The Battle of Wólka Węglowa (Polish: Bitwa pod Wólką Węglową) was a battle near Wólka Węglowa (near Warsaw) on September 19, 1939, during the last stages of the Polish counteroffensive (Battle of the Bzura) of the Invasion of Poland.[1]
| Battle of Wólka Węglowa | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Invasion of Poland | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Poland |
 Germany | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Edward Godlewski |
Hans Schuber | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
2 cavalry regiments (1,000 men) | 2,300 men and 37 tanks | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
105 killed 100 wounded |
52 killed 70 wounded | ||||||
Outcome
The battle of Wólka Węglowa was a cavalry battle, as Polish Uhlan cavalry (14th Regiment of Jazlowiec Uhlans of Podolska Cavalry Brigade and elements of the 9th Regiment of Lesser Poland Uhlans) retreating towards Warsaw encountered German units. The commanding officer of the 14th Regiment, Col. Edward Godlewski ordered a cavalry charge. German infantry was taken by surprise, but machine guns and tanks hidden nearby opened fire on the cavalry. Eventually Polish units broke through towards Warsaw, as intended, but at the cost of heavy losses (105 killed, 100 wounded - about 20% of their initial strength).
The battle was witnessed and described by the Italian war correspondent Mario Appelius.
See also
References
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