Polish military defense during the September 1939 campaign

Historical accounts detail the various facets of the Polish defense during the September 1939 campaign at the onset of World War II.

On the maritime front, the defense of Hel involved intense engagements. On September 3, 1939, Luftwaffe bombings targeted the Polish Navy vessels ORP Gryf and ORP Wicher. German destroyers Leberecht Maass and Wolfgang Zenker also engaged Polish positions. Despite heavy damage to the ORP Gryf and the loss of several sailors, Polish forces, including artillery batteries and crews from sunken vessels, continued to resist.

On land, the accounts highlight the role of the Polish cavalry in confronting German armored divisions. These historical reflections, often preserved through the personal memoirs of veterans, emphasize the efforts of cavalry units to impede the advance of the Wehrmacht following the initial German invasion and the bombardment of Wielun.