoska” battalion attacked German Panthers with petrol bombs and hand-grenades. The photograph was taken on 1 August 1944.
The Okopowa Street and Mireckie Street intersection. It was probably from the house to the right that PIAT shells were fired at the German Panthers - later called “WP” by the Poles - damaging the vehicles enough so that they had to be abandoned. The buildings in the photograph were demolished by the Germans after the uprising had been put down. The photograph was taken in 1942.
On August 2, at approximately 0800 hours, three Panther tanks suddenly appeared, rumbling forward from the east, probably with a view to reconnoitring the area. They drove along Ulica Karolkowa in the direction of Ulica Mirecki and then onto Ulica Okopowa towards Kerceli Square. They had come, in other words, from the city centre.The first problem they encountered was a barrage of “Molotov cocktails” rained down on them by soldiers of Company 3 from the “Zośka” battalion. One tank caught fire and its crew ran over to one of the other tanks. The second Panther continued on, reaching a point abreast Ulica Mireckiego where it was stopped by grenades. The damaged Panther literally drove straight into a little house standing in a below-street-level garden, located alongside a building on Ulica Okopowa 41. In addition, it was also hit by a Gammon (a British hand grenade) which blew away the armour plating on the rear of its turret. The entire crew was taken prisoner.
The third tank was hit in the Jewish cemetery area by grenades thrown over the cemetery wall by soldiers from platoon “Felek,” Company “Rudy” and Battalion “Zośka”. Hand grenades (especially Gammons which the British had air-dropped) damaged the tank which drove into a pole on the tramway embankment where it came to a stop. The tank was not seriously damaged. The biggest problem was that the tank could not take itself up onto the stone-bordered street without assistance. None of the German tank crews fired on the insurgents with the main guns of their tanks, despite full bins of ammunition. They only defence they offered was fired from their turret-mounted machineguns. The insurgents’ actions had taken the Germans by surprise and they gave up without offering any meaningful resistance. At first, it was believed that the tanks had come from the north, which is to say, from Ulrychów and Boernerowo. One of the takeover crewmembers, Jan Zenka, remembers that the German crew of one of the tanks testified under interrogation that they had travelled from the base in Zielonka to the repair facility in Warsaw (Bem Fortress, perhaps?) At this time, the 35th Panzer-Regiment from the 4th Panzer-Division was stationed at Zielonka. The captured Panthers very likely came from this battalion. The fate of the third Panther is subject to dispute. According to some reports, it caught fire and was abandoned by its crew – other reports indicate that the burning tank retreated in the direction of Kerceli Square. It’s also worth noting that soldiers from “Zośka” captured an artillery tractor fully loaded with 75 mm and 88 mm tank ammunition on August 1. This action was to later make possible the re-supply of the insurgents’ ammunition stores. On August 2, nothing worth mention was done to start-up either tank. However, pleasure was taken in removing all unnecessary equipment and weapons from the Panther which stood on Ulica Okopowa, a task which fell to platoon “Feleks”. The tank crews were reinforced.
In the early morning of August 3, 1944, a tank platoon was formed within the framework of Battalion “Zośka” under the command of Lieutenant Wacław “Wacek” Micuta. And on that very morning, one of the German POWs (a driver of one of the tanks) was brought to the tank and familiarized the Polish crew with the tank’s steering system. The German (an Austrian, actually), however, did not succeed in starting the tank. An examination of the engine revealed that the fuel pump had probably been damaged. Coincident with this discovery, the crew complements of both tanks was completed:
In the photograph taken on 1 August is the barricade erected on Karolkowa Street, close to the intersection with Zelazna Street. It was from that direction that two German Panthers advanced on 2 August.
A view of the left side of a Panther “WP”.
Three photographs taken on the evening of 3 August. In the upper photograph, an inspection of the Panther’s electrical system is being carried out. In the lower left photograph, to the left is a house on Gibalskiego Street. In the lower right photograph, the roof of the RGO Park head groundskeeper’s house is visible. Part of the Polish flag is visible, painted on the left side of the turret. “WP” is painted in white on the backplate of the turret hatch.
