A small Polish force of 350–720 troops held a fortified line against over 40,000 Germans for three days in September 1939, earning the battle the name 'Polish Thermopylae'.
Key Facts
- Battle dates
- September 7–10, 1939
- Polish defenders (est.)
- 350–720 troops
- German attacking force
- more than 40,000 troops
- Duration of resistance
- 3 days days
- Polish commander
- Captain Władysław Raginis
- Outcome
- Polish defeat; last shelter surrendered ~midday Sept. 10
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Germany launched its invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, initiating the Second World War in Europe. As German forces advanced, they encountered a Polish fortified defensive line at Wizna, which blocked their route and threatened the German effort to encircle nearby Polish operational groups.
Between September 7 and 10, 1939, a Polish garrison estimated at 350 to 720 soldiers, commanded by Captain Władysław Raginis, defended fortified positions at Wizna against a German force exceeding 40,000 men. The defenders held for three days until ammunition was exhausted; Raginis ordered his surviving men to surrender and then took his own life by detonating a grenade.
Though the Polish force was ultimately destroyed, its three-day resistance delayed the German advance and postponed the encirclement of the Independent Operational Group Narew. The battle became a symbol of Polish resistance and sacrifice, and Raginis was commemorated as a national hero. The engagement is widely known as the 'Polish Thermopylae'.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Captain Władysław Raginis.
Side B
1 belligerent