Battle of Kock ( 1939 ) The Battle of Kock was the final battle in the Invasion of Poland at the beginning of World War II in Europe . It took place between 2 – 5 October 1939 , near the town of Kock , in Poland . The Polish Polesie Independent Operational Group , led by General Franciszek Kleeberg , fought the German 14th Motorised Corps , led by General Gustav Anton von Wietersheim . Before the battle . The Polish battle plan was disorganized due to few officers being available . The Wehrmacht had destroyed the Polish reserve and forced it to withdraw . Having taken heavy losses , the Polish armies retreated to Kraków and the Vistula river . From there , they took the route from Warsaw to Sandomierz . From Sandomierz , they were able to move on to the Lublin area . The eastern edge of the Vistula was defended by Lublin ' s weak army . The Polish forces were only camped in areas where they could cross the river easily , ( in case of an attack ) . Other German forces advanced to the Vistula and went on towards Zamość and Włodzimierz Wołyński . The Polish Army at Kraków and Małopolska suffered heavy losses , and did not reach the San river front . Therefore , they were unable to organize a proper defence . Field Marshal Rydz Śmigły was tasked with the defence of southern Poland . The commander of army area IX Brześć , General Franciszek Kleeberg , was responsible for the defence of the line from Pińsk to Brześć . Group organisation . On 8 September , General Franciszek Kleeberg received orders from Marshal Edward Rydz - Śmigły to organize a division of infantry from the depot division ( a depot was where reserve soldiers and recruits were trained ) . Kleeberg was also ordered to organize a defensive line from Brześć to Pińsk . While his forces were well - trained , they lacked heavy equipment as it had previously been dispatched to the front - line divisions . The Battle of Brześć and Kobryń . After breaking through the Polish line in the Battle of Wizna , the German XIX Panzer Corps under General Heinz Guderian started its rapid advance south . The corps , composed of the 3rd and 10th Panzer Divisions , the 20th Motorised Infantry Division , with the 2nd Motorised Division in reserve , was ordered to capture the old fortress in Brześć Litewski and then strike further southwards towards Kowel and Galicia . The purpose of this attack was to cut Poland in two and paralyse the defences east of the Bug River . Initially , Guderian ' s forces advanced almost unopposed . However , on 14 September , they were stopped in the area of Brześć Fortress and Kobryń by a four - battalion - strong improvised force under General Konstanty Plisowski . In the three - day - long battle , ( it became known as the Battle of Brześć ) , both sides suffered significant casualties . Although the Poles finally withdrew from the area on 17 September , the Germans did not start the pursuit soon enough to rout the retreating Poles . The simultaneous attack on Kobryń , which is sometimes referred to as the Battle of Kobryń , was inconclusive , with the Polish improvised ' Kobryń ' Infantry Division under Colonel Adam Epler withdrawing unopposed . Both Polish units from Kobryń and Brześć were soon joined by the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade . The unit , commanded by General Ludwik Kmicic - Skrzyński , successfully evaded encirclement by withdrawing through the Białowieża Forest . General Kmicic - Skrzyński , with his chief of staff , Major Julian Szychiewicz , went to Wołkowysk where he made telephone contact with General Franciszek Kleeberg . The two agreed to join their forces and move southwards , towards the Romanian Bridgehead . The 16th Motorised Infantry Regiment with artillery and Luftwaffe help , began an attack on the positions of the 83rd Polish Infantry Regiment on 18 September , capturing a number of Polish positions . The Polish counter - attack , which began at 17 . 00 hours , regained some territory . Kleeberg began withdrawing his forces to Romania and Hungary . Over the next two days Polish forces were ordered to concentrate north of Kowel . While on the march , a formation of the Polesie Group was attacked by fifth columnists and from the air , but loose groups of Polish soldiers joined the group . After a battle with Red Army forces , General Kleeberg decided to march to the relief of Warsaw on 22 September . He first planned to capture crossing places on the Bug River . The concentration area would be near Włodawa . Formations , organized by Colonel Brzoza - Brzezina , fought only against the Germans . They could fight the Red Army but only if they , ( the Poles ) , were attacked first . Between 22 and 25 September , elements of the Polesie Group were attacked by German aircraft during the march