Siege of Warsaw (1939)

Siege of Warsaw
Part of Invasion of Poland, World War II
Volunteer fire-fighters watching an air duel over Warsaw. Propaganda poster reads "To Arms – United, we will defeat the enemy".
Date September 8–28, 1939 Location Warsaw, Poland 52°13′48″N 21°00′39″E / 52.23000°N 21.01083°E / 52.23000; 21.01083Coordinates: 52°13′48″N 21°00′39″E / 52.23000°N 21.01083°E / 52.23000; 21.01083 Result Decisive German victory, Nazi occupation of Warsaw until 1945.
Belligerents
Germany	Poland
Commanders and leaders
Johannes Blaskowitz Georg von Küchler Walter Petzel Werner von Fritsch †	Walerian Czuma Juliusz Zulauf Juliusz Rómmel Marian Porwit Tadeusz Kutrzeba
Strength
175,000 soldiers	124,000 soldiers (excluding volunteers)
Casualties and losses
1,500 killed 5,000 wounded	140,000 captured
18,000 civilians killed

1,500 killed

The Siege of Warsaw in 1939 was fought between the Polish Warsaw Army (Armia Warszawa) garrisoned and entrenched in the capital of Poland (Warsaw) and the invading German Army.

It began with huge aerial bombardments initiated by the Luftwaffe starting on September 1, 1939 following the Nazi 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 soldiers and 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 and later until January 17, 1945, when the city was liberated by Soviet forces.

The Polish Army surrendered nearly 140,000 troops and during the siege around 18,000 civilians of Warsaw perished. As a result of the air bombardments 10% of the city's buildings were entirely destroyed and further 40% were heavily damaged.

Under the international rules regarding aerial warfare in 1939 Warsaw was considered a legitimate military target as the city was on the front line during the fighting and it was heavily defended by the Polish army.

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