Did 1st Gebirgs-Division force Lwów to surrender?

[Commissar D, the Evil]

In My Humble Opinion, both Musashi and Gebirgsjaeger are to be respected for their honest attempts to straighten out the historical record without exchanging venomous personal posts. Clearly this is a matter of deep concern, brought about by the differences in German and Polish historical sources, that may never be completely reconciled--but I, as an ignorant American, have to respect both of you for trying so hard to agree upon the truth.

Very Best Regards,
David

[Domen123]

There is a monograph of the battle of Lwow in 1939 - "Lwow 1939" by Wojciech Wlodarkiewicz, Warsaw, Bellona 2003 (ISBN 978-83-11-10791-5), 237 pages.

This one is very good and btw as far as I know there is no other monograph of this battle (either in Polish or German or any other).

brought about by the differences in German and Polish historical sources, that may never be completely reconciled

The only German primary source which mentions Lwow surrendering to the Germans on 21.09.1939 is the Kriegstagebuch of 1. Gebirgs-Division.

Clarification of this "misstatement of reality" by Polish sources was provided by me on the previous page.

Germans sent a messenger and Poles acknowledged receipt of German proposal of honorable capitulaton. But nothing more happened.

By the way - this was not the only attempt of "forcing" Lwow to surrender by the Germans (if they were not able to do it by force, they were trying different tricks).

Germans were desperated to seize Lwow.

E.g. on 20 IX at 20:00 gen. Bayer sent an ultimatum to gen. Langner (he demanded capitulation until 10:00 AM on 21.09.1939, otherwise he would attack at 11:00).

Langner refused to surrender.

On the same day - 20 IX - gen. Feurstein and kombrig Yakovlev met in Winniki. Germans demanded that Russians shouldn't "disturb them in encircling Lwow"* before the planned attack; while Russians demanded that Germans should stop firying at the city, withdraw 15 - 20 kms to the west from Lwow and leave the city to them.

*While actually they helped them in encircling Lwow (sic!), because before Soviet forces entered the outskirts of Lwow, it was not encircled.

Russians also planned their own assault on Lwow - on 21.09.1939 at 12:00 (one hour after the planned German assault).

The planned German attack didn't start (on 20.09.1939 Army Group "North" received an order from OKH to stop the siege of Lwow).

The Russian attack also didn't take place - from two reasons:

First - on 21 IX in the morning Polish-Soviet negotiations started - they were initiated by Soviets, who lied to Poles that they were coming to fight against Germans**.
Second - forces of the Russian 6th Army were not concentrated yet and not ready to attack.

**Moreover Russian commander - who was de facto commander of one brigade - introduced himself to the Poles as commander of the whole Armoured Corps.

Russian sources are less optimistic than German. German assault on 21.09.1939 at 11:00 was to be carried out by 3 divisions considerably weakened by combats (two Gebirgs divisions - 1. and 2. and one infantry division - 7.). Russians planned to concentrate all forces of their 6th Army to storm the city. Moreover Russian sources admit that the city was surrounded by several lines of powerful barricades (deepened defence) and all hills were full of means of fire and lightly masked trenches.

Germans didn't know about those numerous powerful barricades inside the city from one reason - because they never managed to enter the city, unlike Russians.

And why they never managed to enter the city - because it never surrendered to them, as is clearly confirmed by both Polish and Russian sources.

So we have all Polish and Russian sources versus one KTB of one German division, frustrated after 10 days of hard combats occupied by the loss of almost 2000 men in and around Lwow (killed, wounded and sick) with virtually zero successes and no significant ones at all. In short words - one, huge, terrible failure.

If I was there, writing KTB of 1. Gebirgs-Division, I would probably also "add" some "successes" on paper to rescue the reputation of my unit.

To summ up - Lwow did not surrender to Germans - it was handed over to Soviets on 22 IX (on honorable conditions - they promised to release all POWs, of course they didn't do it, they released almost all POWs with exception of all officers). To the Soviets who lied to Poles that they came there to fight against Germans (sic!).

[Jan-Hendrik]

The only German primary source which mentions Lwow surrendering to the Germans on 21.09.1939 is the Kriegstagebuch of 1. Gebirgs-Division.

From KTB of Heeresgruppe Süd:





Jan-Hendrik

[Richard Hargreaves]

"The city of Lemberg surrendered to 1 Gebirgs Division. An officer sent to Lemberg oversaw the surrender. Communications have been established by Fourteenth Army with the commander of the Russian armoured brigade east of the city."

