Defence & Space

Poland’s 6th Airborne Sharpshooters Complete Training with New Grot DMR

In July, the first-ever course in the Polish Armed Forces for sharpshooters equipped with semi-automatic Grot 7.62×51 designated marksman rifles took place…

2025-07-15 | Jakub Link-Lenczowski | 5 minutes

5000 more Galvion’s Batlskin Caiman helmets for the Canadian DICE programme

Galvion receives further follow-on Batlskin Caiman order of 5000 helmets, for the Canadian Dismounted Infantry Capability Enhancement (DICE) programme.

2025-07-15 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Polish 35 mm SA-35 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun with PIT-Radwar

During the recent MSPO trade fair in Kielce, the company PIT-Radwar presented its proposal for a 35 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun designated…

2025-06-13 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 13 minutes

Poland’s 6th Airborne Sharpshooters Complete Training with New Grot DMR

In July, the first-ever course in the Polish Armed Forces for sharpshooters equipped with semi-automatic Grot 7.62×51 designated marksman rifles took place…

2025-07-15 | Jakub Link-Lenczowski | 5 minutes

Second Delivery of K9A1 Thunder Howitzers to Poland This Year

A shipment of 155 mm K9A1 Thunder self-propelled howitzers arrived in Poland from the Republic of Korea, the second delivery of its…

2025-07-15 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

Orion: The Force Multiplier that led the IDF to unmatched ground superiority

Orion, developed by Asio Technologies in collaboration with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) technology division and in full operational deployment by the IDF, has…

2025-07-09 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

SKW Cryptographic Security Certificate for Polish Comp@n Radio Set from the WB Group

The WB Group announced that the Comp@n system radio set, developed by its subsidiary Radmor, along with the Cryptographic Document Management…

2025-06-14 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Wescom Defence to Unveil ATMIS Multispectral Camouflage at DSEI 2025

Wescom Defence, a trusted provider of pyrotechnics, energetics and a wide range of reliable products and systems to global defence forces, will officially…

2025-07-14 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

2nd S.E.A.L Conference under Our media patronage

We are pleased to announce that MILMAG Military Magazine has become the media patron of the second edition of the SE.A.L Conference,…

2025-07-11 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

5000 more Galvion’s Batlskin Caiman helmets for the Canadian DICE programme

Galvion receives further follow-on Batlskin Caiman order of 5000 helmets, for the Canadian Dismounted Infantry Capability Enhancement (DICE) programme.

2025-07-15 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

ICEYE unveils machine learning-powered Flood Rapid Impact Product to revolutionize response

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE, a specialist in satellite-powered disaster management solutions, has announced the launch of Flood Rapid Impact (FRI).

2025-07-15 | Redakcja | 5 minutes

Illegal migration to Europe in the first five months of 2025

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) has published statistics on attempted illegal crossings of the EU’s external borders in the…

2025-07-08 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

LOT Polish Airlines Selected for Air Transport and MEDEVAC under the EU’s rescEU Program

LOT Polish Airlines has signed an agreement to provide air transport and MEDEVAC services. As part of the EU’s rescEU instrument under…

2025-07-07 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Poland’s 6th Airborne Sharpshooters Complete Training with New Grot DMR

In July, the first-ever course in the Polish Armed Forces for sharpshooters equipped with semi-automatic Grot 7.62×51 designated marksman rifles took place…

2025-07-15 | Jakub Link-Lenczowski | 5 minutes

5000 more Galvion’s Batlskin Caiman helmets for the Canadian DICE programme

Galvion receives further follow-on Batlskin Caiman order of 5000 helmets, for the Canadian Dismounted Infantry Capability Enhancement (DICE) programme.

2025-07-15 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Illegal migration to Europe in the first five months of 2025

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) has published statistics on attempted illegal crossings of the EU’s external borders in the…

2025-07-08 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

East Shield and the Baltic Defense Line: Cooperation and Investment in Defense Are the Cornerstone of Europe’s Security

East Shield, the Baltic Defense Line, the integration of available deterrence and defense capabilities, and EU defense funding were the main…

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

ICEYE unveils machine learning-powered Flood Rapid Impact Product to revolutionize response

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE, a specialist in satellite-powered disaster management solutions, has announced the launch of Flood Rapid Impact (FRI).

