Uprising. SS-Obergruppenführer and polizeigeneralen Erich von dem Bach opposed this decision with the argument that his pacification troop was already weak. The order, however, continued in force. In addition, the 1131st Grenadier-Brigade was put under the operational command of the severely mauled 3rd SS-Panzer-Division âTotenkopfâ in the defence of WoÅomin.
A tracked assault-gun StuG 40 Ausf. G from SS-Panzer-Division âTotenkopfâ or the 5th SS-Panzer-Division âWikingâ waiting in ambush in the vicinity of Warsaw, in August 1944.
At this time, new operational plans were meanwhile being drawn up in Moscow dealing with, among other things, the fighting in central Poland. It was a cheerless satisfaction Zjukov felt when, as he had foreseen, the weakened force of Soviet attacks now began to be clearly evident. Soviet forces continued to fight hard, but the officers at Soviet headquarters knew that a breakthrough in the German frontline along the Wisla was not going to be achieved in the immediate future. To all appearances, Stalin was not concerned about this. The Soviet dictator was now completely focused on the Balkans where the 2nd and the 3rd Ukrainian Fronts were poised to launch a new strategic offensive. He also wanted to strike against East Prussia and decide the battle for control of the Baltic States. Zjiukov informed him that it was necessary to carry out a reorganization of several armies and to give them new objectives. Moreover, it was necessary to concentrate large amounts of supplies and reinforcements to the Balkans and this would primarily be at the expense of Konev and Rokossovskijâs armies. Stalin did not debate the viewpoints of his ârepresentatives.â And on August 20, the 1st Belorussian Front and the 4th Guards Cavalry Corps were already on their way south. This had, to some significant degree, an impact on the battles for Warsaw since, on that sector of the front which these forces had up until then occupied; there now remained only the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps. Clearly, this weakened the combat strength of the forces storming the Warsaw region.
Two Panther tanks from the 3rd SS- Panzer- Division âTotenkopfâ advance towards the enemy, Warsaw district, August 1944. (Leandoer & Ekholm archive)
The issue of the Warsaw Uprising was dealt with separately. Stalin was surprised that the insurgent opposition had lasted so long. For the Germans, who had primarily regular troops along the front, it was increasingly apparent that they did not have enough combat strength to quickly regain control of the city. According to Stalin, Marshal Rokossovskij should not, as yet, attack Praga itself, but instead concentrate his focus on liquidating the enemy in the WoÅomin-Wyszków region. Obviously, the most important objective of his frontline for the immediate future was to continue to maintain and even expand the troop positions along the Wisla. Likewise, the 2nd Army should be smashed and the Narew crossed.
The final days of August constituted a period of seldom-seen, brutally intensive fighting. Soviet pressure on the IV SS-Panzer-Corps let up on August 20, which immediately resulted in German counterattacks. The local counteroffensives which the 3rd SS-Panzer-Division âTotenkopfâ and the 5th SS-Panzer-Division âWikingâ conducted were aimed to âeven outâ the frontline between Radzymin and Wyszków: This, because the 70th Army in earlier fighting had managed to carve troublesome pockets between various districts of defence. On August 21, the tank grenadiers (from the 3rd SS-Panzer-Division âTotenkopfâ and the 5th SS-Panzer-Division âWikingâ) led counter-attacks to regain control of the main road to BiaÅystok, which temporarily removed the risk that both Waffen-SS tank divisions would be separated from one other. Although the SS-soldiersâ tanks and anti-tank guns caused incredible losses in
A tracked assault-gun StuG 40 Ausf. G from SS-Panzer-Division âTotenkopfâ or the 5th SS-Panzer-Division âWikingâ waiting in ambush in the vicinity of Warsaw, in August 1944.
At this time, new operational plans were meanwhile being drawn up in Moscow dealing with, among other things, the fighting in central Poland. It was a cheerless satisfaction Zjukov felt when, as he had foreseen, the weakened force of Soviet attacks now began to be clearly evident. Soviet forces continued to fight hard, but the officers at Soviet headquarters knew that a breakthrough in the German frontline along the Wisla was not going to be achieved in the immediate future. To all appearances, Stalin was not concerned about this. The Soviet dictator was now completely focused on the Balkans where the 2nd and the 3rd Ukrainian Fronts were poised to launch a new strategic offensive. He also wanted to strike against East Prussia and decide the battle for control of the Baltic States. Zjiukov informed him that it was necessary to carry out a reorganization of several armies and to give them new objectives. Moreover, it was necessary to concentrate large amounts of supplies and reinforcements to the Balkans and this would primarily be at the expense of Konev and Rokossovskijâs armies. Stalin did not debate the viewpoints of his ârepresentatives.â And on August 20, the 1st Belorussian Front and the 4th Guards Cavalry Corps were already on their way south. This had, to some significant degree, an impact on the battles for Warsaw since, on that sector of the front which these forces had up until then occupied; there now remained only the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps. Clearly, this weakened the combat strength of the forces storming the Warsaw region.
Two Panther tanks from the 3rd SS- Panzer- Division âTotenkopfâ advance towards the enemy, Warsaw district, August 1944. (Leandoer & Ekholm archive)
The issue of the Warsaw Uprising was dealt with separately. Stalin was surprised that the insurgent opposition had lasted so long. For the Germans, who had primarily regular troops along the front, it was increasingly apparent that they did not have enough combat strength to quickly regain control of the city. According to Stalin, Marshal Rokossovskij should not, as yet, attack Praga itself, but instead concentrate his focus on liquidating the enemy in the WoÅomin-Wyszków region. Obviously, the most important objective of his frontline for the immediate future was to continue to maintain and even expand the troop positions along the Wisla. Likewise, the 2nd Army should be smashed and the Narew crossed.
The final days of August constituted a period of seldom-seen, brutally intensive fighting. Soviet pressure on the IV SS-Panzer-Corps let up on August 20, which immediately resulted in German counterattacks. The local counteroffensives which the 3rd SS-Panzer-Division âTotenkopfâ and the 5th SS-Panzer-Division âWikingâ conducted were aimed to âeven outâ the frontline between Radzymin and Wyszków: This, because the 70th Army in earlier fighting had managed to carve troublesome pockets between various districts of defence. On August 21, the tank grenadiers (from the 3rd SS-Panzer-Division âTotenkopfâ and the 5th SS-Panzer-Division âWikingâ) led counter-attacks to regain control of the main road to BiaÅystok, which temporarily removed the risk that both Waffen-SS tank divisions would be separated from one other. Although the SS-soldiersâ tanks and anti-tank guns caused incredible losses in
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