$   German Supreme Command didn't devoted much attention to the development of armoured trains. In operation$
$Fall Wei only a few light armoured trains were applied.  The story of two of them is worth telling.$
$   The first task of Army Group North was breaching a corridor between the Reich and East Prussia.  It would$
$allow an unconstrained flow of troops and materiel for gen. Kuchler's 3rd Army.  Most important communication$
$line was the railway line leading through Pommerania Corridor from Chojnice to Tczew.$
$   That railway line had to be captured as fast as possible.  German commanders decided, that it would be best$
$to take the bridges across Vistula and important railway stations by surprise.  Two special groups have been$
$formed.  One of them operated from Eastern Prussia, in direction of Tczew. Its objectives were two bridges$
$across Vistula.  The second group launched its attack from Western Pommerania attempting to$
$capture the key railway stations.  Armoured trains were the core of both groups.$
$   On 1st September 1939 just before dawn instead of a transit train nr 963 from Marienburg (Malbork)$
$an armoured train departed.  Polish outposts were on alert, informed by a railwayman working in the Free$
$City.  The bridges were blown up - the surprise attack failed.$
$  The second action was also a failure. Similar trick as in Tczew was adopted. Instead of a passenger train$
$from Berlin armoured train crossed the border.  Because of the hazy conditions the train wasn't recognised$
$and without any trouble reached the railway station in Chojnice.  German soldiers disembarked and captured$
$the station.  The train moved further east towards Rytel.  Meanwhile, Polish troops blown up the bridge on$
$its route, forcing the armoured train to withdraw.  During its retreat the second bridge was blown up.$
$  The train was trapped, disabled and destroyed by Polish artillery.$
$  The operation was a failure.  The railway line from Reich to Eastern Prussia couldn't be exploited for$
$a long time.$
