Danuta (armoured train)
Encyclopedia
The Danuta, also called armoured train number 11 was a Polish armoured train
used by the Polish army during the German invasion of Poland in September 1939.
, as part of the Polish 1st Army. In 1924 Danuta was assigned to the armoured train training unit located in Jablonna
. Like most other Polish armoured trains, Danuta was modernised in the early 1930s by receiving a Ti3 type locomotive, additional guns and AA machine guns.
. In the first days of the war
, Danuta supported various Polish infantry units. On 4 September the train was bombed by the Luftwaffe
, but received only minor damage. Next the train participated in the battle of the Bzura
. On 16 September the train was hit by German artillery. That damage and the fact that the train's ammunition supplies were almost depleted forced the commander of the train, Cpt. Korobowicz, to order to blow up the train to prevent German capture.
Armoured train
An armoured train is a train protected with armour. They are usually equipped with railroad cars armed with artillery and machine guns. They were mostly used during the late 19th and early 20th century, when they offered an innovative way to quickly move large amounts of firepower...
used by the Polish army during the German invasion of Poland in September 1939.
History
The Danuta was built in Poznań in 1919. In August 1920 the train participated in the Battle for WarsawBattle of Warsaw (1920)
The Battle of Warsaw sometimes referred to as the Miracle at the Vistula, was the decisive battle of the Polish–Soviet War. That war began soon after the end of World War I in 1918 and lasted until the Treaty of Riga resulted in the end of the hostilities between Poland and Russia in 1921.The...
, as part of the Polish 1st Army. In 1924 Danuta was assigned to the armoured train training unit located in Jablonna
Jablonna
Jabłonna may refer to the following places:*Jabłonna, Łęczyca County in Łódź Voivodeship *Jabłonna, Radomsko County in Łódź Voivodeship *Jabłonna, Lublin Voivodeship...
. Like most other Polish armoured trains, Danuta was modernised in the early 1930s by receiving a Ti3 type locomotive, additional guns and AA machine guns.
World War II
After the Polish Army was mobilised in 1939, the train was assigned to the Poznań ArmyPoznan Army
Army Poznań led by mj. gen. Tadeusz Kutrzeba was one of the Polish Armies during the Polish Defensive War in 1939.-Tasks:Flanked by Armia Pomorze to the north and Armia Łódź to the south, the Army was to provide flanking operations in Grand Poland region, defend it and withdraw towards lines of...
. In the first days of the war
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
, Danuta supported various Polish infantry units. On 4 September the train was bombed by the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
, but received only minor damage. Next the train participated in the battle of the Bzura
Battle of the Bzura
The Battle of the Bzura was a battle in the opening campaign of World War II during the 1939 German invasion of Poland, fought between 9 and 19 September, 1939, between Polish and German forces...
. On 16 September the train was hit by German artillery. That damage and the fact that the train's ammunition supplies were almost depleted forced the commander of the train, Cpt. Korobowicz, to order to blow up the train to prevent German capture.
The composition of the train in 1939
- flatcar
- artillery wagon
- assault wagon
- armoured locomotive
- artillery wagon
- flatcar