Most of the Polish units that participated in the battle created the so-called First Assault Group (I Grupa Uderzeniowa), commanded by Piłsudski himself. The group consisted of the Third Army (Śmigły-Rydz) and the Fourth Army (Skierski) and concentrated in the area of Dęblin. The Second Assault Group, under Wrzalinski, attacked from Warsaw and captured Mińsk Mazowiecki with the support of tanks.
On August 12, 1920, a few days before the Wieprz River counteroffensive, Piłsudski came to Puławy, to inspect the troops. On the next day he arrived at Dęblin and met with Generals Śmigły-Rydz and Skierski. During the meeting, Piłsudski presented to them his plan of the attack on the Soviet positions. Facing Soviet 16th Army and Mozyr Group, Piłsudski took command of the First Assault Group and located his headquarters at the intersection of the roads from Dęblin to Kock and from Warsaw to Lublin.
On August 16, at 4 a.m., Piłsudski issued an order to attack. Polish objective was to reach the road connecting Warsaw with Brzesc nad Bugiem to cut the supply lines and evacuation routes of Soviet Western Front. The right wing of Polish advance was protected by the 3rd Infantry Division, which attacked along the line Włodawa–Brzesc. The First Assault Group managed to destroy the Mozyr Group of the Red Army and the southern wing of Soviet 16th Army.
Simultaneously, the Second Assault Group of Wrzalinski, concentrated near Wesola and attacked towards Mińsk Mazowiecki, supported by Armoured Group of Major Nowicki (five tank units, three armoured trains, 10 airplanes). Wrzalinski and his soldiers began their offensive at 9 a.m. Divided into two columns, the Poles advanced rapidly and crushed Soviet resistance with their tanks and artillery. The 10th Rifle Division of the Red Army, which defended Debe Wielkie, abandoned its positions, and at about 6 p.m., two Polish armoured trains entered the rail station at Mińsk Mazowiecki, which forced the Soviets to retreat.
The Battle of Dęblin and Mińsk Mazowiecki is commemorated on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Warsaw, with the inscription "DEBLIN – MINSK MAZOWIECKI 16 – 18 VIII 1920".
SourcesEdit
J. Odziemkowski, Leksykon wojny polsko-rosyjskiej 1919–1920, wyd. RYTM Warszawa 2004.
Lech Wyszczelski, Bitwa na przedpolach Warszawy, Dom Wydawniczy Bellona 2000.
Bogdan Skaradziński, Sąd boży 1920 roku, wyd. Świat Książki Warszawa 1996.
October 26, 2023
battle, dęblin, mińsk, mazowiecki, part, polish, soviet, wardateaugust, 1920locationnear, mińsk, mazowiecki, polandresultpolish, victorybelligerents, russian, sfsr, polandcommanders, leadersmikhail, tukhachevskynikolai, sollogubjózef, piłsudskileonard, skiersk. Battle of Deblin and Minsk MazowieckiPart of the Polish Soviet WarDateAugust 16 18 1920LocationNear Minsk Mazowiecki PolandResultPolish victoryBelligerents Russian SFSR PolandCommanders and leadersMikhail TukhachevskyNikolai SollogubJozef PilsudskiLeonard SkierskiStanislaw WrzalinskiUnits involved16th ArmyPolish 4th Army Colonel Wrzalinski groupCasualties and losses140090 The Battle of Deblin and Minsk Mazowiecki took place on August 16 18 1920 during the Polish Soviet War It resulted in the victory of the Polish Army see Battle of Warsaw 1920 commanded by Jozef Pilsudski General Edward Smigly Rydz General Leonard Skierski and Colonel Stanislaw Wrzalinski The Soviet forces were led by General Mikhail Tukhachevsky and General Nikolai Sollogub Most of the Polish units that participated in the battle created the so called First Assault Group I Grupa Uderzeniowa commanded by Pilsudski himself The group consisted of the Third Army Smigly Rydz and the Fourth Army Skierski and concentrated in the area of Deblin The Second Assault Group under Wrzalinski attacked from Warsaw and captured Minsk Mazowiecki with the support of tanks On August 12 1920 a few days before the Wieprz River counteroffensive Pilsudski came to Pulawy to inspect the troops On the next day he arrived at Deblin and met with Generals Smigly Rydz and Skierski During the meeting Pilsudski presented to them his plan of the attack on the Soviet positions Facing Soviet 16th Army and Mozyr Group Pilsudski took command of the First Assault Group and located his headquarters at the intersection of the roads from Deblin to Kock and from Warsaw to Lublin On August 16 at 4 a m Pilsudski issued an order to attack Polish objective was to reach the road connecting Warsaw with Brzesc nad Bugiem to cut the supply lines and evacuation routes of Soviet Western Front The right wing of Polish advance was protected by the 3rd Infantry Division which attacked along the line Wlodawa Brzesc The First Assault Group managed to destroy the Mozyr Group of the Red Army and the southern wing of Soviet 16th Army Simultaneously the Second Assault Group of Wrzalinski concentrated near Wesola and attacked towards Minsk Mazowiecki supported by Armoured Group of Major Nowicki five tank units three armoured trains 10 airplanes Wrzalinski and his soldiers began their offensive at 9 a m Divided into two columns the Poles advanced rapidly and crushed Soviet resistance with their tanks and artillery The 10th Rifle Division of the Red Army which defended Debe Wielkie abandoned its positions and at about 6 p m two Polish armoured trains entered the rail station at Minsk Mazowiecki which forced the Soviets to retreat The Battle of Deblin and Minsk Mazowiecki is commemorated on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Warsaw with the inscription DEBLIN MINSK MAZOWIECKI 16 18 VIII 1920 Sources EditJ Odziemkowski Leksykon wojny polsko rosyjskiej 1919 1920 wyd RYTM Warszawa 2004 Lech Wyszczelski Bitwa na przedpolach Warszawy Dom Wydawniczy Bellona 2000 Bogdan Skaradzinski Sad bozy 1920 roku wyd Swiat Ksiazki Warszawa 1996 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Deblin and Minsk Mazowiecki amp oldid 1165726202, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
