Battle of Borowa Góra Battle of Borowa Góra ( ) refers to the series of battles from 2nd to 5 September 1939 that took place near the Góry Borowskie hills , south west from Piotrków Trybunalski and east of Bełchatów . The battle , fought between the Wehrmacht and the Polish Army in the vicinity of Łódź , was a direct consequence of the " Battle of the Border " , an early part of the German Invasion of Poland The three hills ( 278 meters above sea level ) formed an important strategic point that the German XVI Army Corps needed to break through in order to advance toward Radomsko , Piotrków Trybunalski and Bełchatów , and further into central Poland . The area was defended by the Polish 2nd Legions ' Infantry Regiment ( part of the 2nd Legions Infantry Division ) , under Col . Ludwik Czyżewski , and the 146th Infantry Regiment ( part of the 44th Infantry Division ) , under Col . Artur Pollak . Both Polish units belonged to Łódź Army . The invading German XVI Army Corps consisted of the 1st Panzer Division , the 4th Panzer Division , the 14th Infantry Division , and the 31st Infantry Division . During the intense fighting , Polish casualties from the 2nd Legions ' Regiment were 663 ( including 16 officers and 67 NCOs ) . German losses were also high . Background . General Wiktor Thommée , who commanded Piotrków Operational Group of Łódź Army , ordered Colonel Czyżewski to defend a 25 - kilometer line in the area of Rozprza . Polish units were supposed to hold their positions until September 4 , when a Polish counterattack was planned from the Sulejów forests . Since Czyżewski did not have enough soldiers , he decided to man three main defensive positions , and to patrol the space between them . Center of Polish defence was established in the Góry Borowskie hills . Polish units began to man their positions in the night of September 2 / 3 . Janowski ' s headquarters were at a public school in the village of Janów . General Juliusz Rómmel , aware of German superiority , decided to reinforce Czyżewski , by sending the 301st Battalion of Light Tanks under Major Edmund Karpow , which consisted of 49 Vickers tanks . The Battle . First German units approached Polish positions near Rozprza on September 3 , at 13 : 00 . Two hours later the Panzers attacked the Góry Borowskie hills , and the fighting lasted for several hours , until the night . The Wehrmacht was supported by the Luftwaffe , which bombed Polish positions , and as a result , some soldiers of the Polish Army abandoned their posts . In the evening of September 3 , leading units of the German 1st Panzer Division captured Rozprza , to be pushed back after some time . At app . 15 : 00 tanks of the 4th Panzer Division attacked Góry Borowskie , but after a fierce battle with Polish 3rd Battalion of Major Żelazowski , they retreated and regrouped at night , to attack the hills from the east in the morning of September 4 . On September 4 in the morning , German infantry of the 31st I . D . attacked along the road to Bełchatów . They were pushed back , but near Rozprza , where Panzer divisions were present , Polish defenders faced more danger . The 1st Panzer attacked Rozprza , and the 4th Panzer concentrated its efforts on capturing Jeżów . In the afternoon of September 4 , whole Polish frontline was attacked between Góry Borowskie and Rozprza . Fighting lasted into the night , and in the morning of September 5 , the Germans attacked again , with the support of the Luftwaffe . Under the circumstances Colonel Czyżewski ordered retreat towards Dłutów , opening for the Wehrmacht the road road to Piotrków . Since some Polish units were not aware of Czyżewski ' s order , in some spots fighting continued until morning of September 6 .