A search operation carried out between Andczyca and Topola Królewska has uncovered further traces linked to the 1939 Battle of the Bzura, one of the most important clashes of the September Campaign in Poland.
The expedition involved local historians, volunteers, and battlefield researchers from several groups. Also taking part was Adam Sikorski, presenter of the TVP history programme. The programme filmed parts of the search, with the episode expected to air later this year.
Conditions in the area proved difficult. Thick undergrowth, uneven ground, and heavily overgrown sections of land made the work slow and physically exhausting. Despite this, members of the Grupa Poszukiwaczy BZURA, the Stowarzyszenie Historyczne "Pułk 37", Bogdan Chmielecki, and other volunteers continued the search throughout the day.
Several items connected to the fighting were reportedly found and passed on to the relevant authorities. Military sappers were expected to inspect and secure the discoveries afterwards.
The Battle of the Bzura took place from 9 to 22 September 1939 during the German invasion of Poland. Polish forces under Generals Tadeusz Kutrzeba and Władysław Bortnowski launched a counter-attack against German troops advancing towards Warsaw. For a short period, the operation disrupted German plans and forced them to divert additional forces into the area.
The fighting quickly intensified. German air superiority and armoured units eventually pushed the Polish Army back, but the battle became a symbol of determined resistance during the opening weeks of the Second World War. Thousands of Polish soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured. Many were buried where they fell, often in makeshift graves scattered across forests and fields around the Bzura River.
Even now, remains of trenches, ammunition, personal belongings, and military equipment continue to surface across the region. Historians believe many locations connected to the battle are still undocumented.
Those involved in the latest expedition said the work was as much about remembrance as historical research. The search area is believed to contain positions where Polish soldiers fought and died during the retreat towards Warsaw.
Organisers hope to return for further searches if access can be agreed with the present landowners.
“Cześć ich pamięci” — honour to their memory — was the message shared by participants at the end of the operation, paying tribute to the soldiers of September 1939 whose stories still remain buried beneath the soil of the Bzura battlefield.
Sources : KPE Eksplorer