to Włodawa . On the last day of these attacks , General Kleeberg received information that Włodawa had been captured by unknown Polish units . Most personnel were soldiers from destroyed Polish formations who had not been caught by the Germans and were looking for commanders and formations which still fought . His staff began organising the defence of a bridgehead in Włodawa . Elsewhere , between 17 and 26 September , formations of the Polesie Group crossed the Bug river and entered an area near Włodawa . After receiving information about the surrender of Warsaw , General Kleeberg asked his commanders their opinion after informing them of the political and military situation . He also asked General Zygmunt Podhorski , the commander of the ' Zaza ' cavalry division , ( comprising two brigades of cavalry [ ' Pils ' and ' Edward ' ] , two infantry battalions [ ' Olek ' and ' Wilk ' ] and divisional artillery ) , to join him . General Podhorski agreed , then decided that he would first go to Stawy near Dęblin , the location of the main arsenal of the Polish army . They would then move to the Holy Cross Mountains and engage in guerrilla warfare . Kleeberg decided to re - organise his command . The ' Kobryń ' division would get little in the way of re - supply but would be renamed the 60th Infantry Division . The ' Brzoza ' and ' Drohiczyn ' groups would be merged – Colonel Brzoza - Brzezina would command the resultant 50th Infantry Division with three infantry regiments and a division of artillery . The 60th Infantry Division would be commanded by Colonel Adam Epler , comprising : three infantry regiments , a division of artillery , a motorised company of 37 mm anti - tank guns , four independent and seven independent formations . In all , Kleeberg had some 18 , 000 men . On 28 September , the Polish forces began to march south to the Parczew - Wojcieszków line with the ' Zaza ' cavalry division securing the march . One of the Uhlan regiments from the ' Edward ' brigade successfully crossed the Wieprz river and captured Spiczyn ; another cavalry regiment from the ' Zaza ' Division captured Jawidz and Wymysłów after some resistance . The Germans suffered heavy losses . The next day there was more fighting between the ' Zaza ' Division and the Germans near Spiczyn . That evening , the 60th Infantry Division broke contact with the Germans and went into a forest near Czeremniki . The Germans , using a formation of infantry and supported by two tanks , attacked the 1st Battalion , 182nd Infantry Regiment unsuccessfully . By 30 September , Polish forces were situated between the rivers Tyśmienica and Wieprz . The following day , forces from the ' Polesie ' Group passed the Świderki colonies of Bystrzyca , Wola Osowińska , Bełcząc and Ostrówek . The ' Zaza ' Division had settled in forests near the Tyśmianka river . One squadron of the 2nd Uhlan Regiment , who were defending a road , destroyed a German reconnaissance patrol . The command element of 5th Uhlan Regiment , and the ' Olek ' and ' Wilk ' infantry battalions attacked the Germans in Kock and captured the town . The Battle of Kock . On 30 September , the commander of 10th Army , Walther von Reichenau , ordered his staff to plan the destruction of a large Polish force which was located between the Bug and Vistula rivers . This task would involve the XIV Motorised Corps . It was made up of the 29th and 13th Motorised Infantry Divisions and some independent units . Each German motorised division had a paper strength of 16445 soldiers , 2676 trucks and staff cars , 1944 motorcycles , and 18 armoured cars . 2 October . The commander of XIV Corps knew that Polish forces were situated in the forests northwest of Kock . He believed that the commander of the Polish forces was unaware of Warsaw ' s capitulation . The commander of 13th Motorised Infantry Division , General Paul Otto , was of the opinion that the Polish forces had become so demoralized that they were incapable of combat , and that a single German battalion would be enough to disarm the Poles and take them to a Prisoner of War camp . Otto sent a force consisting of 3rd Battalion , 93rd Motorized Infantry Regiment supported by 8th Battery , 13th Regiment of Light Artillery . The battalion commander decided to divide his forces into two groups which were sent to Serokomla and Kock . He could count on help from the 93rd Motorised Infantry Regiment with some support forces which followed him . Kock . At 08 : 30 , a column of half - tracks and truck - mounted infantry came under fire from a guard platoon of No . 