Also:

Bericht über den Einsatz der 2 Kompanie, GJR99, vor Lemberg, von Hauptmann Wehnert

21/9/39: Bald darnach kamen russische Reiter von Laszki nach Malechow herüber. Es ging immer im Galopp auf rassigen Pferden durch die Ortschaft. Im Vorbeireiten grüssten sie uns freundlichst durch Handaufnahme. Die MG waren auf grossen Vierräderwagen samt Bedienung. Ein russischer Oberleutnant stieg bei mir ab, begrüsste mich mit Handschlag und schenkte mir 200 Papyros (Zigaretten). Dazu sagte er: "Germanski und Bolshewiki zusammen stark!" Mehr deutsch konnte er nicht, aber seine Meinungsäusserung war deutlich genug.

[Domen123]

More about the German attempt of forcing Lwow to surrender writes W. Włodarkiewicz in his "Lwów 1939", page 185:

"On 21.09.1939, despite the fact that German units had already started withdrawal from their positions near Lemberg, delayed by the necessity of evacuation of wounded, a German messenger arrived at Grojecka street and once again proposed the capitulation of the city. In recognition of stubborn defense of the city, German side offered to salute the defenders and to allow Polish officers to retain their side arms. The German messenger declared, that the capitulation of the Polish crew to the Germans means remaining in Europe, while the capitulation to the Red Army would mean passing through to Asia forever. It seems that it was a question of prestige for the Germans to capture the city - which had been vainly besieged by their forces since 12.09.1939 - at least for a while."

Primary sources:

- Gen. Władysław Langner, "Ostatnie dni obrony Lwowa (1939)" ("The last days of the defence of Lwow (1939)"),
- account of ppor. rez. Witold Lis-Olszewski, officer of 62. Light Artillery Battalion,

There also exists a photo showing ppor. rez. Witold Lis-Olszewski discussing with 2 German messengers in Lwow.

An officer sent to Lemberg oversaw the surrender.

Major Schrank (adiutant of 1. Gebirgs-Division) - he was sent to Lwow. He was trying to persuade the Poles to surrender to the German army. He failed.

If he later testified that he succeeded, he lied. Maybe this explains from where the whole misinformation originally comes from.

From KTB of Heeresgruppe Süd

This is about the first battle of Tomaszow Lubelski (which ended with capitulation of Army "Cracow" reinforced by part of Army "Lublin"):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_ ... w_Lubelski

This photo shows the supposed (according to some German sources) "capitulation" of Lwow in 1939. We can see the adiutant of 1. Gebirgs-Division (Major Schrank) and Polish parliamentary (reserve lieutenant Lis-Olszewski). Of course res. lt. Lis-Olszewski didn't sign any capitulation, it was already explained what was he doing:

[Jan-Hendrik]

This is the last time Lemberg is mentioned in the Ia-Folder of KTB H.Gr.Süd:



After that already the negotians with Red Army were on top:



The next days the Meldungen rather covers the reorganisation for transferring troops and staff of AOK 10 to the west, and the final fightings at Warsaw, but no really much more for any fightings in Southern Poland.

Jan-Hendrik

[Jan-Hendrik]

By the way, it seems that HGr.Süd had never the plan to take Lemberg, it always mentions only to encircle it closely...why?:





Jan-Hendrik

[Domen123]

Well the documents Jan-Hendrik has provided are a bit confusing.

The intermediate report on 22 September states the city surrendered.

The evening report on 22 September (which one presumes was issued later) states the outcome of negotiations is unknown.

On 22.09.1939 the city surrendered - but to the Soviets, not Germans.

After that already the negotians with Red Army were on top:

There was for example this meeting of gen. Feurstein with kombrig Jakovlev in Winniki on 20.09.1939. Germans and Soviets were quarrelling hard for the city Lwow. There was even this "demonstration of power" - armed clash.

This quarrel was in fact not for the city of Lwow itself, but for the Boryslawsko - Drohobyckie Oilfield...

But in the end Germans yielded to Soviet demands in order to retain good mutual relations and profitable alliance.

By the way, it seems that HGr.Süd had never the plan to take Lemberg

The general storm of the city was planned on 21.09.1939. But this plan was cancelled by OKH yet on 20.09.1939.

but no really much more for any fightings in Southern Poland.

