The Rise of the Third Reich

September 1, 1939, 12 noon, Poland, east bank of the Brasi River.

The sound of artillery, gunfire, explosions, the roar of tank motors, the neighing of war horses, the ear-piercing roar of Ju.87 Stuka dive bombers, and the shouts of people and the screams of dying people were intertwined. The most terrifying war song in the world was formed.

The "Battle of Brahi River Bridge" in the "Battle of Tuhola Forest" in history is now underway.

The fighting party was part of the 3rd Armored Division of the German Army, an armored group consisting of the Armored Training Battalion, the 15th Heavy Armored Vehicle Reconnaissance Company (Armored Meyer Division), the 14th Motorized Reconnaissance Company, and other units. Major General Schwepenburg, commander of the Third Armored Division, arrived half an hour ago and took over command of the entire group.

The other party participating in the exchange of fire was the Polish Tzesk Tactical Group and the remnants of the Polish 15th Division. Since the commander of the Dzesk Tactical Group, Major General Grzymot Skoniecki, had not arrived yet - this The cluster came all the way next to the bombs, and it was already a bit in disarray. Many troops had gone to unknown places - so Major General Przyakovsky, who was defeated in the Tuhola Forest, could only bite the bullet and continue to command. .

Now the life of the entire Polish Coastal Army hangs by a thread! The 15th Division, which is located in the center of the western defense line of the Army Group, has almost collapsed. The Brasi River Bridge is already the last line of defense. If sufficient time cannot be delayed here, the 9th Division and the 27th Division of the Coastal Army can retreat to Vistula. Go to the east bank of the river to rebuild the defense line.

Then within a few days, the Coastal Army with 5 divisions and 2 brigades will completely collapse. The flanks and rear of the Poznan Army Group to the south of the Coastal Army and the Modlin Army Group to the southeast (which is placed south of East Prussia and is currently being attacked by the German Third Army) will be exposed, and the entire Polish defense line may follow. Collapse together!

On the other side, Major General Schwepenburg, the commander of the German 3rd Armored Division, was almost at the front line. His armored car was parked just west of the Brachi River Bridge, and the fierce exchange of fire took place just east of the bridge. The Poles desperately blocked the east exit of the bridge, turning a small forest less than 300 meters away from the east exit of the bridge into a fortress "filled with" 37mm guns!

Although they were constantly bombarded by German 75mm guns and dive bombed by Ju.87s, every time a German tank tried to rush across the bridge, there would always be one or two 37mm guns that fired desperately.

The 37mm anti-tank gun used by the Poles was a "popular commodity" in 1939, and almost all armies had this weapon. The armor-piercing ability of this level of artillery (the performance of the 37 guns used by European countries is similar) at a distance of 300 meters is about 30mm (using tungsten steel armor-piercing bullets can barely reach 50mm), and its power is limited when attacking the No. 4 tank frontally (this time and space The performance of No. 4 in 1939 was better than that of the same period in history).

But the woods were not facing the bridge, but on the side of the bridge. If the cannon was placed there, it could shoot at the flank of the No. 4 tank, so it became a moderate obstacle. After a No. 4 tank was damaged, Major General Schwepenburg did not intend to let the precious No. 4 take risks anymore.

However, it was impossible for a small Brasi River to block the progress of the 19th Armored Corps. While Major General Schwepenburg organized a frontal diversionary attack, he sent people to find a shoal that could be forded.

So Panzer Meier and his brethren were now searching and advancing along the Brachi River. And Meier was lucky enough to make the discovery quickly.

"Raise the muzzle, raise the gun and hit them. It's enough to scare them, but you can't kill them." Armored Meyer shouted loudly. He is now leading several heavy-wheeled armored vehicles to chase several Polish cavalry along a path along the river bank - they should be crossing the river for reconnaissance. Meier estimated that these Poles must know where the river is relatively shallow, and where the cavalry can ford, tanks can definitely pass!

"Ta-ta-ta-ta..."

Following Armor Meier's instructions, Gustav Schwarzenegger carefully operated the coaxial machine gun, letting bullets fly over the heads of several Polish cavalrymen.

The Poles seemed to be frightened and beat their horses desperately. They completely forgot that tanks and armored vehicles could also ford the river. They quickly ran to the ford where they crossed the river and ran away without thinking.

"Found it!" Armored Meyer picked up the intercom and shouted, "We found a place where we can cross the river. There is a place where we can cross the river about 2,500 meters north of the bridge!"

The voice of the division commander, Major General Schwepenburg, soon came through the intercom: "Leave two armored vehicles to guard the ferry while the other vehicles cross the river for reconnaissance."

