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Battle of Kaniów

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Battle of Kaniów
Part of the Eastern Front (World War I)

Commemorative brass award awarded to Polish soldiers years after the battle. Text reads: "1918 - Kaniów - II Korpus".
Date10–11 May 1918
Location
Near Kaniów (Kaniv), Ukraine
Result German victory
Belligerents
 Poland Polish II Corps  German Empire
Commanders and leaders
Józef Haller de Hallenburg Zierhold
Strength
8,000 12,000
Casualties and losses
1,000 dead or wounded, 3,250 captured 1,500 dead or wounded

Battle of Kaniów took place during World War I on the night of 10–11 May 1918 near Kaniv (Polish: Kaniów) between the Polish II Corps in Russia (including Brigade II of the Polish Legions) under general Józef Haller de Hallenburg and the German Imperial Army (including the 28th Landwehr Brigade) under general Zierhold. Ultimately the Germans were victorious with about half of the Polish forces surrendering and the rest retreating in disarray.[1]

Background

On 15 February, protesting against the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which reduced the chances for the creation of an independent Poland, the II Brigade of the Polish Legions, formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Army, broke through the frontline near Rarańcza and merged with the Polish units formerly in the Russian Army, joining the newly formed Polish II Corps in Russia. This was seen by the Central Powers as mutiny on the part of the Polish units, and a violation of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.

On 18 April the II Corps was ordered by the Regency Council to stop near Kaniv in Ukraine; in a triangle between Potok, Kozin and Stepańce.[2] On 6 May the commander of the 28th German Landwehr Brigade, General Zierhold, subordinate of Marshal Hermann von Eichhorn, issued an ultimatum to the II Corps, demanding it lay down its arms and surrender.[2] II Corps readied for battle, and surprised Zierhold, unprepared for battle, backed down saying that the ultimatum was a miscommunication.[2] Soon however he would be receiving reinforcements.[2]

Battle

On the night from 10–11 May 1918, II Corps was surrounded and attacked by German units.[2] Polish units formed on the village of Jemczycha and took defensive positions.[2] The II Corps resisted for about a day, and both sides sustained heavy losses. By the evening of 11 May the Germans proposed a ceasefire and negotiations.[2] With supplies running low the Poles accepted the offer to negotiate, and eventually agreed to an honorable capitulation.[2]

Aftermath

The battle resulted in heavy losses on both sides; about 1,500 German[2] and 1,000 Polish soldiers were killed or wounded in the fighting. Half of the Polish survivors were arrested and sent to prisoner of war camps, but the others managed to escape.[1][2] Those who escaped included the Polish commander Józef Haller de Hallenburg, who faked his death in the battle, and fled to France where he was later appointed commander of the new Polish unit, the Blue Army (or Haller's Army).[3][4][5] In the Second Polish Republic, several units would adopt the name "of Kaniów" in honor of that battle: the 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st Infantry Regiments and 6th Uhlan Regiment.[citation needed]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Spencer Tucker, Laura Matysek Wood, Justin D. Murphy, The European Powers in the First World War: An Encyclopedia, Taylor & Francis, 1996, ISBN 081533351X, Google Print, p.332
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Template:Pl icon Jacek Woyno, MATERIAŁY ARCHIWALNE DO DZIEJÓW POLSKICH FORMACJI WOJSKOWYCH W ROSJI (1914—1920), B I U L E T Y N Nr 25 WOJSKOWEJ SŁUŻBY ARCHIWALNEJ 2002
  3. ^ Paulist Fathers, Catholic world, Volume 114, 1922, Google Print, p.484-485 (public domain)
  4. ^ Spencer Tucker, Laura Matysek Wood, Justin D. Murphy, The European powers in the First World War: an encyclopedia, Taylor & Francis, 1999, ISBN 081533351X, Google Print, p.322
  5. ^ William Fiddian Reddaway, The Cambridge history of Poland: from Augustus II to Pilsudski (1697-1935), Volume 1, CUP Archive, 1950, Google Print, p.445

Further reading

  • Template:Pl iconRena Marwicz, KANIÓW - W 15 lecie bitwy....dnia 11 Maja 1918, KURYER LITERACKO-NAUKOWY, 1933
  • Valasek, Paul S. Haller's Polish Army in France Chicago, 2006

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