Losses of the battalion were 5 tanks irrecoverably lost, 5+ damaged, 4 KIA, 9 MIA, 10 WIA, 2 ammo/fuel cars destroyed. In combats near Piotrkow on 5 September Polish 2nd light tank battalion was credited with knocking out 15 - 16 tanks and armoured vehicles, destroying 2 AT guns and 6 motor vehicles and capturing ca. What is interesting Polish sources mention that POWs taken near Tomaszow on 18 September during investigation said that they didn't know anything about the fact that France and England declared war on Germany.

Compared to strength of attackers, German defence was strong. Their attack, outpacing infantry yet on medium distance (700 m.) and rousing it to fast advance, brought some success against a weak line of own guards and a widely over-extended defence.' Only at Tomaszow tanks were used in larger number. 'Wherever Polish tanks appeared - it was in smallest units of platoon, at most company, strength. wrote about experiences with Polish armour in the campaign: forced the Poles to withdraw.Ĭommander of 4. was - in good part - successful, but the subsequent flanking counter attack of Panzer-Brigade (less one battalion) of 2. At Tomaszow the attack against AT defence and tanks of 4. The Polish attack at Piotrkow was initially successful but ultimately halted by AT defence and tank reinforcements.

Other tanks vs tanks skirmishes involved smaller units (most often platoon-sized) on the Polish side. Majewski (from Warsaw Armoured-Motorized Brigade) near Tomaszow Lubelski on 18 September against tanks of German 4. Pz.Div.).Ģnd were combats of tanks from improvised armoured grouping of mjr. In Poland in 1939 there were only two tanks vs tanks battles involving battalion-sized units on the Polish side.ġst was counterattack of 2nd light tank battalion near Piotrkow on 5 September (vs tanks of 1.

Tank battles of wwii