For combats in South-Eastern Poland after 23 IX check for example "Wir zogen gegen Polen" - pp. 62 - 64 and forward.

Btw - OKW announcement dated 25.09.1939 (in the evening) states:

"During the day Northern wing of 14. Army was involved in heavy withdrawal fightings south of Krasnobrod. Time limit of finishing these fightings cannot be determined at the moment."

Another OKW announcement - communiqué No 25 dated 26.09.1939 states:

"14. Army continues withdrawal to the left bank of the San river as planned [...] Whereas Northern wing [of 14. Army] during the whole day was involved in heavy withdrawal fightings south of Krasnobrod."

Because of these fightings Northern wing of 14. Army was not able to withdraw behind the Soviet - German demarcation line as planned. During the battle of Krasnobrod Germans called for Soviet help (44. Rifle Div. came and they were fighting together).

Here is the thread (in Polish and Russian) about Soviet participation in the 2nd battle of Tomaszow Lubelski:

I gathered all of this data together and created this small calendar of Soviet operations during the battle:

http://www.dws.org.pl/viewtopic.php?f=9 ... 5#p1391917

one can reasonably assume that the city did not surrender to Major Schank

Reserve lieutenant Lis-Olszewski was not authorized to sign any capitulation. All authorized persons - including gen. Langner - were already conducting negotiations with the Russians on 21.09.1939. This is both confirmed by Polish and Russian sources. On 21.09.1939 Poles already decided that they were going to hand over the city to the Russians.

Wojciech Wlodarkiewicz writes (pp 185 - 186):

"On 21.09.1939 in the early morning Soviet side proposed the Poles to resume negotiations. Polish side sent a delegation with lt. col. Ryzinski and interpreter maj. Jan Jawicz to Winniki. During negotiations Soviet side insisted on allowing the Red Army by the Polish side to enter the city, but Polish delegation still didn't have authorisation to take such a decision. In this situation a meeting with general Langner was agreed at 2:00 PM behind the Lyczakowska tollgate. In the afternoon general Langner received information that the Red Army forces had attacked the city and defenders retreated from the most sticking out positions. In this situation gen. Januszajtis on behalf of the Command of Corps Region No VI ordered the commander of the Group of Lwow Defense gen. Sikorski to open fire to the Soviet forces after triple warning. When the defenders opened fire, Russian units stopped the attack and retreated.

At 2:00 PM gen. Langner and lt. col. Ryzinski went to the Lyczakowska tollgate but the Soviet general didn't come to the agreed meeting. It was established, that the renewed meeting is going to take place in the same place after 3 hours. In the agreed time limit negotiations of both delegations took place and preliminary conditions of surrendering the city were established. During the night both sides were to specify these conditions in writing, in order to meet again at 8:00 AM of the Moscow's time on the next day, to finally discuss and accept them. The Soviet side guaranteed retaining the current city authorities, safety of live for all people inside the city, retaining the private property and the opportunity of emigration to neutral countries for everybody who wants it. During the negotiations gen. Langner repeatedly underlined that he prefers to hand over the city to the Soviet side rather than to the 'eternal enemy of all Slavic people' - Germans."

[Domen123]

"Thanks to energy and resourcefulness of the commander of Corps District VI gen. Wladyslaw Langner and the city's president Stanislaw Ostrowski, in the face of massive reinforcing of military forces by the Lwowian youth and thanks to arriving reserves, forces of the defenders of Lwow numbered 24 infantry battalions, 3 cavalry squadrons, company of sappers and many other units. Armament consisted of 78 field guns and 16 AA guns. There was shortage of AT guns, but forces defending the city had got 6,000 machine guns. On 18 - 19 September two armoured trains "Smialy" and "Bartosz Glowacki" as well as three transports with ammunition and weapons arrived in Lwow. In magazines Poles gathered 14 units of fire for infantry weapons and artillery each, food supplies sufficient for almost 3 months, fuel supplies - for 6 months. All conditions necessary for long-lasting defence were created. Despite the fact that civilian inhabitants were suffering from Luftwaffe bombings and each day hundreds of them were being killed, the German Command was vainly waiting for the capitulation of Lwow."

[...]