I - Tank commander - Eugeniusz “Rawicz” Romański, driver – Warrant Officer Zdisław “Ryk” Moszczeński, navigator and radio/telegraph - Corporal Jan “Walek” Zenka, loader – Warrant Officer Witold “Kadłubek” Bartnicki, and gunner – Warrant Officer Jan “Bajan” Myszkowski-Bagiński.
II – Tank commander – Warrant Officer Jerzy “Dabrowa” Michalski, driver – Warrant Officer Jerzy
“Tomek” Misiewicz, navigator and radio/telegraph - Corporal Marian “Pobóg” Kwiecień, loader – Warrant Officer Witold “Downar” Oceppski, gunner – Warrant Officer Mieczysław “Jordan” Kijewski, and ammunition responsible – Warrant Officer Zbigniew “Kostrzewa” Ocepski.
After the tanks had been started, Lieutenant “Wacek” took over command of one of them. The crews comprised six members because the officers in charge of a platoon, more often than not, didn’t participate in combat operations: To guarantee maximum combat effectiveness it was necessary to have a full crew. Another reason was that the special gloves which were needed to remove “hot” shell casings were missing and because two loaders were needed to operate the gun. The crew was often changed around, for example: “Ryk” might be replaced by “Tomek.” The machineguns were MG 34 models and had been removed from the tanks and handed over to the Battalion “Zoska’s” unit.
The crew was reinforced with a second replacement for the platoon’s commander, Second Lieutenant Roman “Skorupka” Padleski, a well known artist and musician, and a technical officer, Lieutenant Zygmunt “Zygmunt” Zbichorski. Training took place throughout the day, while at the same time carrying out endless attempts to re-start the tank. One afternoon, Jan Łuniewski, master mechanic from the National Engineer Institute on Ulica Okopowa turned up. The Austrian prisoner was helping to repair the tank but had not succeeded in repairing the start fault. He insisted there was something wrong with the fuel pump. Jan Łuniewski discovered that the carburettor flap was damaged. After the carburettor was removed and the flap hammered into shape, the engine started without any difficulty. The repaired tank was stationed on Ulica Okopowa opposite Ulica Wolność. On August 7, Jan Łuniewski was awarded with the Distinguished Service Cross by General Tadeusz “Bór” Komorowski.
Mierckiego street close to Karolkowa Street. The wall to the left in the photograph is part of the Telefunkens factory in Warsaw. The wall on the right of the street belongs to the Skra sports ground. The photograph was taken at the beginning of August 1944.
Two members of the Polish resistance. “Tomek” standing in front of the tank and “Wiktor” sitting up in the top left of the photograph.
Both these photographs were taken after the motor in “Magda” had been successfully started. This occurred on 4 August. “Magda” was moved further into RGO Park in order to protect it from aerial reconnaissance.
The tank crews also searched after fuel. At the Sanitation Department’s depot on Ulica Spokojna, Lieutenant “Zygmunt” found a store of 3 000- 4000 litres of petrol. “Walek” searched for petrol on Ulica Górczewska where he found petrol cans as well as tank ammunition. Over the following days, smaller quantities of petrol were discovered. Additional ammunition was found in a vehicle that was captured by soldiers from “Parasol” – another vehicle was captured by Battalion “Pięś”. Ammunition boxes were also found in Tammler’s tannery on Ulica Spokojna. All this discovery ensured that there was never an ammunition shortage; throughout all of the fighting, each tank had a full ammunition store.
On August 4, the tank drove along Ulica Okopowa towards “Kedwy’s” commander, Colonel “Radoslaw’s” headquarters. At 0800 hours, test firing was conducted.
A radio-gram sent from Kaminski brigade to the leaders of 9.Army with information about two trapped German police units as well as the discovery of two tanks with Polish crews. This photograph has never been published before.
This photograph was taken in 1942. To the left of the photograph is the wooden fence that marked the border between RGO Park and Okopowa Street. The Panther “WP” drove through the fence when it was hit by a shell from a PIAT. A number of the existing photographs of “Magda” are taken when the vehicle stood parked under the large tree in the left of the photograph.
The target was a German machinegun nest in the tower of Augustinius Church on Ulica Nowolipka. After two hits (one of which turned out to be a dud) the machinegun nest was destroyed.
