A. If Polish people talk about the beginning of WW2 they name it usually as Wrzesien 1939 /September of 1939/ or Defense War of 1939.

Q. Can you tell me about the Soviet invasion?

A. As to Russian invasion on Polish State in 1939. Yes, I can describe it for you. Red (Soviet) Army attacked Poland on 17th September 1939 when Poles fought against German invaders. Do you know that German invaders as well as Russian ones fought under Red banners? Only the symbols on the banners were different. I'm very glad you are interested in it all.

Q. What can you tell us of the 7TP? Do you have any tech data?

A.  Technical data of a light tank 7TP
Thickness of tank's armor: 5...17 mm (1 mm =0.254 in); front -- 17 mm, sides
 -- 13 mm, another from 10 to 5 mm.
Equipment in weapon: 1 gun caliber 20 mm, 1 machine gun caliber 7.92 mm.
Ammunition: 80 missiles for 20 mm gun and about 4,000 missiles for
7.92 mm machine gun.
Engine: Diesel (Polish unit), 6 cylinders, 81 kW (power).
Steel caterpillars: width of 267 mm, number of links -- 110 (on one side).
Total length of the tank: about 4,560 mm.
Total width of the tank: 2,430 mm.
High of the tank: 2,300 mm.
Weight of the tank: 9,900 KG (1 LB = 0.457(?) KG)
Max speed (on roads): 37 km/h.
Fuel consumption: 80 liters/100km on roads and 100 liters/100km on fields.
 

I don't describe an older version of 7TP -- a twin turret tank for that during German invasion almost all 7TP tanks were single turret ones. In September 1939 Polish Army disposed of about 160 7TP tanks. Only 16 of them were twin turret ones. Are you interested in a history of development of the tank? 1st Battalion of Light Tanks - a combative track Mobilized on 25th August 1939 the battalion was allotted to the Reserve Army. Major Adam Kubin was the battalion's commander. On 2nd September the battalion patrolled an environs of Przedborz (a small town). A part of the battalion had its first fight near Sulejow (a locality) on 6th September. Next day the battalion shot to an enemy armored column near Inowodz (a locality). From 8th to 13th September there were very intensive fights on a bank of Drzewiczka River and near Drzewica town. The battalion destroyed a lot of enemy armored vehicles. At last the battalion was dispersed. More than 20 tanks of the battalion went away in a good condition an East Side of Wisla (Vistula) river. The tanks were directed to Chelm (a town) and they protected Lublin Army's backs. On 15th September the group of the tank joined to Warsaw Armored Brigade and together with the brigade repelled German tanks near Jozefow (a locality). On 18th September started fights about Tomaszow Lubelski (a town). The group of the tanks destroyed a lot of German attacked troop equipment and took a lot of war-prisoners. But next two days brought a defeat. On 20th September the group with others Polish troops being around Tomaszow Lubelski capitulated.

 Attached is a picture presenting a production hall of Z.M. "URSUS" and assembly of single turret 7TP tanks.

 That's all for now,

 Zbigniew

Tyrannosaur,

Attached is a file contained some material about WW2 that I have found recently. It is a movie picture from Bzura River battle of polish Defense War in 1939. That is an archival material and perhaps you'll find it interesting. Unfortunately for you, a voice is speaking in Polish. Below there is my translation of it.

"General Khnol is going back behind Bzura River and preparing a  counter-attack in Sochachew direction. From General Helber's notes: Polish commander, who's against us, is a great head*. The guy is defending himself with the biggest** bravery."

The movie pictures show a real tactics of Polish cavalry in a fight. The possessed artillery and attacked on foot (the last pictures -- you can see cavalrymen and not infantry!) They used horses as "transport devices" and were able to assemble together again after a defeat (a natural horse's instinct).

For now,

Zbigniew

* He is saying that the Polish commander is very intelligent. - Tyrannosaur
** Greatest - Tyrannosaur

Click HERE to view and listen.