Hitler observing LW attack on Warsaw 25.09.30

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

I wonder may someone know, Hitler had come to Warsaw on 25.09.39 to observe Luftwaffe and artillery air attack on the city. It was his visitation among soldiers on the front line. I am wonder from which places in Warsaw he could observed German fire attack conducted joinly by LW + artillery.

There are two possibilites: Sluzev and second Okecie (there were some buildings with towers useful for this)? Maybe I am wrong and it was other place?

This place could be near the front line and in Polish memories was such incident: one of artillery commander had observed big German automobile column on 25.09, he asked his superior to get permission to open fire, the permission came to late.

Regards,
mw

[hucks216]

Blitzkrieg Unleashed by Richard Hargreaves has a photo of Hitler that day and mentions that he watched the battle from the race course tower at Mokotow.

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Thanks, so it could be then Sluzev (?), where just before war was opened this race tower (in Polish: Tor Wyścigów Konnych na Służewcu - Mokotów). These buldings are still working and the racees stilll going on there.
BTW Plenty people lost plenty money over years, and winners are realy few after race.

Regards,
MirekW

[Richard Hargreaves]

The principal source is a speech von Cochenhausen, 10 ID CO, gave six weeks later (the original is in BA-MA RH26-10/544)

...Around 0900 hours [on September 24th 1939], 41 Infanterie Regiment attacked. Under the cover of strong artillery fire, it quickly approached Mokotow and reached the church at Krolikernia at 1000 Hours. At that moment, Hitler appeared in front of our artillery on the racetrack at Mokotow, not far behind the enemy; he was visiting the division for the second time.
The divisional commander took him to the 50m-high race track tower, informed him of the situation, and showed him Fort Mokotow, identifiable with the naked eye, and the infantry attacking on the southern outskirts of Mokotow. The sight of the burning city from up here was powerful and moving. Despite it being a clear Sunday, it appeared as if the sky bore a fierce storm. Huge fires smouldered in the city; the rising smoke continually darkened the heavens. German aircraft continued their journeys above the clouds of smoke; one pushed through the layer of smoke in a dive and the loud crash of the heavy 50kg bombs mingled with the continuous roar of shells landing, fired in from all sides by German artillery. An unforgettable scene, which also made the deepest impression upon Hitler.

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Hi, thanks a lot for this info.
This "the church at Krolikernia at 1000 Hours" it is rather small palace of Królikarnia in Mokotów: there was/ and there is still not in this place any church. Building of Królikarnia still stands on own place as in 1939.
Regards,
mw

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

BTW, if I am right, Hitler had vizited combat field not 24.09 but 25.09, so this event should not be written as in Sunday, but rather on Monday (?). On Monday 25th IX was conduct very heavy attack on the city with the suppor of LW's bombers.

Regards,
mw

[robert]

His 10th visit was on 22.09 and 11th on 25.09.39.

Robert

[PZLvsME109]

Hello Robert,

Is there anymore documented information regarding Hitler's visitation on 22.09.39?

[robert]

Yes. I have more infromation`s about this event.

Regards

Robert