Chapter 4
On August 6, the Germans used armoured vehicles in various districts of Warsaw. In Mokotów, one of the air wing’s infantry units, supported by a few vehicles (probably the anti-aircraft artillery’s previously mentioned, tracked self-propelled guns); went on the offensive along Aleja Niepodleglości, whereby they lost one vehicle.
On the south corner of Ulica Mlynarska and Ulica Wolska, the Germans lost a tank, which was later towed away on August 8, probably to the Kraftfahrpark at Bemfort, to be repaired. In the immediate vicinity of Plac Opolskiego (Opolski Square) and Ulica Mlynarska, the Germans lost yet another tank, probably a PzKpfw IV, which was destroyed by soldiers from the “Parasol” battalion. According to an eye witness, the destroyed tank was still to be seen abandoned on Opolski Square as late as 1946!
On the morning of August 7, the Kamfegruppe “Dirlewanger” went on attack in the direction of Saski Square. The offensive was supported by tanks from Panzerjäger-Abteilung 743 dispatched by General Stahel. The Germans succeeded in crossing over Plac Mirowskiego (Mirowski Square) and Plac Żelazney Bramy (Irongate Square) and thereby re-established connection with General Stahel’s besieged unit. The resistance fighters’ positions in the area around Mirowski Square were also shelled by three StuG 40s from Ersatz-Sturmgeshűtz-Abteilung 200.
According to the German armoured units’ Order of Battle (OB) for August 7, 1944, in Warsaw: Panzerjäger-Abteilung 743. (Hetzer) on the southern sector, Kampfegruppe (Battle-group) “Dirlewanger” was delegated three StuG 40s from Ersatz-Sturmgeschűtz-Abteilung 200. and a company of tanks from Panzerjäger-Abteilung 743.
Ersatz-Sturmgeschűtz-Abteilung 200. was stationed in the city of Sieradz. After the uprising broke out, a ready-alert battery consisting of three StuG 40s was formed and dispatched to Warsaw, where the unit participated in the fighting from the middle of September, 1944. The unit’s weaponry was composed of three StuG III/40 assault-guns , the older version of the Ausf.E/F/F8.
A Stuka drops its deadly load on targets in Warsaw. As the Russian Air Force mainly remained grounded for most of the uprising, the Germans enjoyed aerial dominance in the skies above Warsaw despite having very few working aeroplanes in the area.
German infantry units were quickly sent to Warsaw after the uprising began, some coming from the infantry school in Posen. Even if they were heavily armed, they had a lack of experience in urban fighting.1.
Polish insurgents manning a barricade in the centre of the city.
Units from 19. Panzer-Dividion during the advance Units from 19. Panzer-Dividion during the advance in northern Warsaw, August 1944. In this photograph, an amphibious jeep – Kfz 2 Schwimmwagen – and an Sd Kfz 251/1 are visible.
A Kfz kubelwagen captured by insurgents on the first by insurgents on the first day of the uprising.
Warsaw executioner, SS-Gruppenführer Heinz Reinefarth.
Polish resistance fighters with a water-cooled machine gun. Note the bucket of water.
Two officers from RONA brigade watching the Polish positions in Ochota at the beginning of August.
A patrol from the elite Polish battalion “Zoska” standing guard outside the Gesiowka prison camp on 5 August 1944.
RONA brigade carry out their cruel work. Most of the “combat” Kaminskis RONA brigade were involved in was in fact ethnic cleansing of the civilians. When they encountered organised resistance, RONA brigade started taking heavy losses.
Soldiers from RONA brigade awaiting orders. Note the Russian light-machine guns at the bottom of the photograph. RONA brigade was mainly equipped with Russian weapons.