Battle of Modlin

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Battle of Modlin

Part of Invasion of Poland (1939)

Ruins of the southern bridgehead

Date	September 13 to September 29, 1939
Location	Modlin village, Modlin Fortress
Result	German victory

Combatants

Commanders

Adolf Strauss

Werner Kempf

Strength

40,000 men (peak)
96 guns
7 TK-3 tankettes
Armoured train "Śmierć"

4 infantry divisions
2nd Light Division
Panzer Division Kempf
100 aircraft [1]

Casualties

1,300 KIA
4,000 WIA
35,000 captured

Unknown

Invasion of Poland
Westerplatte – Danzig – The Border - Krojanty – Lasy Królewskie – Mokra – Gdańsk Bay – Pszczyna – Mława – Tuchola Forest – Jordanów – Borowa Góra – Mikołów – Węgierska Górka – Tomaszów Mazowiecki – Wizna – Łódź – Przemyśl – Piotrków – Różan – Radom – Łomża – Wola Cyrusowa – Warsaw – Gdynia – Hel – Bzura – Jarosław – Kałuszyn – Węgrów – Wilno – Lwów – Modlin – Kobryń – Brześć – Kępa Oksywska – Tomaszów Lubelski – Wólka Węglowa – Kampinos Forest – Janów, Wereszyca, and Hołosko – Krasnystaw – Grodno – Cześniki – Krasnobród – Władypol – Szack – Wytyczno – Parczew – Kock

During the Invasion of Poland at the beginning of the Second World War, Modlin Fortress was a headquarters of the Modlin Army until it retreated eastwards. From September 13 to September 29, 1939 it was defended by Polish forces under the command of general Wiktor Thommée against assaulting German units. During that time, the fighting was closely connected with the strategic situation of the Battle of Warsaw.

Among Polish forces defending the fortress was the armoured train 'Śmierć' (death). Modlin anti-aircraft battery was the one that shot down the most Luftwaffe planes in September. Modlin capitulated on September 29, as one of the last Polish units to remain operational during the campaign.