"Understood, Commander." Meier adjusted the frequency of the intercom again, and then ordered to his brothers, "Car No. 4 and Car 5 guard the west bank of the ferry. All other vehicles crossed the river, Car No. 6 was the first Go over, then car No. 1... Brothers, rush with me!"

"Ta-ta-ta-ta..."

Almost at the same time that Meier's No. 4 car rushed through the ford, the Polish machine guns rang out. They were not completely unprepared. Every ford that could be crossed was guarded, equipped not only with machine guns but also a small number of WZ35 anti-tank rifles.

"Hit! I hit it..."

A young Polish soldier yelled excitedly. A WZ35 he operated accurately hit the No. 4 vehicle of Meyer Company. But the eight-wheeled armored vehicle seemed to feel nothing and continued to charge, rushing onto the river beach in the blink of an eye.

"I obviously hit, how could this happen? Damn it, this gun is useless!" the Polish soldier shouted, at a loss. In fact, the effective range of this WZ35 is not very large. When facing the Sd.Kfz.231 heavy-duty wheeled armored vehicle with a maximum frontal armor thickness of 14.5mm, the opponent must be placed very close in order to succeed in a sneak attack.

"Go, go, go!" Meier's voice sounded in every armored vehicle. "They don't have 37 guns or 20 machine guns. They can't stop us!"

…

"Breaked through? Oh my God!" Major General Grzymot Skolnitsky, who was blown away by the German planes, had just arrived when he heard the unbelievable bad news. Not only did the Polish defense line set up in the Tuhola Forest no longer exist, but even the Brasi River had been breached by German armored forces.

Is Poland going to die again?

An ominous premonition arose in everyone's mind.

"Let's withdraw to the line of the Vistula River." Major General Przyakovsky said desperately, "We can hold on there for a few days."

"No, it's impossible!" Major General Grzymot Skolnitsky shook his head, then pointed to the sky, "The German planes will not let us escape!"

Major General Przyakovsky thought: Their tanks and armored vehicles will not let us run away! Army Group Marina is going to be finished, then Army Group Poznań and Army Group Modlin... and finally Poland!

"What should I do?" Major General Przyakovsky asked.

"I will lead the 16th Lancer Battalion, the 18th Lancer Battalion and the 11th Cavalry Artillery Battalion to drive the Germans back to the other side of the Brasi River. You will lead the remaining troops to continue to hold on... For Poland, we will always fight to the end of!"

"Okay!" Major General Przyakovsky nodded, "For Poland! Poland will never perish!"

"Yes, Poland will never perish!" Major General Grzymot Skolnitski got on his horse, drew his saber and waved it, "Brothers of the 16th Lancer Battalion, the 18th Lancer Battalion and the 11th Cavalry Artillery Battalion Come with me and kill the Germans! Sing "Poland Never Dies" (this is the Polish national anthem)!

One tank after another, the tanks crossed the Brachi River from the ford discovered by Panzer Meier, and then formed an attack formation on a wheat field that could not be seen. Trucks and half-tracks also brought a lot of infantry. They got off on the west bank of the Brachi River and forded across the river. When they arrived, the attack formation composed of tanks and armored vehicles advanced southeastward accompanied by them.

Panzer Meier and his brothers were also riding behind the Panzer IV and III tanks in wheeled armored vehicles.

Because the wheeled armored vehicle was taller than the tank, Armored Meyer stood up straight and held up the telescope to act as the eyes of the entire group. Soon, an incredible scene appeared in the telescope - the Polish cavalry holding their spears high seemed to be rushing toward them like a tide.

"Oh my god! It's the cavalry! There seem to be thousands or more Polish cavalry... What are they going to do?" Armored Meyer shouted loudly into the intercom.

Then the calm voice of the group commander, Count Hazint Stachwitz, commander of the Armored Training Battalion, came over the intercom: "No matter what the Poles want to do, I admire their courage, but in this era , Courage alone won’t do! Now let’s destroy all the brave Poles! Armored soldiers, charge!”

Major General Grzymot Skoniecki also saw the German tanks rolling in. They were so big, much larger than his TKS tanks (most of which were blown up by the Luftwaffe on the road). It also has a 75mm gun. The cavalry is definitely no match. The only hope is the 1st artillery of the 11th Cavalry Artillery Battalion. As long as they can be put out, there is a glimmer of hope. But this takes time. It takes time to deploy the artillery...

"Cavalry artillery, spread out your position!" He gritted his teeth and ordered loudly, "Others, charge with me!"

He pointed the saber forward in his hand and shouted: "Poland will never perish. As long as we have one breath left, Poland will not perish. Raise the saber, return to the lost ground, move forward, move forward, move forward..."