Battle of Białystok

Battle of Białystok
Part of the Polish-Soviet War
Date September 22, 1920 Location Białystok, Poland Result Decisive Polish victory
Belligerents
Russian SFSR	Poland
Commanders and leaders
Nikolai Sollogub	Zygmunt Wenda August Emil Fieldorf Władysław Broniewski Józef Marjański
Units involved
16th Army	1st Infantry Regiment

The Battle of Białystok was a battle of the Polish-Soviet War that took place near and within Białystok, Poland on August 22, 1920. The battle was between the 1st Infantry Regiment and withdrawing from the Warsaw remains of the RSFSR's Red Army 16th Army group and 3rd Army troops in the city of Bialystok; the confusion caused by the Soviet forces chased, since the defeat at Warsaw, crushing into the forces stationed in Bialystok caused complete breakdown Bolshevik forces. Within the city, fighting took all day and covered the entire Bialystok. The individual parts of the city repeatedly passed from the Polish to the Russian hands and back. During the battle, several armored trains were used in combat.

Background

On August 16, 1920, Polish forces, concentrated along the Wieprz river, began their counterattack. After 24 hours, it became clear that Polish advance would threaten the rear of Soviet 16th Army. By August 20, Poles captured Bug river crossings at Drohiczyn and Frankopol. Forced into retreat, Soviet 16th Army headed towards Bialystok, in a chaotic, disorganized march.

At the same time, Polish elite unit, 1st Legions Infantry Division, also marched towards Bialystok. On August 20 in the evening, its commandant, Colonel Stefan Dab-Biernacki, ordered his soldiers to capture Bialystok, together with its railroad junction, and cut off all roads of retreat of the enemy. Dab-Biernacki tasked 1st Legions Infantry Regiment to carry out the assault. Altogether, Polish forces had some 2000 soldiers. On August 21, after a 40-kilometer march, head companies of the Regiment captured the village of Zwierki, located 14 kilometers from Bialystok. They captured 100 prisoners and 9 machine guns, but some Soviet soldiers managed to escape, and warned the garrison of Bialystok about Polish raid.

The Battle

Polish assault began on August 22, at 2 a.m. The city was defended by 164th Rifle Brigade of 55th Rifle Division of the Red Army. Soviet forces were supported by cavalry, artillery, and armoured train nr. 22. Despite warnings, defenders of Bialystok were surprised by 3rd Battalion of 1st Legions Regiment under Captain Jozef Marski-Marjanski, which broke into the center of the city.

By 7 a.m. Bialystok was in Polish hands. 164th Rifle Brigade was completely destroyed, with 2000 prisoners taken, together with 13 cannons, 30 machine guns and 3 military trains with food and equipment. Polish forces did not have time to celebrate their victory, as at 8:15 on the same day (August 22), first units of Soviet 16th Army approached the city. The enemy advanced without regard to their losses, forcing Poles to retreat, after hand to hand combat, with bayonets. The situation of the Poles was very dangerous, but it changed after Captain Marski-Marjanski had gathered several soldiers, initiating a counterattack, during which he was joined by other soldiers. Soon the Soviets panicked, and in the rout, some 1000 Soviet prisoners were taken.

At about 2 p.m., Soviet 27th Rifle Division appeared in Bialystok. One hour later the Soviets attacked, trying to capture barracks of the former Imperial Russian Army. Enjoying numerical superiority, the Red Army seized main rail station and entered the center of Bialystok. Polish retreat was halted when 27th Cavalry Regiment entered the fray. Heavy street fighting lasted for the whole day, with buildings changing hands several times.

Aftermath

The Battle of Bialystok ended with complete destruction of Soviet 16th Army. Polish losses amounted to 209 dead and wounded, while the Soviets lost over 600 dead and wounded, 8200 captured, together with 22 cannons, 147 machine guns, 1 plane and three cargo trains.

In the 1930s, a commemorative obelisk was unveiled on Zwyciestwa Street, in a location of one of street clashes. The monument bears the name of the fallen during the battle including the commander of the 1st Battalion of the 1st Infantry Regiment Captain Józef Marjański, after whom a street in the center of the city was named. One of participants of the Battle of Bialystok was Emil Fieldorf.

On the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw there is an inscription "BIALYSTOK 22 i 30 VIII 1920".

References

Footnotes

Citations

References

• Template:Pl icon Remembering the Battle of Białystok ;
• Template:Pl icon A forgotten hero of a forgotten battle.
• A. Borkiewicz, St. Grzegorczyk Walki 1 pp Legionów o Białystok na tle Bitwy Warszawskiej w 1920 roku, Wyd. Komitetu Budowy Kościoła-Pomnika S-ego Rocha, Białystok 1936
• W.Broniewski Pamiętnik 1918–1922, PIW, Warszawa 1984