Siege of Warsaw (1939)
The Siege of Warsaw in 1939 was a major battle during the opening stages of World War II. It took place from September 1 to September 28, 1939, as the German Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe surrounded and bombarded the Polish capital, Warsaw.
Background:
Following the German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, Polish forces retreated towards Warsaw. The city was initially defended by a relatively small garrison and hastily formed civilian militias. As the German advance continued, remnants of various Polish units, retreating from other fronts, converged on the capital.
The Siege:
The German forces, under the command of General Johannes Blaskowitz, encircled Warsaw by mid-September. They initiated a campaign of heavy aerial bombardment and artillery shelling, targeting both military installations and civilian areas. The intent was to break the city's morale and force a surrender. The Polish defenders, under the command of General Walerian Czuma and later General Juliusz Rómmel, put up a determined resistance, utilizing barricades, street fighting tactics, and the support of civilian volunteers. Despite limited supplies and facing overwhelming firepower, the Polish forces held out for nearly a month.
Key Events:
- September 8: The first German ground assault on Warsaw was repelled.
- September 10-15: Intensive German aerial bombardment caused widespread destruction and civilian casualties.
- September 16: General Rómmel took overall command of the defense.
- September 26: The Fort Czerniaków, a key defensive position, fell to the Germans.
- September 27: Facing dwindling supplies, mounting civilian casualties, and the realization that no significant Allied reinforcements would arrive, General Rómmel initiated surrender negotiations.
Surrender and Aftermath:
On September 28, 1939, the Polish forces in Warsaw officially surrendered. The city was occupied by the German Wehrmacht. The civilian population suffered immense losses, and Warsaw was subjected to systematic destruction and oppression during the subsequent German occupation. The heroic resistance of the Polish defenders, despite the ultimate defeat, became a symbol of Polish resilience during World War II. Thousands of Polish soldiers and civilians were taken prisoner, and many were later executed or sent to concentration camps. The siege marked the beginning of a dark chapter in Warsaw's history and the start of the long and brutal German occupation of Poland.