2025-07-15 | Redakcja | 5 minutes

LYOFOOD Pierogi Become First Polish Dish Eaten in Space

Yesterday, during a live broadcast from the International Space Station, our astronaut Dr. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, together with Axiom-4 mission commander Peggy…

2025-07-07 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes
Shooting

Galvion’s Caiman Helmets from Gdańsk

Two weeks have passed since the memorable Monday, June 23, of this year. The emotions have settled, and the long…

2025-07-10 | Dariusz Borkowski | 10 minutes

CZ Shooting Team athletes take home 13 medals from the CZ Extreme Euro Open

Sport shooters representing Ceska zbrojovka brought back six gold, four silver, and three bronze medals from Hodonice, along with four…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Upgraded Z8i Scope from SWAROVSKI OPTIK

Swarovski Optik, the Austrian optics manufacturer with nearly 80 years of tradition, has unveiled an upgraded version of its Z8i…

2025-07-03 | Mariusz Piwowar | 3 minutes

Streamlight introduces the SL-SideSaddle

Streamlight, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting tools, announces the SL-SideSaddle series, a new hands-free lighting solution built for outdoor adventure…

2025-07-01 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Galvion’s Caiman Helmets from Gdańsk

Two weeks have passed since the memorable Monday, June 23, of this year. The emotions have settled, and the long…

2025-07-10 | Dariusz Borkowski | 10 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Galvion’s Caiman Helmets from Gdańsk

Two weeks have passed since the memorable Monday, June 23, of this year. The emotions have settled, and the long…

2025-07-10 | Dariusz Borkowski | 10 minutes

CZ Shooting Team athletes take home 13 medals from the CZ Extreme Euro Open

Sport shooters representing Ceska zbrojovka brought back six gold, four silver, and three bronze medals from Hodonice, along with four…

2025-07-04 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

CZ Introduces the New CZ P-10 C PORTED Model

CZ P-10 C PORTED – a compact pistol with tamed recoil thanks to an integrated compensator.

2025-07-02 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Meprolight MMX3 and MMX4 – Lightweight Magnifiers with Quality Optics

The Mepro MMX3 and MMX4, a new line of compact magnifiers from the Israeli manufacturer. How do they perform in practice and how…

2025-06-27 | Krzysztof Ptak | 8 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Bayraktar TB3 Debuts

The 55th edition of the International Paris Air and Space Show, held in the French capital, provided an opportunity for Baykar…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

Setting Up a Shooting Belt: An Example with Clawgear

To assist with shooting training and beyond, various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs. It’s…

2024-11-28 | Łukasz Kołodziejski | 14 minutes

Over 100% increase in gun permits in Poland in 2024

The Polish Police have released statistical data on firearm permits issued in 2024. An increasing number of Poles now hold a permit, with…

2025-02-20 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Firearms In Poland 2023: Number of permits continues to grow

The National Police Headquarters has released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and firearms themselves in the hands of Poles.…

2024-02-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs…

2022-11-11 | Redakcja | 9 minutes

MILMAG Visits Grand Power

Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms. Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles.

2022-05-23 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

Meprolight MMX3 and MMX4 – Lightweight Magnifiers with Quality Optics

The Mepro MMX3 and MMX4, a new line of compact magnifiers from the Israeli manufacturer. How do they perform in practice and how…

2025-06-27 | Krzysztof Ptak | 8 minutes

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X – a Bayonet of Light for Your Weapon

The devil’s not so scary once you shine a light on him—and he’s certainly easier to neutralize in the spotlight. A weapon-mounted flashlight is practically…

2025-06-09 | Anna Mielczarek | 6 minutes

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

2024-09-02 | Michał Gaweł | 12 minutes

Three Panthers in Warsaw

78 years ago, on 1 August 1944 the Warsaw Uprising broke out. Below we try to describe one of its many episodes – a capture of two German Panther tanks.

Author: John Winner (October 2013)

This is the short story of three Panzerkampfwagen V “Panther” Sd.Kfz. 171 from I./Panzer-Regiment 27/19.Panzer-Division that were lost on 2 August 1944 in Warsaw, Poland. I have done my best to sort out the facts and present this story, as it happened, to the best of my knowledge.

