Battle of Wólka Weglowa
Encyclopedia
Battle of Wólka Węglowa refers to the battle on September 19, 1939, that took place near Wólka Węglowa (near Warsaw
), during the last stages of the Polish counteroffensive (battle of the Bzura
) of the Invasion of Poland
.
It was a cavalry
battle, as Polish Uhlan
cavalry (14th Jazłowiec Uhlan Regiment of Podolian Cavalry Brigade and elements of the 9th Lesser Polish Uhlans Regiment) retreating towards Warsaw
encountered German units. The commanding officer of the 14th Regiment, Col. Edward Godlewski gave orders to commence 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 initial strength).
The battle was witnessed and described by Italian war correspondent
Mario Appelius.
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
), during the last stages of the Polish counteroffensive (battle of the Bzura
Battle of the Bzura
The Battle of the Bzura was a battle in the opening campaign of World War II during the 1939 German invasion of Poland, fought between 9 and 19 September, 1939, between Polish and German forces...
) of the Invasion of Poland
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
.
It was a cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
battle, as Polish Uhlan
Uhlan
Uhlans were Polish light cavalry armed with lances, sabres and pistols. The title was later used by lancer regiments in the Russian, Prussian, and Austrian armies....
cavalry (14th Jazłowiec Uhlan Regiment of Podolian Cavalry Brigade and elements of the 9th Lesser Polish Uhlans Regiment) retreating towards Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
encountered German units. The commanding officer of the 14th Regiment, Col. Edward Godlewski gave orders to commence 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 initial strength).
The battle was witnessed and described by Italian war correspondent
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
Mario Appelius.