Battle of the Bzura
Near Kutno, along the Bzura River, west of Warsaw, Poland
What happened
The Polish Armies 'Poznań' and 'Pomorze' under Generals Tadeusz Kutrzeba and Władysław Bortnowski fought German armies under Johannes Blaskowitz and Walther von Reichenau. In September 1939, as Germany invaded Poland, Polish forces west of Warsaw launched a surprise counter-attack across the Bzura River and pushed the Germans back about 20 km. Germany then sent large forces against them from all sides. Some Polish units broke through the Kampinos Forest to reach Warsaw, and the rest surrendered.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the largest battle of the German invasion of Poland. The Polish attack delayed the German advance on Warsaw for several days and helped the city's defence.
What came next
German troops surrounded Warsaw and the fortress of Modlin. The Polish armies in the west had been destroyed, completing the German occupation of western Poland.
Did you know?
German commanders thought one of the Polish armies had been moved by train to Warsaw, so the counter-attack took them by surprise.
Timeline
- 1 September 1939Germany invades Poland.
- 9 September 1939The Polish counter-attack on the Bzura begins.
- 16 September 1939German forces attack from all sides.
- 19 September 1939The battle ends; some Polish units reach Warsaw.