Chapter 9
On August 22, German armoured vehicles carried out operations in the area of the Technical College and Saski Gardens. On Aleje Ujazdowskie, a Hetzer bombarded the resistance fighters’ barricades in the area around Ulica Piusa XI (now Ulica Piękna) and Ulica Chopina. The following day, alongside the “Messalka” house on Ulica Krakowskie Przedmieście, Lieutenant “Zawierucha” scored a hit on a StuG 40 from Panzer-Abteilung 302. (Fkl) with a PIAT, and knocked it out. In the Old Town, several StuG 40s from Panzer-Abteilung 302. (Fkl) and Ersatz-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 200 fired on the Polish national mint, Ulica Rybaki, and the FIAT-factory on Ulica Sapieżyńska. The resistance fighters set fire to two StuG 40s on Ulica Chłodna. On August 24, the heaviest attack carried out by armoured vehicle forces in Warsaw took place in the Old Town. In addition, several StuG 40s launched an attack against insurgent positions on Ulica Krówelska and Ulica Srebrna.
On August 25, the Germans concentrated their forces on an offensive against the north district of the Old Town. Approximately ten StuG 40s participated in this action. The barricade that blocked off Aleja Jerozolimskie was also attacked by several StuG 40s from Panzer-Abteilung 302. (Fkl), along with several B IVs. One B IV was destroyed by the resistance fighters. A few StuG 40s from Panzer-Abteilung 302. (Fkl) took up positions on Ulica Krakowskie Przedmieście and bombarded Palac Staszica (the Staszic Palace). On August 26, the Germans intensified their attacks against the resistance fighters’ positions in the Old Town. On Ulica Zakroczymska, soldiers from the “Zoska” battalion destroyed a StuG 40 from Panzer-Abteilung 302. (Fkl).
On August 27, the assault against the southern sector of the defence was also renewed: The Germans attacked the “Gustaw” battalion’s positions by the Cathedral on Ulica Podwale. Several StuG 40s also attacked the Reduta Banku Polskiego barricade, Ulica Długa and Krasiński Square. On August 28, German armoured vehicles continued their operations in these areas. During the last days of August, the Germans transported several StuG 40s from Panzer-Abteilung 302. (Fkl) by ferry across the Wisła from Saska Kępa to Siekierki on the other side. These made a sortie against Polish positions in and around Siecle in the area adjacent to Ulica Podchorąże, Ulica Czerniakowska, and Ulica Nowosielecka. One day earlier on August 29, the same group of StuG 40s had conducted operations in Sadbya and the resistance fighters’ positions had come under fire from Augustówki and Wilanów.
On August 30 and 31, the Germans made busy use of their StuG 40s in support of Col. Schmidt’s engineer assault unit during an offensive against the Old Town. German armoured vehicles went on the attack along Ulica Bonifraterska and Ulica Mostowa. Several StuG 40s were also used to pound the resistance fighters’ positions o n Ulica Królewska.
A Stuka that has just dropped its load over insurgent positions in Warsaw.
A Panther belonging to 19. Panzer Division.
A damaged StuG III G. that was later towed away and repaired.
From left to right: a Brummbär, an Sd Kfz 251 and two Stug III Gs before an attack. Note the camouflage patterns on the StuG vehicles.
Panthers belonging to 19. Panzer-Division.
A StuG III Ausf G in combat at Ulica Focha. The Germans tried to avoid driving down smaller streets, preferring open spaces or wide boulevards where the risk of attack from petrol bombs or PIATs was much less.
The captured Hetzer that was christened “Chwat”.
The small trolley that was used to move the Goliaths into position is clearly visible in this photograph, taken on Powaskowska Street.
Further down the street, Goliaths were being prepared to be used against Polish targets.