page_title: Raid on Fraustadt
section_title: Raid
hierarchical_section_title: Raid on Fraustadt / Raid
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Erinnerungstafel anlässlich des 700-jährigen Bestehens von Święciechowa. Übersetzung des Textes: 1277-1977 zur Huldigung derer die für ein unabhängiges Polen kämpften. Die Einwohner der Gemeinde zum 700-jährigen Bestehen Święciechowas, 5. Mai 1977. Polski: 1277-1977 w hołdzie tym co walczyli o niepodległa Polskie. Spoleczenstwo Gminy w 700-lecie Święciechowy 5. maja 1977 Camera location51°&#160;51′&#160;17.56″&#160;N, 16°&#160;29′&#160;38.31″&#160;EView this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMap - Google Maps - Google Earth
context_page_description: The Raid on Fraustadt was a military raid, carried out by the Polish Army on September 2, 1939, second day of the Invasion of Poland. Polish forces attacked Wehrmacht positions in and around the town of Fraustadt, in the Province of Silesia, Free State of Prussia.
context_section_description: In the afternoon of September 2, at about 4 p.m., the units headed towards the border. Buses were provided for the infantry, while artillery, with horse carts, reached the border after the infantry. Captain Edmund Lesisz ordered Lieutnant Władysław Konwiński of 2nd Platoon to attack a Border Guard (Grenzschutz) post, which blocked the road towards the village of Geyersdorf (Dębowa Łąka). After a short exchange of fire, the Germans retreated, and Poles captured the post, together with large amount of weaponry, which was taken to the barracks at Leszno.
  Meanwhile, 1st Platoon of Lieutenant Stanisław Rybczyński attacked border checkpoint, and Polish artillery took its designated positions. Soon afterwards Polish cannons opened fire on Geyersdorf, which resulted in panic among German soldiers. A number of TKS tankettes appeared in the village, supported by machine gun fire. As a result, German soldiers and civilians fled from Geyersdorf. The village was seized at app. 6 p.m. Soon afterwards Polish artillery began shelling of Fraustadt, killing some German soldiers. At the same time a Polish front unit, which was 3rd Platoon of Lieutenant Stefan Perkiewicz, reached the outskirts of Fraustadt, some 8 kilometers into German territory. The town itself was not seized, as before nightfall, General Roman Abraham ordered all Polish troops to return to Leszno.
  During the retreat, an incident took place in of Święciechowa. Ethnic German residents of the village came out with Nazi flags to welcome the Polish soldiers, mistaking them for the advancing Wehrmacht. A gunfire exchange ensued, after which most active Germans were arrested by the military police.
  After the Invasion of Poland, Captain Edmund Lesisz was captured by the Germans and sent to Oflag VII-A Murnau. Found there by the Gestapo, he was taken to Łódź and murdered.
caption: Monument to defenders of Poland's sovereignty in Święciechowa
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