Battle of Modlin

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Modlin


caption=Ruins of the southern bridgehead
partof=Invasion of Poland (1939)
date=September 13 to September 29, 1939
place=Modlin village, Modlin Fortress
result=German victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=40,000 men (peak)
96 guns
7 TK-3 tankettes
Armoured train "Śmierć"
strength2=4 infantry divisions
2nd Light Division
Panzer Division Kempf
100 aircraft [http://www.1939.pl/bitwy/modlin.htm]
casualties1=1,300 KIA
4,000 WIA
35,000 captured
casualties2=Unknown

The Battle of Modlin took place during the German invasion of Poland at the beginning of the Second World War. Modlin Fortress was initially the headquarters of the Modlin Army until its retreat eastwards. From September 13 to September 29 in 1939 it served as a defensive citadel for Polish forces under the command of General Wiktor Thommée against assaulting German units. This fighting was closely linked with the strategic situation of the Battle of Warsaw.

The Polish forces defending the fortress included the armoured train 'Śmierć' (death), and the Modlin anti-aircraft battery was credited with shooting down more Luftwaffe planes than any other in the entire September campaign.

Fortress Modlin capitulated on September 29, one of the last to lay down its arms in the campaign.

External links

* [http://geoengine.nima.mil/muse-cgi-bin/rast_roam.cgi?exttype=1&outputfile=roamoutput1112185964_31701.png&same_level=yes++++&oldproduct_level=DOI+10M&oldcenlat=52.4337829017477&oldcenlon=20.6732259114583&oldzoom=1&olddata_level=10M&oldisize=901&oldcoordtype=dd&oldhgttype=egmft&same_level=&olddbdbv_level=5&world_overview_x_org=-180.0&world_overview_file=world_overview_1112185976_7255.png&isize=901&zoom=1&cenlat=52.4337829017477&cenlon=20.6732259114583&coordtype=dd&cenht=139.596&hgttype=egmft&product_level=DOI+10M&bounds_feature_name=&enhntype=1&enhnstddev=&RoamLL.x=538&RoamLL.y=492&RoamLL=RoamLL&pixmove=1&gnsname=&gnscountry_code= Modlin fortress as seen from a satellite] - green cross marks the southern bridgehead pictured above