Counterattack at Milanow*
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Date: September 30, 1939*
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Battle Type: Polish vs Soviet Meeting Engagement*
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Design: Bill Wilson*
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On September 17, 1939, two fronts of the Red Army of Workers and Peasants invaded Poland from the east in order to secure the Soviet zone of occupation.  The Soviet advance was far from flawless and the mechanized units of the Red Army experienced problems with broken down vehicles and difficulties in delivering fuel supplies.  By the end of the month, the Polish 50th Infantry Division was moving westward to assist other Polish forces engaging the Germans at Kock.  The Soviet advance threatened to block this movement, and Colonel Epler's Polish 60th Infantry Division was given the mission of delaying the Red Army.  The Russians had moved a motorized brigade into the area of Milanow and Kostry.  The 79th Infantry Regiment of Epler's division was assigned the sector facing Milanow.  Around noon on the 30th, Russian infantry began advancing out of the village to the south.  They were met by the 79th and the fighting devolved into hand-to-hand combat.  Ultimately, the Poles prevailed and the 50th Division was able to move westwards unmolested.*
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The mission of the Polish infantry is to dominate the battlefield and recapture Milanow and the nearby bridges.  The mission of the Soviet forces is to dominate the battlefield and secure the exits leading to the west.*
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Unit Abbreviations:*
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KM - Machine Gun*
Kwartera Glowna - Headquarters*
PP - Infantry Regiment*
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Sources:*
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"Polen Feldzug", Janusz Piekalkiewicz, Bechtermuenz Verlag*
"Red Army Handbook", S. Zaloga and L. Ness, Sutton*
http://freeport-tech.com/wwii/029_poland/organizations/_1939.html*
http://www.mapapolski.pl*
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Note: Some of the Soviet vehicles are immobile or slowed down to represent mechanical problems with the vehicles.*