"During the night from 20th to 21st of September German forces started their retreat. Their positions were taken over by Russian units, preparing to the assault which was to begin at 9 o'clock in the morning. 38th and 10th Tank Brigades as well as the mixed unit of 97th and 96th Rifle Division were attached to the 1st Cavalry Corps. Plan of the assault was simple: 14th Cavalry Division was to attack the city from the north and from the north-east, mixed unit of 17th Rifle Corps and 38th Tank Brigade - from the east, 5th Cavalry Division together with 10th Tank Brigade - from the south and south-west. It should be noticed that even in official combat order Polish garrison of Lwow was called a "fascist organization". Soviet forces occupied assigned positions but in the morning Polish military command announced its readiness to start negotiations. General Langner softened. Especially that the "general directive" of the Polish High Command ordered Polish units not to fight against the Soviets. However, gen. Langner didn't take up any efforts to execute the 2nd point of this directive - breaking through to Hungary - despite the fact that the withdrawal of German forces created ideal opportunity for such action.

[...]

At 14:00 Polish units started to lay their weapons and one hour later dismounted units of the 2nd Cavalry Corps together with tanks of three armoured brigades (24., 38. and 10.) entered the city. For the European citizens of Lwow Red Army, in spite of huge mass of armoured technology, looked like a horde of scruffs:

"Low training of soldiers jumps out: marching units distinguish themselves with low discipline, they are unkempt and dirty. It is visible, that soldiers are badly fed, their weapons are neglected, uniforms are of different colours, even Polish uniforms can be seen, shoes are often tied with string in order to not fall to pieces; many are full of holes. General impression - a band, not an army."

Polish garrison fulfiled the conditions of surrendering, only in several places Polish soldiers who didn't want to surrender opened fire from behind the barricades, but their resistance was quickly put down. Until the evening on 23 September calmness reigned over the city and main Soviet forces entered the suburbs."

[...]

"Polish patriots in London and Paris later accused general Langner for small mindedness and lack of wider thinking:

"(...) Lwow, in our opinion, could have remained in Polish hands two or three weeks more, even up to 10.10.1939. It would have been the longest defence of the last boundary of Polish soil. Moral-propaganda and moral significance of such a defense - in front of the eyes of entire world, attention of which would have been then directed towards Poland - just cannot be overestimated (...) In general the role of gen. Langner in period after 17.09.1939 must be rated completely negatively.""

Source: Vladimir Beshanov, "Krasnyj Blickrig", fragments from pages 111 - 115

[Domen123]

By the way, it seems that HGr.Süd had never the plan to take Lemberg

The OKW clearly planned and wanted to capture Lemberg. OKW operational proposition from 11.09.1939:

"[...] The Oberkommando des Heeres proposes to advance up to the Polish-Russian border, filling of which with usage of existing Polish fortifications in the East will require the smallest amount of forces.

In case if this solution is undesirable from political regards [e.g. the Ribbentrop-Molotov], the following line is proposed:
Stanislawow - east of Lemberg - Bug up to the Brest - Grodno.

Requisition of forces for both lines is more or less equal. Filling this line with Landwehr divisions and keeping several combat ready divisions of IV and V Welle in reserve in the rear area and against Romania is anticipated.

Situation on the front:

- the northern wing of AG "Sud", engaged in combats against enemy forces at the Bzura, has not been able to cross the Vistula river in eastern direction until now,
- in the area of Warsaw there are no sufficient enemy forces to threaten the right flank of the 3. Army during her advance to the south,
- considering that the 14. Army has crossed the San and the 3. Army and XIX corps are quickly advancing to the south and south-east, it seems impossible for the enemy to organize a cohesive frontline along the eastern bank of the Vistula river,
- OKW concludes, that more and more clearly enemy forces are sneaking out to the south, towards Romania.

Directives for army groups:

- AG "Nord" - is to continue the pursuit to the east with its right wing along the axis Ryki - Lubartow - Kowel (included) and with possibility of conducting operations along the line Kowel - Slonim, as well as throwing the motorized forces to the pursuit on Brest Litovsk, in order to cut off enemy forces withdrawing from the northern wing.
- AG "Sud" - with part of forces of the 10. Army will carry out pursuit across Krasnik and Lublin. 14. Army - will strike across the San on Lemberg and further to the south, in order to with use of its advanced wing prevent the enemy to retreat towards Romania. 1. Panzer-Division is to attack towards Deblin along the eastern bank of the Vistula, in order to help the 3. Army in movements of her right wing. 8. Army is ordered to complete combats near Kutno and XVI. Panzer-Korps from 10. Army is to conduct clearing of Warsaw. [...]"

