Battle of Ceber

{{short description|Minor World War II battle, part of Operation Tempest}}

{{Infobox military conflict

| conflict = Battle of Ceber

| image =

| caption =

| partof = Operation Tempest in the Eastern Front of World War II

| date = 4–5 August 1944

| place = Ceber, Poland

| result = Polish victory

| combatant1 = {{flagdeco|Poland|1928}} Poland

| combatant2 = {{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}}

| commander1 = {{flagdeco|Poland|1928}} Dionizy Mędrzycki
{{flagdeco|Poland|1928}} Witold Józefowski

| commander2 =

| strength1 = 84

| strength2 = ?

| casualties1 = 1 wounded, 1 killed

| casualties2 = 40 killed, 39 captured

| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Operation Tempest}}

}}

The Battle of Ceber{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XLAjAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Micha%C5%82+Mandziara%22+ceber|title=Piotrkowskie zeszyty historyczne|date=2000|publisher=Wyższa Szkoła Pedagogiczna w Kielcach, Filia w Piotrkowie Trybunalskim|language=pl|via=Google Books}} was a World War II battle took place overnight on 4–5 August 1944 in the village of Ceber in the Holy Cross Mountains (Świętokrzyskie). A battalion of Polish partisans of the Home Army's 2nd Legions' Infantry Regiment led by Capt. Michał Mandziara (nom de guerre Siwy) assaulted a German garrison of the village, took it by surprise and annihilated it after a brief encounter. The battle was part of a larger Operation Tempest.{{Cite book|last=Dąbrowski|first=Eugeniusz|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1EJKAAAAIAAJ&q=%22Micha%C5%82+Mandziara%22+ceber|title=Szlakiem "Jędrusiów"|date=1966|publisher=Instytut Wydawniczy "Pax"|language=pl|via=Google Books}}

The Polish unit numbered 84 men (entire 3rd battalion of the 2nd Legions' Infantry Regiment) and was organised into two platoons led by second lieutenant Dionizy Mędrzycki (nom de guerre Reder) and second lieutenant Witold Józefowski (nom de guerre Miś). The Poles assaulted the German garrison overnight and from numerous directions. After a brief fight the enemy force was destroyed. The Poles acquired plenty of war materiel, including 22 machine guns, a gun repair shop, an infantry mortar with ammunition, an ambulance and plenty of supplies.

Polish losses were relatively small: only one soldier and one officer were wounded in action and died the following day. German losses were approximately 40 killed and 39 taken prisoner of war.{{Cite book|last=Mazgaj|first=Marian S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a5eeUh5QlBgC&dq=Battle+of+Ceber&pg=PA191|title=In the Polish Secret War: Memoir of a World War II Freedom Fighter|date=2009-01-14|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=978-0-7864-5245-3|language=en|via=Google Books}}