All this time, unceasing attempts had been made to start the other tank. In this case, it was somewhat more complicated because it had a damaged turret and a buckle in the armour. The first attempt to pull it up with the help of another Panther failed. The tank was not strong enough to drag the Panther in question out from under the ruins of the wooden house and then over the three metre high, stone embankment. After having completely torn down the house, the crew of the other tank managed to pull out the Panther which had still further serious un-repaired damage: The periscope was crushed, the armour split, and a dysfunctional electrical system which meant that the batteries, which were only connected when underway or when firing, risked losing their charge during repairs. The Panther was therefore repaired with the help of the reserve batteries of both tanks. It also became apparent that even the turret mechanism was damaged but the gun’s recoil functioned within the recommended norm (max: 43 cm). The shell cartridge ejection mechanism also failed to work. Warrant Officer Witold “Kadłubek” Bartnicki repaired part of the damage to the breech locking device. The commander of the Home Army (AK), Division General Tadeusz “Bór” Komorowski, who made his headquarters in the nearby Kamler’s factory, inspected one of the tanks. At 1000 hours, August 4, both tanks filed past Ulica Okopowa.
At approximately 1400 hours on August 4, resistance troops went on attack against the police army’s barracks in a school on Ulica Żelazna and in Zofia Hospital. The attack was to be led by Battalion “Miotła” with the support of a tank. The attack was spearheaded by the tank dubbed “Magda” behind which followed a line of resistance troops. Aboard the tank were Lieutenant “Zygmunt” and 2nd Lieutenant Zygmunt “Gałązka” Ziemecki. The tank’s commander Lieutenant “Zygmunt” needed an order to open fire because the tank unit’s commander, Lieutenant “Wacek” (who was off attending a staff meeting) had made it clear that only he had the authority to launch an attack. Lieutenant “Zygmunt” reported to “Miotłas” commander, Captain “Niebór,” that he had no authority to open fire without an express order to do so. Despite this, the resistance troops launched an attack that soon collapsed under heavy German machinegun fire. This prompted Lieutenant “Zygmunt” to begin firing on the planned targets according to his own judgement. After firing eight times, the tank changed position. The first shot blew away the gable end of the school; and the following two shots destroyed a machinegun nest. In order to more easily observe the enemy’s positions, “Zygmunt” climbed out of the tank and informed the crew about the location of targets via a coordination officer. Toward the conclusion of the action it became evident that the tank’s gun couldn’t train on the more elevated targets which resulted in the Panther driving up a gravel slope, elevating its front end enough to pound the higher German positions without a problem. Thereafter, the tank rolled right up to the school and destroyed a German machinegun nest located on a balcony. Unfortunately, the tank’s turret then locked-up which meant that the tank itself had to be painstakingly turned precisely so, in order that its gun directly faced a proposed target. However, the primary reason for the attack’s failure was that only one company had actually been there to carry out the assault. They (the attackers) hadn’t been informed that the time-point for launching this attack had been changed, nor had they been informed that the other resistance fighters had been delayed because of an air raid against their positions in Wola by German He III bombers. The other tank, under the command of Lieutenant “Wacek” reinforced a new attack on the school at 1700 hours. After that attack, the Germans retired via an underground tunnel to Zofia Hospital
Part of the “Magda” crew, including Luniewski, “Jordan”, “Bajan”, “Walek” and “Ryk”.
The next combat objective was to support a storming of a concentration camp (Gęsiówka) on Ulica Gęsia, which was carried out by the “Felek” platoon from the “Zośka” battalion.
