Battle of Modlin

{{Short description|1939 battle between Nazi Germany and Polish forces}}

{{Infobox military conflict

| conflict = Battle of Modlin

| image = Ujście Narwi do Wisły (cropped).JPG

| image_size = 300px

| caption = Ruins of the southern bridgehead

| partof = Invasion of Poland

| date = 13–29 September 1939

| place = Modlin village, Modlin Fortress, Warsaw Voivodeship, Poland

| result = German victory

| combatant1 = {{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}}

| combatant2 = {{flagcountry|Second Polish Republic|1928}}

| commander1 = {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Hermann Hoth
{{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Adolf Strauss
{{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Werner Kempf

| commander2 = {{flagicon|Second Polish Republic|1928}} Wiktor Thommée

| units1 = {{Collapsible list

|title = German Units

|{{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} II Army Corps:

• Panzer Division Kempf
• 32nd Infantry Division

{{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} XIV Army Corps:

• 29th Motorized Infantry Division

{{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} XV Army Corps:

• 1st Light Division
• 2nd Light Division

{{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} Wehrmacht Reserves:

• 213th Infantry Division
• 221st Infantry Division
• 228th Infantry Division

}}

| units2 = {{Collapsible list

|title = Polish Units

|{{flagicon|Second Polish Republic|1928}} Army Modlin:

• 8th Infantry Division
• 20th Infantry Division

{{flagicon|Second Polish Republic|1928}} Army Łódź:

• 2nd Legions Infantry Division
• 28th Infantry Division
• 30th Infantry Division

}}

| strength1 = 4 infantry divisions
2nd Light Division
Panzer Division Kempf
100 aircraft [https://web.archive.org/web/20070214074348/http://www.1939.pl/bitwy/modlin.htm]

| strength2 = 40,000 men (peak)
96 guns
7 TK-3 tankettes
Armoured train "Śmierć"

| casualties1 = 900 killed
670 wounded

| casualties2 = 1,300 killed
4,000 wounded
35,000 captured

| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Polish September Campaign}}

}}

File:Obrona modlina 1939.png]

The Battle of Modlin took place during the 1939 German invasion of Poland at the beginning of the Second World War. Modlin Fortress was initially the headquarters of the Modlin Army until its retreat eastwards. From 13 to 29 September 1939, it served as a defensive citadel for Polish forces under the command of General Wiktor Thommée against assaulting German units. The fighting was closely linked with the strategic situation of the Battle of Warsaw.

The Polish forces defending the fortress included the armoured train Śmierć ("death") and the Modlin anti-aircraft battery, which was credited with shooting down more Luftwaffe planes than any other in the entire September campaign.

Fortress Modlin capitulated on 29 September, one of the last to lay down its arms in the campaign, and surrendered 24,000 troops.Zaloga, S.J., 2002, Poland 1939, Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd., {{ISBN|9781841764085}}{{rp|78}} Several days earlier, Rochus Misch had attempted to negotiate the surrender of the fortress despite being wounded, an act for which he was awarded the Iron Cross.{{cite news |url= http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/246754/The-last-survivor-of-Hitler-s-downfall-in-the-bunker |last1=Schnoor |first=Stefan |author2=Boris |title=The last survivor of Hitler's downfall - The Fuhrer's bodyguard gives last interview |newspaper=Daily Express |date=15 May 2011 }}

Soldiers of the Panzer Division Kempf committed the Massacre in Zakroczym on 28 September 1939.