On 15 IX OKW issued another order, in which it urged to capture Lemberg and to cut-off the Romanian Bridgehead.

Btw - it is interesting to see how little of these plans they actually managed to achieve and how much they failed. For example the 1. Pz.Div. could not complete its task because it had to rescue other German forces at the Bzura. Plans of pursuit to the south with use of 3. Army were only partially completed, because these forces had to encircle Warsaw (OKW anticipations that Polish forces around Warsaw were not sufficient to threaten the 3. Army's wing were wrong - actually the cavalry operational group of gen. Anders attacked their flank from the area south of Warsaw and then easily broke through to the south-east). Ordering the remaining forces of the XVI. Pz.Korps (apart from 1. Pz.Div.) to "clean" Warsaw shows us how little OKW knew about the strength of Warsaw's garrison (despite the failure of 4. Pz.Div. during her assault on 09.09.39). Plans of finishing the battle of Bzura with only 8. Army turned out to be completely unrealistic (they had to sent there major parts of 10. and 4. Armies). But seemingly on 11.09.1939 the OKW didn't yet know how hard was the 8. Army's situation at the Bzura. Guderian was fighting for the fortress Brest for few days and while advancing further to the south and south-east, he was halted by Polish forces near Kobryn and Sawin. All of that shows how much the USSR helped the Germans in quickly defeating Poland.

[Domen123]

but no really much more for any fightings in Southern Poland.

"Morning September 21st, swabian division (27 ID) marches towards the Vistula. A report comes, that the light division (4) was attacked by enemy forces from the eastern region and that it will not be able to hold for a long time... The entire regiment develops to an assault. Battalions attack the enemy in Barchaczow, supported by artillery and infantry guns fire... We receive reports... that the enemy also attacks from the north-east and from the east... The regiment is endangered. Polish machine guns constantly yap and yawn with fire. Polish artillery inflicts severe losses. Commander of the regiment gives an order: "Hold your positions! Entrench yourselves!". But even this entrenching doesn't help. Enemy artillery fire increases. These are not hastily broken remnants of the Polish Army... which attacked the light and own division, but a new, strong enemy. Also the second regiment of the swabian division had to be sent from the road to Zamosc towards the north-east. The third regiment, which was not taking part in the battle of Tomaszow and was torturing itself in march through the Rudka forests, received an order of hasty march and also enters combat. It was the regular battle between Tarnawatka, Komarow and Barchaczow."

Source:

"Wir zogen gegen Polen", p. 51

"During the night from 22nd to 23rd of September the fragmented VII Corps sets to an attack along the line Zamosc - south-east Zamosc. The start of the assault - September 23rd, 8 o'clock in the morning. Around 6 o'clock the situation is unchanged. Artillery received an order to lay fire on the march roads of the Poles, because many Polish columns were reported. The assault begins. Strong enemy resistance south of Zamosc...
In the night the enemy attempted to advance to the south-west... through the gap between the VII and neighbouring VIII Corps... Regiments of the Brandenburgian Division (68 ID) stood in the region of Rudka, ready to retreat behind the Vistula. Then the order came: "Prevent the enemy breakthrough near Krasnobrod". The regiments returned. Two regiments marched straight on in eastern direction towards the gap, the third regiment to the north-east, to secure the wing of the fighting Swabian Division (27 ID)... Along the road Rudka-Jacnia a report comes from forward units: "To the east from the forester Kaczorki the company encountered the enemy. Enemy artillery fires on Jacnia. It asks for help." Second report: "The HQ of the neighbouring Corps (VIII AK) is hemmed and suffered huge losses." Along the road Jacnia - Krasnobrod and Jacnia - Rudka there are vehicles of the neighbouring division (8 Inf.Div.) - abandoned and partially plundered. Soldiers retreated... they fired all their ammo. In the southern part of the column remnants of the HQ formed a "hedgehog". Casualties among officers and riflemen are heavy. The situation is hopeless. Only calls of those coming with relief let to breathe. They greet the liberators from 68 Inf.Div. "It was just the matter of minutes" - said the officer of the general HQ and shakes hand of the newcomer. Counterattacks were being conducted further. Polish cavalry moved away, but before that numerous buildings had to be cleaned from it, Polish soldiers remained in hiding everywhere around... While along the southern front of the assault of the Brandenburgian, one regiment was attacking in eastern direction towards the road Zamosc - Tomaszow, the neighbouring regiment, fighting in the north, was no less strongly pushing towards Suchowola and Rachodoszcze. The Polish breakthrough attempt to the west had to be stopped. Again and again Polish units regroup and attack. Sometimes they even outnumber us. Polish cavalry attacks on horsebacks. But German counterattacks push it mercilessly to the east. The Brandenburgian Division accomplished its task: the gap had been closed... Around 4 o'clock the Poles once again attack the defensive line of this regiment of the Brandenburgian Division. Behind the second battalion of this regiment, which withdraws from Boza Wola, the Poles in pursuit capture Rachodoszcze and penetrate into locality Feliksowka. The Polish cavalry brigade managed to break through the gap between the two battalions of this regiment near Feliksowka. Suddenly Polish cavalry and infantry appears, attacking against this poorly defended position. The Poles tirelessly advance forward and blow the ring. They uncontrollably advance west, in order to later turn south, because the romanian border is their desired target."

