Battle of Kobryn - Definition and Overview

Battle of Kobryń was one of the battles of the Polish Defence War of 1939. It was fought between September 14 and September 17, 1939, between the German XIX Panzer Corps of general Heinz Guderian and the improvised Polish "Kobryń" Infantry Division of colonel Adam Epler. It was fought simultaneously to the Battle of Brześć Litewski.

Eve of the battle

For a detailed description of the situation prior to the battle see: Battle of Brześć

After breaking through the Polish defences in the Battle of Wizna, the German forces under general Heinz Guderian started to make their way towards Brześć, Kowel and Kobryń. Their aim was to cut the Polish territory in two parts and paralyse the Polish attempts to organise a line of defence east of the Bug River.

Battle

On September 14, 1939, the elements of the XIX Panzer Corps reached the area of Brześć and Kobryń. The earlier was defended by a small force under general Konstanty Plisowski. The latter was defended by the improvised 60th Infantry Division of colonel Adam Epler.

In the early morning of September 14, colonel Epler received a report of German forces entering the area. The elements of German XIX Panzer Corps (elements of 3^rd Panzer Division and entire 2^nd Motorised Infantry Division) were advancing rapidly and Epler suspected that the Germans would advance on the towns of Brześć and Kobryń, as well as on an important railway node located in the village of Żabinka. To probe the enemy forces, he ordered the 2^nd battalion of his 84^th Infantry Regiment to commence a delaying action in the area of Żabinka train station and the villages of Tewela and Ogrodniki. At the same time the 2^nd battalion of 83^rd Infantry Regiment was ordered to organise a defence line along the swampy shores of Trościanica river. This was to cover the eastern flank of the Polish forces in the area of Brześć, some 30 kilometres westwards.

On September 15, the German 3^rd Armoured Division encountered and destroyed a column of 9th reserve light artillery depot. However, Epler's forces were not spotted until late evening of that day, when it was bombarded by the Luftwaffe. The following day the main forces of German XIX Corps arrived. The 2^nd Battalion of 84^th Infantry Regiment together with an armoured train organised an ambush and attacked the Germans who were supported by a battery of artillery. After a short skirmish the Germans were forced to retreat, with significant casualties. The Polish battalion seized several guns and tanks, but had to burn them due to lack of fuel and then retreated towards the main line of Polish defences.

At dawn of September 17, 1939, the reconaissance units of the German 2^nd Motorised Infantry Division finally reached the Polish lines. After a short skirmish the Poles withdrew behind the defensive positions guarded by the 2^nd battalion of the 83^rd Infantry Regiment. The Germans then tried to outflank the Poles by attacking the cemetery in the village of Chwedkowice, but were repelled with light losses, mostly due to direct fire from the Polish 100mm howitzers. The 2^nd Motorised Division lost 3 or 4 armoured cars and was forced to retreat. The Polish battalion withdrew towards the village of Piaski, where it organised another ambush. In the afternoon it was again attacked by the elements of German 2^nd Motorised Division, but this assault was also repelled.

Overnight, the Polish forces fighting in the Battle of Brześć were withdrawn to the other side of the Bug and joined the forces of Independent Operational Group Polesie under general Franciszek Kleeberg. Elements of the Polish forces arrived at Kobryń, but the defence of the area lost much of its significance. Colonel Epler decided to defend the area as long as possible, and then retreat southwards, following the general Kleeberg's forces.