Key Facts
- Date
- Night of 4–5 August 1944
- Polish force size
- 84 men (3rd Battalion)
- German casualties
- ~40 killed, 39 taken prisoner
- Polish casualties
- 2 wounded, both died next day
- War materiel captured
- 22 machine guns, mortar, ambulance, supplies
- Part of operation
- Operation Tempest
Strategic Narrative Overview
On the night of 4–5 August 1944, Captain Michał Mandziara (nom de guerre Siwy) led the entire 3rd Battalion of 84 men in a coordinated assault on the German garrison at Ceber. Divided into two platoons under Second Lieutenants Mędrzycki and Józefowski, the Poles attacked simultaneously from multiple directions, achieving complete surprise. The brief engagement overwhelmed the defenders, resulting in rapid Polish victory.
01 / The Origins
In the summer of 1944, the Polish Home Army launched Operation Tempest, a nationwide armed uprising intended to liberate Polish territory from German occupation as the Eastern Front moved westward. In the Holy Cross Mountains, the 2nd Legions' Infantry Regiment was tasked with striking German garrisons to assert Polish control ahead of Soviet advances. The village of Ceber, held by a German garrison, became one target in this campaign.
03 / The Outcome
The German garrison was annihilated: approximately 40 soldiers were killed and 39 taken prisoner. Polish losses were minimal, with only two men wounded, both of whom died the following day. The Poles seized substantial war materiel, including 22 machine guns and an infantry mortar. The engagement demonstrated the effectiveness of surprise tactics and contributed to the broader Home Army effort under Operation Tempest.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Capt. Michał Mandziara (Siwy), 2nd Lt. Dionizy Mędrzycki (Reder), 2nd Lt. Witold Józefowski (Miś).
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.