Chapter 3
In the morning of August 3, the Germans launched a determined assault with the 19th Panzer-Division from Praga in the direction of Dworzec Glówny (the Central Station.). Panther and PzKpfw IV tanks were protected by the presence of civilians who were herded away from the city’s Powiśle quarter by the river. Nonetheless, a German column of tanks, cars and transport vehicles was exposed to heavy fire by insurgents and failed to reach the railway station. However, three tanks drove down Ulica Solec and continued south. One tank headed back along Ulica Zagórna and Ulica Czerniakowska to Aleja 3 Maja. En route, the Germans crushed a weak band of resistance fighters and murdered captured prisoners of war. Another tank attacked the resistance fighters’ barricade on Ulica Czerniakowska, beside Ulica Mączna. A shower of hand grenades destroyed a track-band on the tank which, despite this, was immediately thereafter towed away by a third tank.
On three occasions, tanks from the II Fallschirm-Panzer-Regiment “Herman Göring” launched attacks from Ulrychów along Ulica Wolska. Here also, the Germans took cover behind the civilian population. In the afternoon, the tanks finally broke through at Ulica Towarowa to reach Plac Zawiszy (Zawiazy Square) where the column divided. A portion of the tanks travelled on Utica Raszyńska and Ulica Żwirki in Wigury toward Okęcie, while the other group took Ulica Grójecka. The tanks drove toward the front near Warka and Magnuszew. A number of Polish publications, (e.g. Adam Borkiewicz, Powstanie Warszawskie, Warsaw 1957) report that a section of the column took Aleje Jerozolimskie, crossing over Most Poniatowskiego (the Poniatowski Bridge) towards Praga. At approximately 11:00 AM, near Ulica Wilcza on Ulica Marszalkowska, a tank, which SS-Standartenfűhrer Geibel had sent out with provisions for the Communications Centre on Ulica Zielna, was damaged. That afternoon, tanks from the 19th and 27th Panzer-Divisions supported an attack launched from the Poniatowski Bridge against the Central Station. “As usual” the armoured vehicles were protected by the presence of Polish civilians, this time from Praga. In addition, a 75. Panzerzug, a BP44-model armoured train, participated in the operation and shelled the national mint, or money printing facility, on Ulica Sanguszka. Another armoured train was also set into the operation near Ulica Legionowa, pushing ahead all the way to Modlin.
The Warsaw executioners receiving orders at the beginning of the uprising. Reinefarth is the second man from the right.
A Polish platoon crosses Chmielna Street and Szpitalna Street on the first day of the uprising. One month later, the house in the background was no longer there.
A PzKpfw IV Ausf H belonging to a kampfgruppe that was formed from 25. Panzer-Division and deployed from 14 September. On that date, the vehicle was attacked and destroyed by petrol bombs on Grochowska Street.
On August 4, Tiger tanks were sent into battle in the city district of Ochota – conceivably for the purpose of opening Aleje Jerozolimskie from the west, but it has not been possible to establish their exact mission. It was, in any event, an irresponsible decision because two tanks were lost in the fighting. One was lost by the Germans at around 7 o’clock in the morning in an area adjacent to Ulica Kaliska, where Sgt. “Osa” Ostrowski from Lieutenant Andrzej “Gustaw” Chyczewski’s unit destroyed it with a Panzerfaust. The other tank was captured by resistance fighters. The Tigers participated in co-ordination with a motorised column from the 19th Panzer-Division which had pushed forward to Plac Narutowicza (Narutowicz Square) in the direction of Okęcie. The heavy tanks turned in onto Ulica Barska and began shelling houses when the explosive impact of a round fired from a Panzerfaust (anti-tank gun, bazooka), which the resistance fighters had captured (they had robbed two Panzerfausts in a school on Ulica Radomska), caused a massive transformer pole to crash down on one of the tanks. The impacted crew (it should be kept in mind that this crew was made up of transport and factory personnel and not combat troops from the 3rd SS-Panzer-Division “Totenkpf ”) tried to flee to the other Tiger. Only one German was able to save his life. The other tank withdrew toward Narutowicz Square. The deserted Tiger was undamaged and was restarted by Lieutenant Jerzy “Nieczuj” Kolodziejski who made a short tour along Ulica Barska to Narutowicz Square. The tank’s full crew complement was quickly filled in with resistance men who had engine or artillery experience. Lt. Jg Stefan “Bór” Czapiński (Czapliński) was appointed the tank gunner. Plans were made to use the tank to provide cover for units cut off in Ochota, who could then try to break through to Śródmieście (the city’s central area). Unfortunately, a young resistance-fighter, who was guarding the tank while the crew ate, started it and then drove it out onto Ulica Grójecka. When he tried to brake; he probably damaged the sub-gearing which brought the tank to a halt. The resistance fighters removed the two heavy machineguns and carried away 25 88mm rounds. The damaged Tiger was later destroyed by a Goliath, (leichte Ladungsträger Sd Kfz 303b), a German, radio steered explosive device (specifically: a remotely exploded mini-vehicle, hereafter referred to by its nickname Goliath (see fact appendix 1), on August 8, 1944. One or two Tiger tanks participated in the fighting in Wola on August 4-6. They shelled the resistance fighters’ positions but didn’t provide direct support to the infantry when they attacked (perhaps the perceptive Germans did not want to risk their valuable Tigers in a battle with the resistance fighters’ Panther?) The remaining Tigers were later sent to the front (via Modlin) and reached the 3rd SS-Panzer-Division “Totenkopf ” on August 9 or 10, 1944.
