Back حصار وارسو (1939) Arabic Asediu de Varsovia AST Varşavanın mühasirəsi (1939) Azerbaijani ورشو موحاصیرهسی(۱۹۳۹) AZB Абарона Варшавы (1939) Byelorussian Обсада на Варшава Bulgarian Obléhání Varšavy (1939) Czech Schlacht um Warschau (1939) German Sieĝo de Varsovio Esperanto Asedio de Varsovia Spanish
| Siege of Warsaw | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Invasion of Poland of World War II | |||||||||
&sq=&lang=&file=File:The_Royal_Castle_in_Warsaw_-_burning_17.09.1939.jpg) A fire breakout at the Warsaw Royal Castle following heavy air strikes by the Luftwaffe. | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Germany |
 Poland | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
4th Panzer Division Luftwaffe |
Supported by: &sq=&lang=&file=File:Roundel_of_Poland.svg){kind=small} Polish Air Force | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
175,000 soldiers 1,000 artillery pieces 1,200 aircraft 220 tanks |
Peak strength: Pursuit Brigade: 54 aircraft | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
|
5,000 killed 13,000 wounded 80 tanks 63 aircraft |
140,000 killed or captured[1]: 78 38 aircraft | ||||||||
| 18,000 civilians killed[1]: 78 | |||||||||
The siege of Warsaw in 1939 was fought between the Polish Warsaw Army (Polish: Armia Warszawska, Armia Warszawa) garrisoned and entrenched in Warsaw and the invading German Army.[1]: 70–78
It began with huge aerial bombardments initiated by the Luftwaffe starting on September 1, 1939 following the German invasion of Poland. Land fighting started on September 8, when the first German armored units reached the Wola district and south-western suburbs of the city. Despite German radio broadcasts claiming to have captured Warsaw, the initial enemy attack was repelled and soon afterwards Warsaw was placed under siege. The siege lasted until September 28, when the Polish garrison, commanded under General Walerian Czuma, officially capitulated. The following day approximately 140,000 Polish troops left the city and were taken as prisoners of war. On October 1 the Wehrmacht entered Warsaw, which started a period of German occupation that lasted until the devastating Warsaw Uprising[a] and later until January 17, 1945, when the Wehrmacht troops abandoned the city due to the advance of Soviet forces.
Around 18,000 civilians of Warsaw perished during the siege. As a result of the air bombardments, 10% of the city's buildings were entirely destroyed and further 40% were heavily damaged.[1]: 78
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