Battle of Tuchola Forest

BelligerentsGermanyPolandCommanders and leadersGünther von Kluge
Heinz Guderian
Adolf StraussWładysław Bortnowski
Stanisław Grzmot-Skotnicki
Józef Werobej
Juliusz DrapellaCasualties and losses 506 killed
743 wounded 1,600 killed
750 wounded
Unknown number captured

The Battle of Tuchola Forest (German: Schlacht in der Tucheler Heide, Polish: Bitwa w Borach Tucholskich) was one of the first battles of World War II, during the invasion of Poland. The battle occurred from 1 September to 5 September 1939 and resulted in a major German victory.

Poor Polishcommand and control, as well as German numerical and tactical superiority, allowed the Germans to cripple Poland's Armia Pomorze (Army Pomerania) and, by breaking through the Polish Corridor, to connect mainland Germany with East Prussia.

The battle was fought against the judgment of General Władysław Bortnowski, the commander of Army Pomerania, who considered the Corridor a very poor defensive position and had repeatedly asked for permission to withdraw his forces from it.