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"One thought dominated all others: to hold out for as long as possible.
Our mission: to hold back the German advance through the mountain passes towards Myślenice and Dobczyce, and thus prevent the Germans entering the open plains to the north."
- #Maczek, 1.XI.1939
#WW2
"One thought dominated all others: to hold out for as long as possible.
Our mission: to hold back the German advance through the mountain passes towards Myślenice and Dobczyce, and thus prevent the Germans entering the open plains to the north."
- #Maczek, 1.XI.1939
#WW2
2/
In October 1938, Colonel Maczek, as he was then, was given command of the 10th Cavalry Brigade - the only fully motorised Polish unit.
"I will tolerate your & #39;bravado& #39;," he told his men on his first inspection, " but only if it is redeemed in blood on the field of battle."
In October 1938, Colonel Maczek, as he was then, was given command of the 10th Cavalry Brigade - the only fully motorised Polish unit.
"I will tolerate your & #39;bravado& #39;," he told his men on his first inspection, " but only if it is redeemed in blood on the field of battle."
3/
His brigade was built around the 24th Lancers and 10th Mounted Rifles regiments. It was supported by anti-tank guns, motorcycles, tankettes, a battalion of Vickers tanks - "the unit was extremely flexible, but would it be strong enough?"
...
His brigade was built around the 24th Lancers and 10th Mounted Rifles regiments. It was supported by anti-tank guns, motorcycles, tankettes, a battalion of Vickers tanks - "the unit was extremely flexible, but would it be strong enough?"
...
4/
On the 1st September, however, "we were like a wasp which had lost its sting" - the new reservists were poorly trained, and the new & #39;bells and whistles& #39; Vickers which had been promised were replaced by a handful of older tanks which had been previously used for training.
On the 1st September, however, "we were like a wasp which had lost its sting" - the new reservists were poorly trained, and the new & #39;bells and whistles& #39; Vickers which had been promised were replaced by a handful of older tanks which had been previously used for training.
5/
"Thus from the outset, the brigade was short of a third of its artillery, two-thirds of its tanks - so a good half of its offensive capabilities."
In mid-August, Maczek& #39;s brigade was assigned to Army Krakow. On the 29th, he completed a survey of the Nowy Targ region.
...
"Thus from the outset, the brigade was short of a third of its artillery, two-thirds of its tanks - so a good half of its offensive capabilities."
In mid-August, Maczek& #39;s brigade was assigned to Army Krakow. On the 29th, he completed a survey of the Nowy Targ region.
...
6/
The build up of troops on the Polish border indicated an invasion was likely, but the ferocity of the attack "took everyone by surprise".
"A strong German motorised armoured unit" (nothing else was known at this point) advanced through the mountains - to Nowy Targ & Chabowa.
The build up of troops on the Polish border indicated an invasion was likely, but the ferocity of the attack "took everyone by surprise".
"A strong German motorised armoured unit" (nothing else was known at this point) advanced through the mountains - to Nowy Targ & Chabowa.
7/
The sector was defended by two battalions of the Border Defence force, supported by a battery of artillery, and units of the National Defence Force.
"Full of fighting spirit, they were empty-handed. Too old or too young..." and lacking a sufficient number of anti-tank guns.
The sector was defended by two battalions of the Border Defence force, supported by a battery of artillery, and units of the National Defence Force.
"Full of fighting spirit, they were empty-handed. Too old or too young..." and lacking a sufficient number of anti-tank guns.
8/
I gave Skibiński orders to place the brigade& #39;s anti-tank guns at the head of the column, and proceeded at full speed to liaise with Wojcik, commander of the Border Defence force."
During this journey, Maczek had time to reflect on the "tragedy" befalling Poland.
...
I gave Skibiński orders to place the brigade& #39;s anti-tank guns at the head of the column, and proceeded at full speed to liaise with Wojcik, commander of the Border Defence force."
During this journey, Maczek had time to reflect on the "tragedy" befalling Poland.
...
9/
Like families across Poland, his family had made plans in advance - he had arranged that his wife ("my valiant companion") would take their young children to their farm in Volhynie.
On the road which led to Zakopane, his thoughts turned to childhood holidays, and skiing.
Like families across Poland, his family had made plans in advance - he had arranged that his wife ("my valiant companion") would take their young children to their farm in Volhynie.
On the road which led to Zakopane, his thoughts turned to childhood holidays, and skiing.
10/
At noon, he received reports from Skibiński - the brigade had succeeded in holding back the German advance; they had destroyed German tanks and held the key position of Mount Wysoka.
The next day, the Germans tanks were forced to withdraw under concentrated artillery fire.
At noon, he received reports from Skibiński - the brigade had succeeded in holding back the German advance; they had destroyed German tanks and held the key position of Mount Wysoka.
The next day, the Germans tanks were forced to withdraw under concentrated artillery fire.
11/
"The Polish forces sustained heavy losses. Several of our smaller anti-tank guns had been destroyed by enemy tanks. Zmudzinski, commander of a motorised artillery group, was killed.
The German losses were more important than ours, however: we had held out for two days."
"The Polish forces sustained heavy losses. Several of our smaller anti-tank guns had been destroyed by enemy tanks. Zmudzinski, commander of a motorised artillery group, was killed.
The German losses were more important than ours, however: we had held out for two days."
12/
"The Polish soldiers& #39; morale was reinvigorated:
They were convinced that they could defeat the Germans, and defeat them well."
"The Polish soldiers& #39; morale was reinvigorated:
They were convinced that they could defeat the Germans, and defeat them well."
Images from this rather wonderful graphic novel - with CD...
