In the first days of September 1939, under Colonel Boleslaw Ostrowski, the Division was concentrated in the area of Szydłowiec, as part of the Prusy Army.
Facing the Poles was the Second Armored Division of the Wehrmacht, whose units attacked Przedborz on September 3 and after heavy fights managed to capture the town.
On September 6, the German First Light Division crossed the Pilica River in Przedborz, which forced the Poles to withdraw towards Skarżysko-Kamienna.
On September 8, Colonel Ostrowski, after finding out that the Germans had captured Skarżysko-Kamienna, decided to move northwards, to Szydłowiec.
Meanwhile, the Germans attacked Polish units in the nearby forests of the Holy Cross Mountains, with heavy losses of both sides.