June 20, 1936 Operation Dark Cloud.
The opening of the invasion was a success and achived complete suprise. Unlike traditional opening offensive, where hours of prep-bombardment preciedes an attack, this attack was opened with no such thing. Without warning, the tanks of the 1. Tankova Armada (Tank Army) launched an attack on the weakly held line of the Polish front. The focal point being the town of Przemysl, it's surrounding heights and open country behind it. This was the first crucial point of the offensive.
The Poles were caught un-prepared, some 580 tanks of the 1. Tankova Armada overan the Polish position without losing a single tank. Without stopping the amrored spearhead kept moving north to Sandomierz. Meanwhile on it's left flank, the 8 divisions of the 2nd strike force were moving north as well. But the polish were more prepared here. The infantry, being slower attacked 5 days later than the armored spearhead. So by that time, the Polish had moved in 2 more divisions and 2 more were spotted moving in as well. But the polish soldiers, most of them tired from marching into to possition were overwhelmed. They marched straight into battle, not rested. It was pure slaughter, hundreds were killed thousands wounded or taken prisoner. The Czech infantry broke through in the matter of hours.
By June 30th, the tanks of the 1. Tankova Armada reached Sandomierz. The way to the city was clear no resistence at all. It seemed as if the Polish had made a grave mistake and were paying it for it dearly. The tanks had to be ordered to halt for 2 days so that the infantry can catch up. Once the infantry caught up an attack was mounted into Lublin. A very important objective. Once this city was captured, the way to Warsaw would be open. The Poles knew this as well.
While the 1. Tankova Armada and 3rd Corps composed of 4 infantry divisions were advancing on Lublin, the infantry of the 1. Corps reached Czestochowa. Right along side it was the 3rd Corps, without stopping it wheeled east into Krakow, a major industrail city. The 6th Corps with 3 divisions also kept on going North-East towards Radom. With it's capture and the heights around it, artillery could be possitioned on it's height and shell warsaw. So far, resistence was light, but the Poles started responding quickly and moving troops from the north, to the south to meet the attack.
When the 1. Tankova Armada and and 3rd Corps reached Lublin, it was defended by 7 infantry divisions and 2 cavarly divisions. The Poles were determined to hold on to it. Their orders were intercepted by Czech listening post. 'Hold Lublin at all cost, fight to the last!'
This time the attack would be supported by close support aircraft, artillery and tanks. The Poles dug in and waited for the Czech troops to attack.
The attack was planned for early morning hours. The infantry divisions were the main thrust of the attack. Marek Krejci, who is in command of the Tank Army and the attack on Lublin planed out the attack, 'Two infantry divisions are to strike directly at the city of Lublin, the right most division is to seucre the right flank and advance north. The other last infantry division is to advance north and by-pass Lublin, the wheel west. At the same time, 2 armored divisions are to by-pass the city as well. One tank division is to strike at the city from the south-west and another to by-pass close to it and wheel east to meet the infantry division. This will cut-off the city from the outside and be under attack at the same time.'
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Rudolf was briefed on the battles each day, each hour. He wanted to know what was going on. He was confident that things would go well and Poland would be defeated, but at the same time was nervous. He was nervous about other countries intervening in the war. He was afraid the Soviets, the Germans or even France and Britian might intervene. That is why the war with Poland had to be over quick. Any defeat, or delay on the battle field ment a bigger chance another country might come to the aid of Poland.
Rudolf however, stayed completely out of the planning of the war and any orders. He felt and belived it was totally up to the Generals and Otto to wage war, plan battles and issue orders, not him. He stayed out of it.
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At 0700, after a hour prep bombardment by aircraft and artillery, the infantry and tanks left their start of possitions and advanced toward their objective. At first resistence was sporadic and ligt. But when the infantry reached with 8 kilometers of their objective a wall of bullets met them. The attack stalled, the soldiers were pinned, forced to the ground by the sheer amount fire power opposite them. The bombers had to be called in once more to supress the michine guns and direct fire guns. Also the tanks came in to support the infantry so as to get the attack moving again. Within an hour the infantry were advancing, but slowly as the defensive fire was still present.
The tanks however had no problem. A few were knocked out by mines and tank hunter teams but no enemy tanks or anti-tank gun managed to knock out a tank. The tank division just over-ran Polish defenses and sent the poles into a flight. Most surrendered without a fight. The tanks were doing so well, the one division was diverted to support the attack on Lublin itself.
Filip, in his command tank was leading the attack. He spotted Polish armored cars going straight for them. 'FOOL!' he thought, what can they hope do with those against our tanks. The answer was simple, nothing. But they were depserate. The Armored cars were knocked out before they even made it with 200 meters of Filips' tank. As they approached the city, another counter-attack by the Poles. This time with Cavalry. The 2 Cavalry divisions were sent into a counter-attack vs tank. Maddness was the only word for it. How are these horses and soldiers suppose to do anything against the tanks? It was slaughter once more. The horses were mowed down in the dozens. It was a gruesome scene.
At about 1530, the infantry entered the city of Lublin itself. Vicious house to house battle ensued. For 3 days, the Czech soldiers fought for every house, every street every block of the damn city. The tank division, the 3rd Tankova Diviza suffered heavy casualties as well. City fighting isn't meant for tanks, but they were needed for support. The division lost over half it's tanks and men. The city was taken after 4 days of fighting, but with heavy casualties.
'We lost over 4,000 soliders, and another 5000 or more wounded. This battle cost us dearly' reported Otto to Rudolf. But then again, it's war and a price is to be paid. On the other hand, it cost the poles over 50,000 dead, wounded or catpured. A few escaped, but the ones that did had no weapons, and were exhausted.
The Czech soldiers needed rest as well however, so for 3 days they were to remain at their possitions.
The tanks however were sent into action in the west. They were to help in the assault on Danzig first. Even though this was not in the original plan, things change during war. The Poles managed to mass 4 divisions in danzig and fortified the city in the process. With only 3 division marked for the attack on Danzig, this was not sufficient. So the tank divisions were brought in to secure a quick victory, so as to free up divisions for the attack on Warsaw. If Lublin was the introduction of things to come in Warsaw, the Czech soldiers were in for one hell of a battle.
