The German Plan
The Germans decided to move in immediately after a series of barrages from the battleship Sschleswig-Holstein. The Marine Sturnikompanie was divided into two sections and given two separate objectives. The larger force was to use high explosives to blow a section of the port wall open and then seize an ammo dump building close to that wall. Meanwhile other marines were to approach the main docking facility by rubber rafts and land there and move inland. The rest of the German attack would center on the main railroad entrance into the port where both the Landespolezei and the Heimwehr SS would travel parallel the railway tracks into the middle of the Polish defenses then attack specific interior objectives. This three pronged assault - it was hoped - would cause the Poles to collapse.
The Polish Plan
Being heavily outnumbered with little hope of relief the Poles opted to simply spread out and defend the best strongpoints they could within the Westerplatte. From secret firing positions the idea was to wait out the barrage of the naval guns then bleed the attackers as they moved in. There were no reserves but every soldier was committed to an all around defense.
DAY 1 ATTACK
At exactly 4:45 AM the Schleswig-Holstein opened up on the installation with its heavy guns. The initial bombardment scattered shells about the entire Polish position but did not concentrate fire. The main Polish loss was a sandbagged LMG in a railroad station building. The Germans moved in then as per their plan.
HMG fire sank one rubberboat filled with marines but the rest got a foothold on the docking area. Only incredibly bad marksmanship (bad dice rolling) prevented the HMG from doing better. Then those inept gunners were picked off by marine fire.
The police meanwhile had followed the railroad lines into the installation and now their armored cars were engaged by two Polish 37mm ATGs. Polish mortars started landing shells amongst the attacking German infantry and losses mounted quickly. infantry on both sides started engaging in a firefight too. In a deadly exchange the two armored cars are knocked out even as the last 37mm ATG crew is killed by a light German AA gun brought into the assault. First one German truck then a signals truck are blown up by raining mortar shells as the Poles zero in.
The marines take the RR storage building and try to spread out further only to lose more squads to ambush fire from hidden Polish positions. A wild MG duel breaks out as both sides fire now from cover of buildings. The net effect is that the marine mmult this direction is basically stopped due to heavy losses despite great bravery shown by the marines.
Later into the fight, the Poles open up with their 75mm FG from its hidden position on the rooftops across the port canal. It takes them several shots but they finally hit and knock out the naval OP. Soon after though the crew is riddled by MG fire from a marine LMG.
Even as the landpolezei begin to dissolve due to heavy losses, the second marine force used explosive charges to blow a large hole in the seawall and then rushed the ammo storage building inside the perimeter. The Poles were waiting and caused a lot of casualties to the onrushing Germans who did manage however to take the building in a quick close-in fight even capturing some Poles including an officer. But it was apparent resistance was too heavy and the Germans now received orders to pull back from High Command.
While the Germans fell back on all fronts, the battleship guns roared again and managed to destroy a Polish mortar position with a huge shell. However, the Germans decided to call it a day and try again the next morning after calling in more reinforcements. The Poles had beaten back the opening day attack!
First Days Losses: Polish
- 1 ATG
1 HMG
2 LMG
1 Mortar
2 Rifle Stands
Captured: 1 Command Stand and 1 Rifle Stand
German
- 1 Naval FO Stand
2 Trucks
SS Heimwehr: 2 Rifle Stands and 1 LMG
Landespolezei- 1 LMG, 4 Rifle Stands, and 2 Armored Cars
Marines - 1 LMG, 1 Engineer Stand, and 5 Rifle Stands
DAY 2 ATTACK
This time the Germans were reinforced with the 52nd Combat Engineer Battalion flown in directly from Berlin by order from High Command. These well-trained troops would spearhead the next assault. Also the Luftwaffe was called in and a large airstrike by Stukas pounded the Polish fortified position to start the second day attack. Though a few buildings were destroyed and smoke billowed from within the Polish held peninsula, actually almost no casualties were suffered by the well-dug in and hidden defenders.
Despite the high caliber of the attackers in this assault things went wrong quickly. The Germans had sent some of their forces down the canal road to again attack by exploding a hole in that long wall and then exploit the surprise factor. The rest launched their offensive right thru the railroad entrance of the facilities. Polish MG and mortar fire immediately began to take its toll of the attackers. And no sooner had the German troops on the left flank canal road made their approach March and were ready to attack, they then received conflicting or at least confusing orders. (A written note was passed along by the top German player to his subordinate).
The order said basically "Come back" and so the Germans turned around and marched back again the way they came. The actual intent of the order had been quite different. The German wished the left flank to breach the wall and attack and come back toward the main thrust by fighting that direction thru Polish defenders. But it did not say that and the German subortiffiate commanders became rightfully confused.
Eventually everything was sorted out and this time the Germans blew in the canal road gate and moved into the compound. However, a hidden bunker with a couple of MGS raked them and the other attackers from the railroad entrance too. As the Germans closed with this bunker it was suddenly discovered that it was surrounded by hidden barbwire and stakes planted deep in pits. German casualties grew.
The Germans had brought up a 105 howitzer and now used it to pound at troublesome Polish positions from out of range. Numbers began wearing down the Poles too as the Germans flooded throughout the entire peninsula. Casualties were heavy on both sides in bitter infantry fire fights. The end came when the bunker finally was silenced by relentless German fire and assaults.
At last, low on ammo and with wounded needing help, the few Poles still left surrendered the battered peninsula. The Germans had taken two days to take a position Hitler can expected to fall in fifteen minutes!
Second Day's Losses: Polish Losses:
- 4 Rifle Stands
2 HMG
2 LMG
2 Mortars
1 75mm FG
Captured: 6 Stands /Personnel
German Losses:
- Heimwehr: 4 Rifle Stands, 1 HMG, 1 LMG
52nd Bn: 14 Rifle Stands, 1 HMG, 2 LMG, and 1 Mortar
Sturmkompanie: 2 Rifle Stands
Equipment: 1 20mm AA Gun and 1 Truck
More WWII Poland 1939 Campaign
Back to MWAN #112 Table of Contents
Back to MWAN List of Issues
Back to MagWeb Magazine List
© Copyright 2001 Hal Thinglum
This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com