5th Infantry Division (Poland) - Polish September Campaign

Polish September Campaign

The division, without the 19th Infantry Regiment (which had been transferred to the Pomorze Army), was in early September 1939 transported to the area of the fortress of Modlin. This part of Poland was regarded as crucial in Polish defensive plans, because of the Wehrmacht's advance towards Warsaw from Eastern Prussia. The Division was ordered to hold such locations as Zegrze, suburbs of Modlin and the line of the Narew river.

First contact with the enemy took place in the night of September 11–12, when the Germans began crossing the Narew between Zegrze and Serock. Polish troops were trying to halt the Wehrmacht, but without success. On September 13, the enemy crossed the Narew near the village of Debe and quickly advanced towards Warsaw. Soon afterwards, the Division was destroyed and its remnants withdrew to the Polish capital.

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