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RARE Original Photo from the Battle of Węgierska Górka Bunker Assault 1939 WW2
$ 261.36
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Description
RARE Original Photo from the Battle of Węgierska Górka Poland 1939 WW2This is another in a series of photos from the Battel of Wegierska-Gorka. From the very first days of the invasion of Poland and the start of WW2. The handwriting on the back translates as follows:
Wegierska-Gorka
Letzte Besprechung für(?) die Einnahme der Bunker
Last discussion for the capture of the bunker.
An incredibly rare and unique photo, considering it was on the first day of the Invasion of Poland. Formally known as the "Battle of Wegierska-Gorka", this is an incredibly rare and unique perspective from the German side on what is considered to be the start of WW2.
German soldiers are discussing plans prior to the assault on the bunkers. You can cleary see one soldier looking out over the horizon with what appears to be binoculars.
"The Battle of Węgierska Górka was a two-day-long defense of a Polish fortified area in south of Silesia during the opening stages of the Invasion of Poland of 1939.
Although the Polish position was not completed and only five bunkers were manned, the line was defended for two days and nights against superior German forces of the German 7th Infantry Division. One of the bunkers was successfully evacuated by the Polish 1st Mountain Brigade, but the others lacked radio receivers and did not receive the order to retreat. Eventually, the Germans managed to break through the Polish positions, but with heavy casualties on their side and with a significant delay.
Under such circumstance the weak Polish units withdrew to the main lines of the defense in front of Węgierska Górka. The Germans arrived there early in the morning of the following day.
The German infantry tried to storm the Polish positions on the run, but were bloodily repelled. The German commander then called for artillery and aerial bombardment of the Polish lines and repeated the assaults, which however were all repelled by the infantry battalion manning the field fortifications around the bunkers. By the end of the day the Poles claimed eight enemy armoured vehicles and tanks, while the Germans were forced back to their initial positions between Milówka and Węgierska Górka. However, other German units in the area were more successful and Janusz Gaładyk, the commander of the Polish 1st Mountain Brigade, ordered all Polish units in the area to withdraw overnight to the area of Oczków, where they were to shield the flank of the Polish 21st Infantry Division. However, as the battle continued throughout the night, the orders reached only the "Waligóra" bunker, artillery units and parts of the "Berezwecz" battalion, while the crews of the remaining three bunkers and the infantry units shielding them remained on their positions.
The heavy fighting for the area continued until the early morning. "Waligóra" was manned by seven soldiers from a routed unit and continued to fire at the Germans after the original crew withdrew. However, they were armed with their personal rifles only and had no ammunition left, which forced them to capitulate soon afterwards. All of them were subsequently executed by the Germans."
I have other photos in this group also listed which I believe are from the same period, likely the same battle, so be sure to check them out.
Measures approximately 3 3/4 by 2 1/2
Box J 09042021
Weight 0 ounces