Video - Fatal Errors: The Battle of Pszczyna 1939

September 1, 1939: Pszczyna's fortifications face their ultimate test. The Polish 6th Infantry Division stands firm against the German 5th Panzer Division's onslaught. Initially, the defense holds, repelling attacks near Brzeźce and Wisła Wielka. September 2: Dawn brings a shift in fortune. Polish commanders, buoyed by yesterday's success, misjudge the German strategy. They shallow their defensive "big bag" trap, a fatal error as German forces strike from an unexpected direction. By afternoon, the battle pivots at Ćwiklice. Despite a valiant diversionary counterattack, Polish forces crumble under overwhelming firepower. Upper Silesia slips from Poland's grasp. In the aftermath, General Bernard Mond reflected: "In war, the cardinal sin is to underestimate your enemy. Our certainty became our downfall."