2 company of the ' Wilk ' battalion . After a protracted engagement the German troops withdrew . The Polish 179th Infantry Regiment was alerted and moved to defensive positions near and in Kock . At about 11 : 00 the German lead elements attacked the Polish positions , which were now 2 battalions strong . In spite of supporting artillery fire , the attack failed . At dusk German motorcyclists appeared near the church in Kock and began firing , but subsequently withdrew when the fire was returned . Serokomla . A company of motorized infantry entered the village of Serokomla . This led to the beginning of a chaotic action between the Germans and Uhlans from the ' Pils ' Cavalry Brigade , ( commanded by Colonel Plisowski ) . The Poles were supported by an artillery unit from the same brigade . The Germans were forced to withdraw to the south of the village ( see 3 OCT ) . Casualties . German losses were 300 – 400 killed and wounded . Five officers , 180 NCOs and privates were captured by the Polish . Components of the ' Pils ' cavalry brigade lost about 200 killed or wounded . 3 October . The stiff Polish resistance forced General Otto to use all his forces for an assault . He was going to split Polish forces in two and destroy them . He decided that the 33rd Motorised Infantry Regiment supported by part of the divisional artillery would attack Annopol , Pieńki and Talczyn . This force was tasked with destroying the Polish 50th Infantry Division . The 93rd Motorised Infantry Regiment was ordered to capture Serokomla then Hordzież and to destroy a defensive formation of the ' Zaza ' cavalry division . The 66th Motorised Infantry Regiment entered the field of battle in the afternoon . General Kleeberg thought that the main German advance would be toward the ' Zaza ' cavalry division at Serokomla Hordzież . He decided that part of the cavalry would fend off the German attack . The rest would join a counter - attack alongside the 50th Infantry Division on the right wing and rear of the 13th German Motorized Infantry Division . The 60th Infantry Division and the ' Podlaska cavalry brigade ' would close off potential German attack routes . If this counter - attack was successful , the German division would be forced to withdraw behind the river Wieprz . Between 07 : 50 and 09 : 30 , two regiments of the 50th Infantry Division ( the 180th and the 178th , less its 2nd battalion ) , attacked . They were supported by a howitzer battery . The attack was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Gorzkowski . Initially successful , the Polish units were halted and then forced onto the defensive . The cavalry attack by the Uhlans was also stopped and forced to withdraw west of Wola Gułowska . At 10 : 30 , German artillery began to fire on Polish cavalry positions . The Wehrmacht ' s 93rd Motorized Infantry Regiment began an attack on the ' Wilk ' battalion positions , inflicting heavy losses . The 33rd Infantry Regiment began a gradual attack on the Polish 50th Infantry Division . After heavy fighting , the German advance was stopped . Otto decided to support the 33rd Motorised Infantry Regiment with the 2nd Battalion of the 66th Motorised Infantry Regiment . German formations captured Wola Gułowska , but in the evening , they were forced to withdraw from the eastern part of the area and go on the defensive in the west part . 4 October . Due to the 13th Motorised Infantry Division ' s failure , the commander of XIV Corps . was forced to use the 29th Motorised Infantry Division . General Otto ordered the 93rdInfantry Regiment to move from the Wieprz river to Dęblin . The 66thMotorised Infantry Regiment would attack Adamów i Wola Gułowska , and the 33rd Infantry Regiment would clear the area to the north of Kock . General Kleeberg suspected that the main combined attack of the 13th Motorised Division and the 29thMotorised Division would be on Adamów and Krzywda . He thought there was a chance to destroy the 13th Motorised Division as they had already sustained heavy casualties and materiel losses . The ' Zaza ' cavalry division and the 50thInfantry Division would defend their positions , the 60thInfantry Division would attack the 13th Motorised Division . The Podlaska Cavalry Brigade would oppose the 29thMotorised Infantry Division . In the morning , the main elements of 13thDivision attacked the ' Zaza ' cavalry division and the 50thInfantry division . By 12 : 00 noon part of the 66thInfantry Regiment had captured Zakępie and advanced on Adamów where they were halted by the 1st Battalion of the 180th Infantry Regiment . About 11 hours apart , first from the west and then the east , forces from the 66th regiment attacked the ' Olek ' and ' Wilk ' battalions who were defending Czarna . The defenders sustained heavy casualties from artillery fire and ' Wilk ' was forced to withdraw to the eastern edge of the Adamów forest . ' Olek ' , moving to Adamów , later deployed to Gułów . Between 10 : 00 and 11 : 00 formations