Source:

"Wir zogen gegen Polen", pp. 55 - 62

[Domen123]

I think finally there is a reasonable solution of this controversy.

German sources were "almost correct" with their claim (but almost makes a big difference):

"[On 21.09.1939] commander of the armament depot No 6 [in Holosko] - Lt. Col. Dmyszewicz, whose unit during the entire day of 20th September was involved in heavy combats, successfuly repulsing a strong German attack, received an order [from Gen. Langner ?] to surrender it to the Germans without blowing up storehouses, by virtue of safety of the people of Lwow. As the result of day long German attacks against the depot as well as intense German artillery fire, there were heavy losses in the march battalion of 19 pp under Mjr. Blutreich, the sentry company under Cpt. Jan Gorski and the 6th BTRY of 6 pac. It is known that the recon officer of this BTRY - 2nd Lt. Roman Diaczek - was KIA, and her fire safety officer - 2nd Lt. Stanislaw Rozwadowski - was contused. On 21.09.1939 at 7:00 capitulation of the depot took place. Before that the 6th BTRY of 6 pac destroyed its four 155mm howitzers, in order to prevent them from falling into German hands. Sixteen officers and 300 men laid down their arms. This fact was wrongly interpreted by the Germans as capitulation of Lwow."

But it's surprising that the surrender of 316 men (!) was interpreted this way by the Germans.

Source:

R. Dalecki, "Armia Karpaty w wojnie obronnej 1939 r." ("Army Karpaty in the defensive war of 1939"), Rzeszow 1989, p. 337

And one more fragment:

"Withdrawal movements of the Germans started yet in the night from 20th to 21st September. They were delayed by the surrender at the behest of Gen. Sosnkowski [rather Langner ?] of the crew of the armament depot in Holosko under command of Lt. Col. Ludwik Dmyszewicz; blowing up this depot would cause additional destructions inside the city. Assuredly on this basis the Germans later put forward false claims about the surrender of the garrison of Lwow to their forces."

Source:

A. Zawilski, "Bitwy Polskiego Września", Krakow 2009, p. 659

Strangely W. Wlodarkiewicz doesn't mention anything about this even in his book "Lwow 1939".

-----------------------------

Below I'm placing a link to the map of the defense of Lwow in period 12 - 14 September.

You can see two villages near Lwow - Holosko Wlk. and Holosko Mł. - somewhere there was this depot:

http://forum.axishistory.com/download/f ... ?id=185294

I'm not sure if this depot is the same as Magazyny Amunicyjne DOK VI marked on this map (amunicyjne = ammunition, and according to above quoted sources it was an armament depot, but anyway it's probably one and the same place).

Anyway - the depot was ordered to surrender to the Germans because it was completely cut off from Lwow (as can be seen on the map) by the Germans, and Lwow was going to be handed over to the Soviets, that's why the depot surrendered.

It should also be noticed that most of supplies were already transported from this depot to Lwow (despite the German encirclement of this depot - several times the ring of encirclement was being broken and supplies were being transported), what was not transported to Lwow, was used up during the defence of the depot. Not much left there.

[Domen123]

Apparently veteran of the defence of Lwow in 1939:

He mentions gen. Januszajtis (who was in Lwow in September 1939), capitulation of Lwow to the Soviets, the Soviets releasing ordinary POWs as was agreed, his return home, being arrested by NKVD in November, etc.:

http://www.historydocumented.com/2009/0 ... h-patriot/

He died this year, on 27 February 2011.