The battle of Mokra - Cavalry Brig. vs Panzer Div.

From "Sensations of XX century" series by Bogusław Wołoszański - "The battle of Mokra - strength of cavalry" video:

"During the September Campaign of 1939 cavalry became the symbol of bravery of Poland - the first state which did not surrender to the enemy. Maybe that it is why for half of the XX century - when Poland was ruled by communists - this symbol was being destroyed and slandered. Bravery, patriotism, the greatest combat values were recognized as symptom of weakness of the II Republic of Poland.

The battle of Mokra - strength of cavalry":

Part 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7unltr-cTw8

Part 2:

„[...] Cavalry formations were present in every army of then Europe. Mobility, discipline, ability of moving in terrain inaccessible for tanks and cars – these were trumps of Polish horse formations. Rich countries were increasing strength of cavalry units by equipping them with AFVs, AA and AT weapons. Process of retiring cavalry from armed forces – replacing horses with machines – was gradual. Poland was also doing it – within capacities of the state which regained its independence 20 years ago, after previous one hundred years of captivity. [...]”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKE8JR3bYGw

Part 3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-gjMqNfSBo

Part 4:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDB-d_yNr-Q

Part 5:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J92xHav-U8

"[...] During the first days of September 1939 the French Air Force scattered over Germany more than 5 millions of leaflets - which were making a fool of Hitler and informing the German society that their leaders are corrupted and dishonest. [...]"

"[...] Polish cavalry was showing its strength.

Never during the September Campaign cavalrymen were attacking on horses the German or Soviet tanks and other armoured cars. They were eliminating them by fire of artillery, AT guns and AT rifles. They were charging there, where it had got sense. Against supply columns, against running away infantry, against artillery positions. If actions of cavalry – which was losing battles because it had got not enough AT weapons and – especcialy – AA weapons – had been supported better by other formations, had been supported better by manoeuvres of other units – situation in Poland would have looked differently, the war in Poland would have lasted longer, forcing our allies to fulfil their obligations.

The awareness only remained, that cavalry – performed its duty.

THE END"

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Wołyńska Cavalry Brigade eliminated around 80 - 90 German tanks (and many other AFVs) during the battle of Mokra, more than 20 of them (tanks only) - most probably around 25 - 30 of them (including 14 in Panzer-Regiment 35. - according to Oberstleutnant Eberbach) - were "Totalshaden".

I don't have any exact data about casualties of Panzer-Regiment 36. (I think that I have got it somewhere but now I can't find it anywhere - maybe I will manage to find it later), but Panzer-Regiment 35. lost most probably around 45 tanks during the battle of Mokra - including - according to memories of Oberstleutnant Eberbach - its commander - and according to ww2 day by day - 14 as "Totalshaden". Oberstleutnant Eberbach also wrote in his memories that his regiment lost 29 men from tank crews KIA and WIA during the battle of Mokra - including 14 KIA and 15 WIA.

On 8th / 9th of September - soon before the failed attack on Warsaw - Panzer-Regiment 35. had got 120 tanks operational (once again according to Eberbach - this number is also repeated by ww2 day by day site) out of the initial amount of 177 - 185 tanks (different sources give a bit different numbers) - so 57 - 65 tanks fewer than on 31st of August. Of them around 45 are losses due to the battle of Mokra - and the remaining casualties are mainly from the battle of Tomaszów Mazowiecki - Piotrków Trbunalski 5. - 6. IX 1939 - and also combats of this regiment in the battle of Borowskie Mountains, combats near Radomsko, and Polish bombardments of XVI Panzerkorps by the Bombers Brigade - and also other, smaller skirmishes, which were fought by the tanks of this regiment during their battle-route towards Warsaw - provided they suffered any casualties in those skirmishes.

