Battle of Warsaw (January 1945)

Battle of World War II

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The Battle of Warsaw was a battle took place on January 16–17, 1945 for Warsaw, during the Vistula-Oder offensive of World War II.

## Description[edit]

On January 14, 1945, the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front began the Warsaw operation, which was part of the Vistula-Oder operation. The 61st Army from the Warka-Magnuszew bridgehead , the 47th Army on January 15 from the Jabłonna area to Leszno and the 2nd Panzer Army from the Warka area to Grójec.The First Polish Army was in its second phase until January 17. The operation plan envisaged the outflanking of the Warsaw German group near Błonie.

## Attack[edit]

On January 16, at 3 p.m., after receiving information about the Germans retreating from Warsaw, the 2nd Infantry Division attacked Kępa Kiełpińska from the Jabłonna area , captured the bridgehead and began moving towards the northern districts of left-bank Warsaw. At the end of the day, the units of the 2nd Infantry Division reached the border: Dąbrowa, Pancerz, Buraków Mały. he 1st Cavalry Brigade crossed the Vistula River in the Karczew area and captured the bridgehead. Until the 16 January 1945, the 1st Army of the Polish Army held defensive positions from Jablonna to Karczew as part of a plan to outflank the German forces near Błonie. The 1st Army was to launch an offensive on 17 January, aiming to close the encirclement and liberate Warsaw. The 1st Byelorussian Front concentrated its strike on Błonie, posing a threat to the German defenses. The defense of Warsaw, led by Generalmajor Hellmuth Eisenstuck, involved ad hoc forces organized into the Fortress Division Warsaw,[a] supported by the 46th Panzer Corps, the 391st Security Division, and the 236th Infantry Division.

The defense of Warsaw consisted of two rings: an outer ring of 44 km and an inner ring of 19 km. On 28 September 1944, Warsaw was declared a stronghold by the Wehrmacht High Command (OKH) and was incorporated into the Vistula defense system. The 1st Polish Army's shock grouping played a crucial role in the planned offensive.On the night of January 16-17, the main forces of the 1st Polish Army crossed the western bank of the Vistula in the section between Góra Kalwaria and Magnuszew and at dawn they launched an attack on Warsaw. At night, the 6th Infantry Division launched an attack from Praga, crossing the Vistula River and driving the Germans out of the center. Around 10:00 the 2nd Infantry Division joined the fight in the city and joined the 6th Infantry Division in the Saxon Garden area. Until 4:00 p.m. Warsaw was free. On the evening of January 17, the main forces of the 1st Polish Army, attacking from the west and south, reached the city.

## Aftermath[edit]

The losses of the 1st Polish Army in the capture of Warsaw amounted to 275 killed, missing and wounded, including about 110 killed, including about 60 from mines . During the entire Warsaw operation, the 1st Polish Army lost 10,537 soldiers, including 3,116 killed.By decree of November 21, 1945, Council of Ministers established the Medal for Warsaw 1939–1945 , which was awarded to approximately 135,000 people. The awarding of the medal ended on May 8, 1999. The Medal "For the Liberation of Warsaw" was established by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 9, 1945 . It was awarded to 628,000 Soviet and Polish people. The Soviet authorities gave the title "Warsaw" to 70 Soviet and 12 Polish tactical formations and units. It was awarded to 628,000 Soviet and Polish people. The Soviet authorities gave the title "Warsaw" to 70 Soviet and 12 Polish tactical formations and units.

The fights of Polish soldiers for Warsaw were commemorated on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, with the inscription on one of the plaques after 1945: „WARSZAWA 16–17 I 1945”.

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ 9 infantry battalions, three fortress machine gun battalions, two artillery divisions and a mortar division, about 14,000 soldiers, 476 machine guns and about 300 guns and mortars.

## References[edit]

* Mała Encyklopedia Wojskowa tom 2 i 3, Wydawnictwo MON, Warszawa 1970 i 1971

## External Links[edit]

Warszawa wolna [1] in the National Film Archive Digital Repository database.