Chapter 8
The activities of the German armoured vehicle forces during the second half of August were concentrated on the Old City. The Germans had significantly strengthened their armoured contingent in Warsaw. Taking part in the fighting were the entire Panzer-Abteilung 302. (Fkl), Sturmanzer-Kompanie 218., tanks from the garrison on Ulica Rakowiecka, two companies from Panzerjäger-Abteilung 743., an armoured train from Ersatz-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 200., and Pionier-Sturm-Bataillon 500. The greater part of these units was specially trained to carry out warfare in built-up urban areas and equipped with vehicles and weaponry suitable to such conflicts.
On August 15, Panzer-Abteilung 302. (Fkl) shelled the insurgent’s positions with several StuG 40s in the area around Mostowski Palace, Ulica Tlomackie, Ulica Gryzbowska and Ulica Krochmalna. In the last-mentioned area, Company 2 from Panzer-Abteilung 302. (Fkl) lost two tanks. One of them was destroyed by Captain Jan “Proboszcz” Jaroszek from the resistance band “Chowbry II” – and the other was set on fire by 12-year-old Henryk Cichowski with the pseudonym “Tygrys.” In the afternoon, resistance fighters destroyed an Sd Kfz 251/1 D when the Germans attacked their position on Ulica Królewska 25. The Technical College was attacked by four Hetzers from Company 2 of Panzer-Abteilung 743. On August 16, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 743. once again went on assault in the area around Ulica Sienna, whereupon the insurgents damaged two Hetzers. Later that evening, two StuG 40s shelled the area around Palace Plaza.
On August 17, armoured vehicles stationed at the garrison on Ulica Rakowiecka were active and fired upon the area around Ulica Polna and Plac Politechniki (The Technical College’s Square). Two StuG 40s from Panzer-Abteilung 302. (Fkl) went on the attack in the area around Muranów Square and Fort Traugutta. Resistance fighters destroyed a Goliath and a B IV. In the evening, two StuG 40s from Ersatz-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 200 supported a new assault against the insurgents’ position on Ulica Królewska 25.
The commander of a StuG III F/8 confers with a member of RONA brigade. Notice the sleeve markings on the black uniform: POA with the blue St Andreas cross below it on a white background. This was the symbol for Russians fighting on the German side.
An Sd Kfz 251 “escorting” Polish civilian out of Warsaw.
A StuG III G that has been disabled. Judging by the close proximity of the buildings, it was probably stopped by petrol bombs.
The next day, August 18, four StuG 40s shelled the national mint, while resistance fighters at Castle Plaza destroyed a StuG 40 from Panzer-Abteilung 302. (Fkl). with a PIAT. On Ulica Gryzbowska resistance fighters destroyed a StuG 40 from Panzer-Abteilung 302. (Fkl). A Brummbär from Sturmpanzer-kompanie 218 fired on the barricade blockading Aleje Jerozolimskie, which thereby cut off the north sector of the city’s centre from the south.
Early in the morning of August 19, four armoured vehicles from the SS-Staufernkasern opened fire on the Technical College’s square. Resistance fighters destroyed a StuG 40 amidst the ruins of the ghetto. Later that morning, resistance fighters stopped a StuG 40 at the junction of Ulica Gryzbowa and Ulica Żelazna. It was later towed away by the Germans. August 20 marked the establishment of “Kamfegruppe Rohr,” under which all German units participating in the Warsaw fighting came to be organised, including the armoured units operating south of Aleje Jerozolimskie.
With one shot from a Panzerfaust, resistance fighters, on August 19, destroyed a StuG 40 from Panzer-Abteilung 302. (Fkl) during an assault on St. John’s Hospital, located on Ulica Bonifraterska. German forces also went on the attack in the district around Przejazd-Bielańska, Ulica Tłomackie and the Mostowski Palace. On August 21, the Germans repeated their assault on the Old City. Several StuG 40s and B IVs attacked the City Hall and Blank’s Palace. Two Hetzers, while providing support to the RONA-unit, shelled Plac Kazimierza Wielkiego (Kazimierz Wielki Square). With a direct hit from a Panzerschreck, Corporal “Wolski” destroyed a Brummbär in the area around Ulica Belwederska and Ulica Promenada in Mokotów. This armoured vehicle had probably come from the garrison on Ulica Rakowiecka. Another armoured vehicle was disabled and subsequently towed away from the battle site.
A German attack begins. A Borgward B IV is flanked by two Stug IIIs and two or three Brummbär vehicles.
A Brummbär from Sturmpanzer Kompanie 218 zbv. Clearly a long way behind enemy lines, where Polish snipers focused their attentions on officers, tank crews and other key combatants.
Armoured German power. To the left of he photograph, a Brummbär from Sturmpanzer Kompanie 218 zbv – an assault gun vehicle with a short barrel 159mm howitzer. To the right of the photograph is a Panther PzKpfw from one of the five panzer divisions that operated in the Warsaw area: 3.SS-, 5.SS-,19.-, 26.-, or Hermann Göring. In the centre of the photograph are two or three StuG III Gs , most likely belonging to Panzer Abteilung 302(Fkl). What is clear though is the total dominance the German vehicles would have had in such an open space as this former park in Warsaw. The photograph was taken in August or September 1944.
A Borgward BIV Sprengstoffträger - a vehicle that transported a 500kg explosive charge (usually under enemy fire) towards a barricade, leaving it there and retreating before detonating the device via remote control. One disadvantage was that the vehicle’s armour was not particularly thick and the Poles did not have too much trouble disabling them. To drive a B IV with a 500kg explosive charge whilst under enemy fire towards an enemy position must have seemed like a suicide mission. The location of this photograph is Aleje Jerozolimskie.
German infantry advancing under enemy fire. The soldier to the right covers his comrades as they rush across the street.