Above is the area of this action in question. This is the Wola district of Warsaw, Poland, aerial view from December 1945. Please refer to this large overview while consulting the smaller maps contained within this document

In the early morning of 2 August 1944, 3 Panther tanks of I./Pz.Rgt.27/19.Pz.Div. Were heading to the Waverrma workshop in Fort Bema.

Fort Bema, containing the Waverrma workshop (photo: December 1945)

Planned route of Panthers (Photo: December 1945)

To the right is the planned route I believe the Panthers were to take to get the the workshop. They started on ulica Górczewska heading east. at the junction with the railroad tracks I believe they were to turn north and follow the path mapped out. At the point they were supposed to turn something went wrong, possibly a miscommunication between the commander of the lead tank and his driver, or they could have seen a small group of insurgents and decided to engage, hopeful of a quick action. Regardless of the reason they continued to travel east, these Panthers had no infantry support.

Route of the Panthers to ulica Okopowa (photo: December 1945)

After crossing the tracks the Panthers continued east on ulica Górczewska until they reached ulica Młynarska. At this point they took a left and started traveling in the northerly direction. It is most likely they did not realize that they were already off course. They moved up Młynarska to the junction with ulica Smetna (no longer existing) and took a turn to the east, then a turn to the north. It is my belief that after traveling up Smetna for a bit they started to understand that they were lost. Instead of backtracking they continued in a northerly direction along the wall of the Cmentarz Powązkowski (Powązkowska Cemetary). There was no way through the wall and the decision was probably made to follow the wall around so they kept going down Smetna, eventually reaching ulica Spokojna, after a quick northern then eastern jog in the wall. After moving down Spokojna for a bit they came to the intersection with ulica Okopowa. This is where the fateful choice to turn south was made. I assume they turned south to try and return to ulica Górczewska, but having only been in Warsaw for about a week they were unfamiliar with the roads and probably would have turned to the north on Okopowa and moved to ulica Powązkowska, if they knew that the southern route moved into a much more built up area.

Final journey of the Panther (Photo: December 1945)

The Panthers started to move south down ulica Okopowa to ulica Wolska and turned west, supposedly looking for a way back to where they had started. Finding that they had gone south too far. Upon reaching ulica Karlokowa they started back north and after a short distance spotted and insurgent barricade near the intersection of Karolkowa and ulica Żytnia. At this point they were engaged by insurgents. Overcoming this attack they continued north along Karolkowa. Upon reaching the gate to the “Telefunken” factory at the intersection of Karolkowa and ulica Mireckiego they were again attacked by insurgents. To get away from the attack they traveled east on Mireckiego back to ulica Okopowa and upon reaching it took a turn north (yellow line), possibly thinking that since there had been no opposition earlier it would be safe to take this route. Upon reaching a point on Okopowa near the Pfeiffer Tannery they were ambushed again. Two of the Panthers were lost and the third turned back to the south (green line) and met its end near the intersection of Okopowa and ulica Mireckiego.

Aerial view, Karolkowa and Żytnia (December 1945)

Encounter with Battalion “Parasol”

At approximately 8:00 the Panthers reached a barricade on Ulica Karolkowa which had been put up on 1 August 1944. It was composed of beams, boards, trash cans and furniture. The I Platoon of 2. Company, battalion “Parasol” occupied positions behind the barricade. As the Panthers approached they insurgents moved to positions behind the wall adjacent to the Domu Starców (Old Folks Home). They had no anit-tank weapons so as the Panthers moved over the barricade and past their positions all they could do was throw Molotov Cocktails. The attack had no effect, possibly due to the heavy rain that started to fall. The Panthers moved on to the north.

Battalion “Zośka” at the “Telefunken: factory (December 1945)

After reaching the corner and turning onto ulica Mireckiego, near the gate to the “Telefunken” factory, the Panthers were again attacked by insurgents. Elements of Battalion “Zośka” attacked with grenades with minimal effect. The tanks moved east to try and escape the narrow street and turned north onto Okopowa (yellow line).

