27th Infantry Division (Poland)

The 27th Infantry Division was a unit of the Polish Army that fought during the Invasion of Poland in 1939. It was part of the Pomorze Army, responsible for defending the Polish Corridor against German attack.

The division was commanded by General Juliusz Drapella. It was composed primarily of conscripts and reservists, characteristic of many Polish units mobilized in the face of the impending German offensive. Its equipment was often outdated and training levels varied widely.

The 27th Infantry Division was tasked with defending a significant section of the Corridor, facing the brunt of the German attack by elements of the 4th Army under General Günther von Kluge. Fighting was intense, and the division, hampered by inferior equipment and German air superiority, suffered heavy casualties.

After initial defensive engagements, the division was forced to retreat, often in a disorganized manner, under constant German pressure. It participated in several counterattacks, but these were largely unsuccessful due to the overwhelming German military superiority.

The 27th Infantry Division was eventually encircled and largely destroyed during the Battle of the Bzura, a major Polish counteroffensive designed to relieve pressure on Warsaw. Some elements of the division managed to escape the encirclement and continue fighting, but the unit effectively ceased to exist as a cohesive fighting force by late September 1939.

The division's sacrifice, although ultimately unsuccessful, contributed to slowing the German advance and bought valuable time for other Polish units to prepare their defenses. Its story is representative of the difficulties faced by the Polish Army in confronting the technologically superior and better-prepared Wehrmacht.