Seizing the camp on Ulica Gęsia would open the way to the Old Town and was the only chance to free hundreds of Jews held prisoner there. The resistance force’s tank played a deciding role in the battle because it wasn’t until the guard towers and bunkers were fired on that the main assault could begin. The tank’s plan of action, precise route and order of targets, was very carefully planned. Holding to this detailed planning was particularly vital to resistance forces attempting to seize bunkers that had not as yet been subjected to tank fire (which, for that matter, actually took place). At 10:00 AM, August 5, the tank “Magda,” under the command of Lieutenant “Waceks,” rolled out towards the installation. The tank drove along the wall fronting the empty factories and workshops on Ulica Glęsia and without difficulty plowed through the notably high barricade that blocked the road leading to the camp. From there, it advanced to the gate, plowing-through the barricade in it without difficulty (and set off a mine which, however, did not damage the tank). Only then did the Germans open fire, since it was now clear to them that the approaching vehicle was not arriving as a welcome reinforcement. They began, without success, to rake it with machinegun fire. The tank responded by firing on the guard towers and bunkers. Having forced the gate, the tank drove into the camp and began a methodical bombardment of the guard towers and finally the administration building; the so called “White House.” The successful operation made it possible to quickly take over the entire camp with minimal Home Army casualties. (1 dead and 1 injured).
Both photographs show some of the “Magda” crew. From right to left; “Jordan”, “Rawicz”, “Bajan” and “Ryk”.
The tanks that were deployed on Ulica Opowoka fired for several hours on German units attacking the area around the Powązek cemetery and distant Kerceli Square, but mainly in and around the cemetery area. “Panther no name” also participated in these attacks. On August 4 and 5, “Magda” bombarded targets along Ulica Wolska, among them, the area around Stanislaw Church and the viaduct by the circle line. From the German side, mortars were haplessly fired at the tanks.
This photograph is taken from the work building towards the living quarters in the Gesiowka concentration camp. When the attack on the concentration camp began on 5 August, the security staff evacuated the living quarters and moved the prisoners to the work building.
This photograph is taken after the war had ended in 1945. The house in the photograph is what the resistance called “The Citadel”. It was in fact a grammar school on Sw. Kingi Street in Wola and was the site of the Polish Panther platoon’s final battle on 11 August 1944.
“Magda” parked outside Pfeifers tannery.
The biggest concern of the tank crews had to do with the onboard batteries. The original non-functioning tank-batteries had been replaced with car batteries that did not, however, meet the capacity of the originals, and consequently, the tank turrets did not function properly. During the night, the Panther’s damaged turret was repaired.
At approximately 0800 hours on August 8, “Panther no name,” under the command of Lieutenant “Rawicz,” received orders to provide support to the resistance fighters on Ulica Karolkowa. After turning off Ulica Mirecki onto Ulica Karolkowa, it absorbed three hits from an armoured German vehicle posted in the vicinity of the intersection with Ulica Grzybowska. The projectiles hit the turret but did not penetrate into the tank’s interior. However, the explosions caused interior metal shrapnel to fly and the explosive charge of one the projectiles in the turret caught fire. Luckily, it didn’t explode. Warrant Officers “Kadłubek” and “Bajan” and Corporal “Walek” received burns and other wounds. Colonel “Radosław” was probably not informed that this tank had been damaged because in his daily report (from 2100 hours), he makes mention of two tanks.
As to just what type of armoured vehicle it was that damaged the Polish Panther – there are two answers to that detail. Based on the extent of the damage incurred, a reasonable conclusion can be drawn that it must have been one of the three StuG III-type vehicles from Ersatz-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 200, which on August 8, reinforced SS-Oberfürer Oskar Dirlewanger’s force that had attacked from the west. As armament, Ersatz-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 200 had the latest versions of both the StuG, and StuG 40, along with one of the older model StuG IIIs. The older version had a significantly shorter barrel than the newer one.
This photograph is taken from the work building towards the living quarters in the Gesiowka concentration camp. When the attack on the concentration camp began on 5 August, the security staff evacuated the living quarters and moved the prisoners to the work building.
The other armoured unit that can have been operating in the area was made up of armoured vehicles from Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 743, equipped with the Jagd. Panzer 38 (t) Hetzers. The Hetzer and the later versions of the StuG 40 had the same weaponry: Pak 39, 75mm L/48 guns – and could, as opposed to the short-barrelled 75mm gun StuK 37 found on earlier versions of the StuG III, penetrate the armour plating of a Panther’s turret.