High scores with artillery guns and AT guns during the battle of Mokra:

I know three Polish soldiers who became Anti-Tank aces during the battle of Mokra:

Surname / name / rank / unit / victories / short description:

Żłób, Leonard - corporal (3 battery of 2. horse artillery dyon) - 14 victories (tanks) by direct fire from 75mm type 02/26 field cannon - in the combat between buildings of Mokra II and Mokra III - during the German attack in strength of over 80 tanks which beginned around 12:00. Leonard Żłób was awarded with Virtuti Militari cross for this combat.

Suski, Jan - corporal (AT platoon of 2. horse rifle regiment) - 8 victories (tanks and AFVs) by direct fire of 37mm type 36 AT gun - during the combat near the railway near Mokra II (while repulsing the German attack which started around 15:00).

Kawiak, Jan - uhlan (AT platoon of 12. uhlans regiment) - several victories (tanks) by 37mm type 36 AT gun - during the combat at the forest clearing near the railway, while fighting with attacking German tanks from his well-hidden position under the railway viaduct. Immediately after succesfully repulsing the German attack he was promoted by lieutenant colonel Kuczek to the rank of older uhlan (in Polish: starszy ułan).

Here are some photos of tanks eliminated during the battle of Mokra:









There were some battles during the Polish Campaign, which were more "bloody" and also a number of battles which were as "bloody" as the battle of Mokra for the German tanks.

But probably in any of those battles which were more "bloody" than the battle of Mokra for the German tanks, the Germans didn't lost - during only one day - as many tanks eliminated as were eliminated in the battle of Mokra during only one day (so around 80 - 90 tanks eliminated).

the battle of Tomaszów Mazowiecki - Piotrków Trbunalski 5. - 6. IX 1939

It is estimated that up to 30% of all German armour casualties in this battle were suffered by 4. Panzer-Division - the majority of them were casualties of its Panzer-Regiment 36. The vast majority of the remaining 70+% of German armour casualties in this battle were suffered by 1. Panzer-Division.

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German tank crewman from Panzer-Regiment 36. - Hartie Effenberg - in his memories wrote about his involvement in the battle of Mokra:

"We crossed the German-Polish border after 12:00; probably in third or fourth wave. Our unit stopped in Wilkowiecko and was waiting for further orders. (...) From the battlefield to Wilkowiecko they were constantly bringing wounded soldiers, it was the first time I saw such severely burned people. I had got some bad misgivings, I was scared. (...) Then the order to fight came. I prayed to God to protect me. I started. (...) Everything around me was burning, tanks crashed during the morning attack were smoking, ruins of houses were burning out. Only small church remained and that small church - among oaks - I could see in my viewfinder on the right, when our tank - driving at full speed, shooting from the gun - crashed a Polish tankette. (...) We received enemy machinegun fire - but ineffective - on our armour. (...) The commander - Kurt Scheele - was constantly pressing the loader, we were conducting a constant fire from both our machineguns and gun towards shooting to us from the right side enemy battery [...]"

After a moment Effenberg's tank was blocked between two other eliminated German AFVs and soon after that it received a side hit from the Polish gun. The commander of the tank - Kurt Sheele - managed to open the manhole and pull out heavily wounded Hartie Effenberg (he lost his leg) from the tank - but soon he (Kurt Sheele) was killed. Hartie Effenberg survived the battle.


Edited by Domen - 06-Dec-2008 at 16:49

Never during the September Campaign cavalrymen were attacking on horses the German or Soviet tanks and other armoured cars. but vice versa.

Yes - you are right ;) ... of course ...

By the way - I didn't manage to find this video in English (usually there are also English versions of such interesting videos on You Tube - but not this time). Sorry for not translating the whole video from Polish to English - but - wow - that's a lot of work to translate the whole video (it is 50 minutes long). I don't have so much time at the moment - maybe later.

I hope you will enjoy it anyway ;).

Here there are also some fragments of that film by Bogusław Wołoszański:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R-Qb066luQ


Edited by Domen - 05-Dec-2008 at 18:56

Do you have any pics of polish cavalry?