The Battle of Radom, also known as the Battle of Iłża, was part of the Invasion of Poland during the Second World War. It lasted from 8 September 1939 to 9 September 1939. Polish troops of the Prusy Army, under General Stanisław Skwarczyński, defended the city of Iłża and the road from Sandomierz to Radom. The Poles were not ready to meet head on overwhelming German XV Army Corps (General Hermann Hoth), and were easily defeated after two days of fighting. Prusy Army, in the aftermath of the battle, ceased to exist. Some of the army's units joined other tactical groupings of the Polish armed forces. Background Armia Prusy, which was regarded as strategic reserve of Polish forces, remained deep behind front line, and was not planned to enter the battle before mid-September. To the surprise of Polish headquarters, after the first week of fighting, motorized and panzer units of German 10th Army broke through a gap between Army Krakow and Army Lodz, near Czestochowa, and marched northwards to Warsaw. The battle began when southern wing of Prusy Army, which consisted of three infantry divisions (3rd Legions Infantry, 12th Infantry and 36th Infantry), together with Operational Group Kielce, clashed with motorized forces of German 10th Army, which blocked the routes towards the Vistula river. On September 8, 7th Polish Infantry Regiment (3rd Division), supported by two artillery batteries, captured Ilza. Its battalions were scattered around the town, while 12th Infantry Division was located in northern parts of the Starachowice Forest, next to an armored regiment of Krakow Cavalry Brigade. First contact of 3rd Infantry Division with the enemy took place at midday. East of Ilza, German motorized units were halted by Polish regiments. The Germans regrouped and attacked again, but failed to break through Polish lines. Soon afterwards, German 3rd Light Division entered the battle, but its advance was also checked, near the village of Pilatka. Another German assault was halted near the village of Kotlarka, and the enemy had to retreat southwards, to the road Ilza - Lipsko. At app. 3 p.m., German tanks were repelled near Trebowiec Duzy, and finally, after artillery barrage, the Germans attacked Ilza, at 6 p.m. Polish 7th Infantry Regiment had to retreat, and managed only to keep its positions near the ruins of the Ilza Castle. Surrounded by the Wehrmacht, 12th Infantry Division attempted to break out. Despite initial success of 52nd Infantry