of the 66th Regiment attacked formations of cavalry from the 5th Uhlan Regiment who then withdrew from Wola Gułowska and Adamów to the south - east . At about 12 : 00 the 66thInfantry Regiment attacked the 2nd Squadron of the 2nd Uhlan Regiment in Zarzecze which withdrew with heavy casualties . The commander of the regiment moved the 4thSquadron south from Helenowka to try to assist the 2nd Squadron while the 3rdSquadron held the enemy to the west of Wola Gułowska . The 3rd and 4th Squadrons , with elements of the 10th Uhlan Regiment fought near the Turzystwo village cemetery and the church in Wola Gułowska . Ground was lost and regained repeatedly until an attack by the 2ndBattalion , 184th Infantry Regiment and the Uhlan Squadron enabled the Polish to dig in . 5 October . The commander of XIVth Motorized Corps . decided that he would use two of his divisions . They would attempt to encircle and destroy the Polish forces . The 13th Motorized Division advanced on Bystrzyca and Adamów then Wróblina and Stanin ; the 29th Motorised Division advanced on Radyryż Kościelny and Wróblina where they met troops from the 13th Division . General Kleeberg decided to destroy the 13th Motorised Infantry Division by using forces from the 50th and 60th infantry divisions and the ' Zaza ' cavalry division . The Podlaska cavalry brigade defended the position under Radoryż Kościelny and Wróblina . The Fighting in Wojcieszków , Gułów and Adamów . 13th Division ' s artillery began to fire on the 180th Infantry Regiment battalion ' s positions in Adamów and the ' Olek ' Battalion in Gułów grange at 05 : 30 . Two and a half hours later , the 66th Infantry Regiment ' s advance began . After a short fight at 10 : 00 , the Germans captured Adamów , they then attacked the Polish position on hill 170 and Gułów , which they captured after heavy fighting . The 66th Motorised Infantry Regiment took many losses . The division occupied positions on the eastern edge of Adamów forest . General Podhorski sent the ' Pils ' cavalry brigade to support them . After contact with the enemy brigade , they began an attack on the German positions in the forest . They captured the forest and , there , they established defensive positions . After the capture of Adamów and Gułów grange by the 66th Infantry Regiment , the 33rd Motorised Infantry Regiment began to advance , capturing Wojcieszków and Glinne . The Polish 178th Infantry Regiment withdrew . The commander ordered his force to re - take Wojcieszków and Glinne , which they did , but they withdrew after taking heavy losses . The advance of the 180th Infantry Regiment on Adamów failed . Colonel Brzoza - Brzezina sent the 178th infantry regiment who soon met the German advance . The 1st battalion included a part company of sappers . The 2nd and 3rd battalions took heavy losses and withdrew to Burzec . Meanwhile , an attack by the Polish 184th infantry regiment , with the support of a battalion of the 179th infantry regiment , recaptured the church and cemetery in Wola Gułowska . An advance by the 182nd Infantry Regiment with the help of three 100mm howitzers broke the German defence in Helenów . At 16 : 00 , the last German advance from Adamów began on positions of the 10th Uhlan Regiment in Krzywda forest by the 182nd regiment in Helenów and the 184th regiment in Wola Gułowska . The 10th Uhlan Regiment , after a hard fight , withdrew into the forest . Most forces of the ' Brzoza ' division successfully defended their positions in Burzec . The 182nd Infantry Regiment held their position . The 184th regiment had to withdraw due to a lack of artillery ammunition . During this time two key Polish advances began . The 2nd battalion of the 183rd Infantry Regiment , with artillery support , began an assault with the bayonet on the Germans who had attacked the southern wing of the ' Pils ' cavalry brigade . The assault succeeded and the Germans began to retreat , being chased by infantry and cavalry . The rear of the southern wing of the 13th Motorised Division was attacked by the ' Edward ' cavalry brigade , they captured Poznań village , including a German artillery battery ( which had to be destroyed when the cavalry were forced to withdraw due to them coming under fire from another German artillery battery ) . Elements of the 13th Motorised Division began to withdraw . One of the last attacks was by the 29th Motorised Division on the ' Podlaska ' Cavalry Brigade positions and the rear of the ' Brzoza ' Division . After which both Polish formations withdrew to the south of Kryzywda . The Polesie Independent Group surrendered on 6 October at 10 : 00 . In his last order General Kleeberg wrote that the reason for his decision to capitulate was that they were surrounded and ammunition and food were depleted .