Charge at Krojanty

The Battle of Krojanty was part of the Polish September Campaign. The battle took place near Krojanty village (7km from the town of Chojnice, Pomorze) on 1st September 1939. It was one of the first battles of the Second World War. Polish cavalry acted as horse-mounted infantry. Elements of 18th Uhlans Regiment successfully attacked a German infantry battalion and delayed the German attack thus completing their mission. Later the cavalry was counterattacked by a German mechanized unit and forced to retreat.

Before the battle

Polish units were engaged in battle from around 0500 in the morning against German units (76 infantry pulk from 20 Motorised Infantry division under Lt.Gen. Wiktorian, which operated on the left (northern) flank of XIX Panzer Corps under Gen. Heinz Guderian).

Early in the battle Polish cavalry had intercepted German infantry moving towards Gdansk and succesfully stopped their progress.

Around 0800 Germans broke through Polish Border Guard units south of the Polish cavalry, which forced the Polish units in the area to begin retreat toward a secondary defence line at the Brda river.

The battle of Krojanty

18. Pułk Ułanów Pomorskich was ordered to cover this retreat and the resulting actions are known as the Battle of Krojanty. Polish cavalry surprised German infatry units and forced them to reteat. In turn, the cavalry was counterattacked by a German mechanized unit and forced to retreat itself, but the primary objective has been achieved, as Polish infantry defending nearby Chojnice village (1. Baonow Strzelców and baon ON "Czersk") were able to retreat safely.

In addition, this cavalry attack caused widespread panic among local German units (20 Motorised Infantry division) which delayed their offensive and forced them to consider a tactical retreat. This was however prevented by personal intervention of Gen. Guderian.

Aftermath

On 2nd September the Polish cavalry unit (18 Pulk) was decorated by Gen. Grzmot-Skotnicki with his own Virtuti Militari for valor shown in this combat.

Opposing forces

File:18 pulk ulanow pomorskich 1939.jpg

18th Pomeranian Uhlans Regiment

Structure:

Poland

• Army Pomorze under Gen. Władysława Bortnowski
  • Zgrupowanie "Chojnice" under Col. Tadeusz Majewski
    • Pomorska Brygada Kawalerii under Gen. Stanisław Grzmot-Skotnicki
      • units of 18. Pułk Ułanów Pomorskich
        • 1. and 2. szwadron, single pluton from 3. i 4. szwadron

German

• XIX Panzer Corps
  • 20 Motorised Infantry division under Lt.Gen. Wiktorian
    • 76 infantry pulk

On cavalry use and myths

German propaganda used this battle to ridicule Polish forces, depicting them as having 'charged tanks with cavalry'.

"Contrary to German and Italian propaganda, Polish cavalry brigades never charged tanks with their sabres or lances as they were equipped with anti-tank weapons such as 37mm Bofors wz.36 (exported to UK as Ordnance Q.F. 37mm Mk I) anti-tank guns, that could penetrate 26mm armour at 600m at 30 degrees. The cavalry brigades were in the process of being reorganized into motorized brigades."

Another weapon was anti-tank rifle model 1935 (karabin przeciwpancerny wz. 35). Its caliber was 7.92 mm and it could penetrate 15mm armor at 300m at 30 degrees.

External links

• Invasion of Poland (Fall Weiss) by George Parada
• Quote refrence
• Detailed account of the battle in Polish

[[1]]- this is a part of internet site town Grudziądz which is about zentre of cavalery school which before II war world was placed there. In Grudziądz were placed 18th uhlans regiment