Evening star., 1939-09-24
Gen. Won Fritsch
Is Killed in
Warsaw Siege
4y the Associated Press.

8y tne ASSOClAleu FTesh.
BERLIN, Sept. 23.-The war in
Poland is over, despite the contin-
ued resistance of Warsaw, the su-
preme high command declared to-
night in a communique which as
serted that the entire Polish Army
of millions "has been defeated, cap
tured or routed"
Earlier today Col Gen. Walther
Won Brauchitsch, commander in
chief of the army, announced that
the army's former commander in
chief Col Gen. Werner Won Fritsch,
had been killed in action before War
saw in role far below his former
eminence.
Gen. Won Fritsch became the first
German general to die in this war.
when he was struck down yesterday
''whiles carrying out a dangerous
accommodating operation
Those were the words used by Gen.
Won Brauchitsch in an announce
ment declaring that the German
Army stood lin deep mourning, yet
filled with great pride" at Won
Fritsch's bier.
Stages of War Recited.
The army commuinque declaring
the war ended recited at length the
stages of the German campaign in
Poland, said its success was due to
the cooperation of all branches Of
the army and navy and declared the
army had taken more than 100000
captives, 1900 guns and war mate
rails that could not yet be calcu-
lated.
1t said 800 Polish planes had been
destroyed or captured and the rest
interned after fleeing abroad. The
Polish soldier, it added, fought
bravely but broke on the made
quacy of his leadership and organiz-
alton"
Exact figures on German losses
will be given in few days, the
communique stated, declaring that
they must be described as unusu-
ally small in comparison to the
enormous losses of the enemy
State Funeral for Won Fritsch.
On Adolf Hitler's orders state
funeral will be given the 59-year-
old Won Fritseh, who played an
outstanding role in the revival of
the German land forces before his
failure to keep in step with the
Fuehrer led to his resignation in
February, 1888.
nafNrn tho dnoth
most Germans believed Won Fritsch
was still in retirement. 1t was
known, however, that he had vol
unteered to serve at the front, and
Won Brauchitsch announced he had
Joined his regiment "on the first
day" of the war.
Won Fritsch relinquished the army
command at the time of the army
shake-up following the resignation
of Field Marshal Werner Won Blom-
berg as minister of war.
Won Fritsch held the rank of
colonel general-one step below field
marshal-but he was not in active
service in that rank. He was hon.
orary commander of the 18th Artil-
lery Regiment. but it was not re-
vealed what his duties as honorary
commander consisted of.
He often was spoken of as one of
Germany's best World War mill
tary strategists whose shreWdness
was being held in reserve in case
activities on the western front be-
came livelier.
Notice Published by Army.
News of his death was printed on
inside pages of all newspapers, but
Won Brauchitsch caused to be pub
lished large death notice heavily
bordered in black in the name of
the entire army.
There fell in Poland, before War
saw in the foremost line while carry
ing out a dangerous accommodating
operation, Col Gen. Baron Won
Fritsch, chief of Artillery Regiment
No H." the notice said.
Having taken to the field on the
side of his artillery regiment on the
first day, he who truly lived an ex-
emplary life for his army now also
died an exemplary death and gave
his all Internationally.
Deeply moved and in deep
mourning, yet filled with a great
pride, the army stands at the bier
of this great soldier
The notice was 10 inches wide, 612
inches high and had an iron cross
In the center at the top.
Lwow Surrenders.
Today's first communique, cover
ing the situation through yesterday,
said Lwow had surrendered to the
German Army as Russians ap-
preached the city. LWow falls
within the territory agreed upon as
the Russian occupation zone.
But Warsaw still held out against
the invaders, the night communique
admitted. 1t declared the Polish
capital was one of three hopeless
situations" the others being Modlin
and the Hela Peninsula.
Warsaw was said by the supreme
command to have been cut off from
Modlin, a fortress about 10 miles
northwest of the capital. Among the
Poles captured. the army said, was
Gen. Bortnowski, described as SUI
preme commander of the Polish Cor
ridor army, along with his staff
The wars third week." said the
Hamburger Fremdenblatt, was one
OF disappointment and broken hopes
for England. Poland's resistance,
which authoritative quarters in Lon
don calculated would last three
months, lasted little more than two
weeks"
Russia's invasion of Poland, the
paper said, was another point lost"
by Britain. Nov that Poland's des-
tiny has been settled it said. the
true meaning of the European con-
f1ict was becoming clear and this
(see BERLIN, Page A-6.)
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