Battle of Jaworów

The Battle of Jaworów (Polish: bitwa pod Jaworowem) was fought between the German forces and elements of the Polish Małopolska Army during the German Invasion of Poland. It took place from 14 to 16 September 1939 in the vicinity of the town of Jaworów. In the effect of a two-day assault, the Polish forces broke through the German line of defence on their way towards the city of Lwów (modern Lviv). The engagement is best known for the destruction of one battalion of three battalions of SS-Germania regiment together with the capture of the heavy equipment of the entire regiment.

The battle resulted from a chaotic situation in the rear of Małopolska Army. Although the army, since 13 September commanded by General Kazimierz Sosnkowski, maintained a high morale and remained in relatively good fighting condition during the first two weeks of the war, a string of retreats seriously depleted its forces.

Sosnkowski's aim was to break through towards the city of Lwów. To make the matter worse for the Poles, a large detachment of German motorised and mountain infantry units, composed of the 7th Infantry Division, elements of 1st Mountain Division and the SS-Standarte Germania regiment, outflanked the Polish forces and organised a defence line between the towns of Jaworów and Gródek Jagielloński, directly between the Małopolska Army and Lwów, with German 2nd Mountain Division closing in from behind and the 57th Infantry Division approaching from the north.

On 15 September, the Polish force, formed by 11th, 24th and 38th Infantry Divisions, reached the area between Mościska and Sądowa Wisznia. From there the Poles attacked the forward positions of the German units. In a lengthy night assault of the German main position the Polish forces broke through to a large forest complex extending to the north and west of the town of Janów and dominating the road between Przemyśl and Lwów.

Although losses were high on the Polish side, they were much higher for the Germans. The SS-Germania regiment lost most of its artillery, vehicles and practically ceased to exist. Its remnants were withdrawn from the front and then disbanded. Meanwhile, the Polish force organised the defence of the forest complex and fought the Battle of Janow Forests.