Battle of Kock
Kock, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland
What happened
Polish forces of the Independent Operational Group Polesie under General Franciszek Kleeberg fought the German XIV Motorized Corps. Kleeberg's group fought German forces in the forests north-west of Kock for four days, winning some local fights. Surrounded and short of ammunition and food, Kleeberg agreed a ceasefire, and his group surrendered on 6 October.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the last battle of the invasion of Poland. The surrender of the last regular Polish units ended the September Campaign.
What came next
The surrender took place at the Jabłonowski Palace in Kock. Kleeberg is buried in the town's military cemetery beside his soldiers.
Did you know?
The German commander thought a single battalion would be enough to disarm the Polish troops, but the fighting lasted several days.
Timeline
- 1770The Jabłonowski Palace is built in Kock.
- 2-5 October 1939The Battle of Kock.
- 6 October 1939The Polish group surrenders.