Ambush by Battalion “Zośka” (Photo: December 1945)

Two Panthers Lost

As the Panthers moved north along ulica Okopowa (yellow line), they were ambushed at the Pfeiffer Tannery. Platoons “Alek” and “Felek” of Company “Rudy”, Battalion Zośka. This attack was by Gammon bombs and Molotov Cocktails thrown from behind the wall of the Jewish Cemetary. Pchor. Eugeniusz Koecher “Kołczana” acted as an observer from atop the wall. The first Panther in the column ran into a steel tram pole at the intersection of Okopowa and Gliniana and came to a stop and the crew bailed out. The second Panther managed to turn around and head to the south (green line). The third Panther caught on fire after being hit by several Molotov Cocktails, the crew bailed out and the tank burnt out. (The red line is the original route south when the Panthers passed through earlier).

Route of the last Panther (Photo: December 1945)

Loss of the third Panther

The second Panther of the column had managed to turn south to try and escape the ambush, heading down Okopowa. After it had driven a few meters the Platoon commander of the Kedyw unit Squadron 1806, 1st Rifle Regiment managed to attach a 2 kg. improvised explosive to the Panther. As the tank continued south it passed the command post of the group “Radosław” and was hit by a PIAT in the back of the turret. The Panther veered to the right and smashed trough the wall along Okopowa, slid down a 1.5 meter embankment and came to rest in a wooden cottage. The crew was captured.

Sources

Janusz Ledwoch, PzKpfw V Sd Kfz 171 “Panther” Część I, Militaria Publishing (Warsaw 1998)

“Pz.Kpfw. V “Panther” Ausf. G.” Powstanie Warszawskie, web. 18 October 2013. <http://powstanie-warszawskie-1944.pl/>

… In 1940-44 Warsaw was quite a big center of AFV and military vehicle production. Former Polish ‘wytwórnia amunicji nr 1’ (Ammunition Plant No.1). Another ex-Polish works, ‘Ursus’ at the suburban town Czechowice became FAMO-Werk Warschau/Warschauer Vereinigte Machinenfabriken G.m.b.H. (Waverma). Also, at Pruszków there was an important lathe machinery plant.

Waverma’s production is often overlooked. They were exclusively responsible for converting the Pz.Kpfw. II’s into Marder II’s and Wespes. Gearboxes for FAMO tractor were also manufactured there. Every Marder or Wespe after leaving Waverma plant at Czechowice (today’s name is Ursus), was transported to Fort Bema for finishing touches and testing – there was a vast depot and workshop in that old Russian fort. The workshops were organizationally a part of Waverma, too.

Just before The Rising the workshops became a key depot of the 29th Panzer Corps…

… A total of armored vehicles available to the Germans on August the 1st 1944 was as follows:

  • Pz.Jaeg. 38 (t) Hetzer of A.Pz.Jaeg.Abt – 20;
  • Pz.Kpfw. IV of II/Pz.Regt. “Hermann Goering” – 20;
  • Pz.Kpfw. IV, II SS-Pz.Regt. 3., “Totenkopf” Div. – 5;
  • Pz.Kpfw. VI, II SS-Pz.Regt. 3., “Totenkopf” Div. – 5;
  • F.H. Grille, Pz.Gren.Regt. 5, “Totenkopf” Div. – 6;
  • StuG III, Stug.E.u.A.Btr. – 6-10;
  • unknown number of police tanks – Italian, Soviet and French…

… After August the 1st the Fort Bema unexpectedly finds itself very near to the combat zone. And it was main maintenance center for entire 29th Panzer Corps. Which also means 19. Panzer Div. The premises were surrounded by a brick wall with shooting holes in it. It was still operational, therefore two Panther G tanks of II/27 Pz.Regt. thundered there in the morning of 2nd August. They most likely required some minor repairs. They got lost however and were captured by the troops of “Radosław” Group at Okopowa St…

… On August 4th another tank of the battalion was captured at Ochota. This time it was Pz.Kpfw.IV, one of the tanks covering 19. Pz.Div’s column movement through Al. Jerozolimskie and ul. Grójecka towards Warka and Magnuszew bridgeheads (the rest of the Division bypassed the town South of Mokotów). However, for some unclear reason the tank was not used against its former owners and was lost eventually…

 

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