The Germans regarded the Polish tank as having been destroyed. Lieutenant “Wacek” who was in the other Panther was immediately made aware of the clash. He gathered together several tank crew members and made his way on foot to the deserted Panther. On the way there, he passed by the accident-prone tank’s burned and injured crew. Two of the crew members accompanying him made their way inside the Panther’s turret through its rear access hatch. The gunpowder had burned out and the tank had not suffered further damage. “Rawicz” aimed the main gun and hit a German armoured vehicle (StuG III?) which blocked-off Ulica Karolkowa. However, there are no German reports of losses on that day, which could mean that the German vehicle was only damaged. Nor is there information concerning German tank operations on August 9 – very likely, both sides were carrying out repairs at the time.
On August 10, at approximately 0500 hours, came two 7-to-10 ton light-tanks arriving from the direction of Powązki cemetery. In actual fact, they were half-tracked armoured transport vehicles: model SdKfz 250 or 251 (see fact appendix 1.) One of them fired on the Polish Panther which during the night had stood near the school on Ulica Okopowa. Warrant Officer “Downar” raised the alarm when he couldn’t connect the batteries he needed to start the electrical motor that powered the turret. Luckily, Corporal “Filar” came running and quickly hooked up the batteries and fired at the German transport vehicles. While the “Magda’s” crew fought back a powerful assault launched along Ulica Okopowa, at 08.30 AM on that same day, they destroyed a communication vehicle, model Sd kfz 263 (8X8) (see fact appendix 1) and damaged a German StuG 40 from Ersatz-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 200. The tank gunner on board was Lieutenant “Skorupka” and the loader was “Krzysztof.” During the evening hours, the Panther (“Magda”) under the command of Lieutenant “Wacek” destroyed the tower of Karl Boromeus Church at the Powązki cemetery where the Germans had a machinegun nest. Colonel “Radosław” had ordered the crew, unnecessarily as it turned out, to use only 1 to 2 projectiles, but the very first shot was a direct hit. With the machinegun nest eliminated, the isolated resistance unit was able to withdraw. The biggest problem was not the lack of ammunition or fuel, but – above all – the lack of batteries for the tanks. The available batteries had to be constantly recharged. For this reason the decision was made to keep the “Magda” constantly “in service.” Ammunition was transferred from the other Panther which late in the evening was set afire in front of Pfeiffer’s factory.
Taking a break after a battle. In the middle, mechanic J. Luniewski.
Maintenance of “Magda” on 6 August 1944.
The captured Panther nr 1 at Ulica Okopowa on 2 August 1944.
Gesai Street ran parrallel to the wall of the Gesiowka camp with its characteristic guard towers, called “Storks” by the Poles. “Magda” was driven along the street on the morning of 5 August towards the barricade on Smocoza Street.The photograph was taken after the war.
St Augustin church on Dzielna and Nowolipki Streets, was just about the only building left intact in the ghetto after the uprising.
The following day, the Germans went on the attack starting out from Ulica Młynarska and the Catholic cemetery as well as from Powązki cemetery. Bitter fighting broke out around Ulica Stawki and Plac Parysowski (Paris Square). “Dirlewanger” units, supported by four StuG 40s from Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 743, drove the resistance men from Ulica Stawki towards the city district of Muranów. As a result, the resistance fighters risked being cut off completely from the Old Town.
On the morning of August 11, a Panther, under the command of Lieutenant “Wacek,” supported a Polish counterattack on Ulica Stawki. Colonel “Radosław” lead the “Miotła” and “Chowbry I” battalions on an attack launched from Plac Muranowski. The tank was damaged during the action. It was probably abandoned there. The same day, resistance troops withdrew from Wola to the Old Town.
To the left; Lieutenant Eugeniusz “Rawicz” Romanski. with his back to camera is Sergeant Zdzislaw “Ryk” Moszczenski.
The captured Panther nr 1 on the tram-lines at Ulica Okopowa on 2 August 1944.
A close-up of “the Panther with no name”. Panther nr 1 was named “Magda”. Panther nr 2 did not receive a name.
Female inmates from the Gesiowka concentration camp; freed when it was stormed by the Poles on 5 August.
”Magda” being re-fuelled at Ulica Wolnose. 6-8 August 1944.
A close-up of “the Panther with no name”.
A StuG III makes its way through the destroyed city.