Here, it may be worthwhile to add that on page 243 of Wolfgang Schneider’s book, (W. Schneider, Tigers in Combat vol. II, Winnipeg 1998), there are two photographs of what the author assumes are Tigers in Warsaw. The pictures certainly display building structures in some city, but it isn’t Warsaw – nor is the construction of the barricade displayed typical of the kind that were put up in Warsaw.
The 19th Panzer-Division went on the attack again on August 4. The Germans suffered heavy losses in the area around the streets of Ulica Nowy Świat, Ulica Bracka and Ulica Marszalkowska but managed, nonetheless, to force their way through to Ochota. The tanks’ advance was covered by the 4th Panzergrenadier-Regiment whose advance-positions were sheltered in the burned out houses along Aleje Jerozolimskie, and Ulica Bracka. A few tanks were left behind as a reserve force at the National Museum.
In Wola, the Germans tried to “cut out” a path along Ulica Wolska, Ulica Chlodna and Ogród Saski (Saski Botanical Garden) in order to link up with the German units “entrapped” in the area around Saski Square and push on to the bridge across the Wisla. The SS-General in Command, SS-Gruppenfűhrer Heinz Reinefahrt, was reinforced by a company of tanks, probably that portion of the tanks then located in Ulrychów. On August 5, SS-Standartenfűhrer Geibel sent a vehicle, protected by a tank, with additional reinforcements to the so called “little” PAST building on Ulica Piusa XI (now Ulica Piekna). During the operation, resistance fighters set fire to a PzKpw 736 (i) tank which was used by the police unit. A column of approximately ten tanks broke through from Ulrychów, Ulica Towarowa and Ulica Grójecka and rolled on towards the front at Warka. During an attack on the Palace Plaza which was carried out by a German infantry unit, protected by three transport vehicles; resistance fighters managed to seize an armoured Sd Kfz 251Ausf. D neue Ausfűhrung transport vehicle, with markings indicating it belonged to an artillery unit. This captured transport vehicle, however, was not later used in the fighting that took place in the Old Town.
A Ford V8-51, belonging to a police battalion has been shot to pieces at Ulica Nowy Swiat, August 1944.
A German PAK 38, 5cm calibre anti-tank gun, captured by “Bolek” company in Ogrod Krasinski, August 1944. Also visible is the vehicle used to pull it - an Unic P107, Sd Kfz 304 of Frech origin. The equipment had previously belonged to Grenadier-Abteilung “Reck-Lebisch”.
A tram and a trailer turned on their side effectively block Zlota Street in the centre of the city.
A PzKpfw 736(i) M14/41 during the advance in Warsaw.
A Polish soldier with a German MP 38 sub-machine-gun.
A German PAK 38, 5cm calibre anti-tank gun captured by “Bolek” company in Ogrod Krasinski, August 1944.
During the first days of the uprising, barricades were erected across the city to prevent the Germans from counter-attacking. This barricade closed off Chmielna Street from the centre of the city.
SS-Gruppenführer Reinefarth planning the battle. He is in the middle without an officer’s hat, but with the Knight’s Cross clearly visible around his neck.
German officers plan their battle. The man to the right belongs to RONA brigade.
A Polish soldier with a so-called American “Grease gun” – an M3 sub-machine gun.
Platoon 1/446 assembled in a courtyard between Maziowiecka Street and Dabrowski Square.
A StuG III G nr “300” under the command of Lieutenant Fassbeck from 3./ Panzer Abteilung 302(FKL) at Plac Pilsudskiego, August 1944.