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Battle of Zboriv (1917)

October 22, 2023

Not to be confused with Battle of Zborov (1649).

The Battle of Zborov (Зборівська битва, Zborivska bytva in Ukrainian, Зборовское сражение in Russian, Schlacht bei Zborów in German, bitva u Zborova in Czech, bitka pri Zborove in Slovak) was a part of the Kerensky Offensive (the last Russian offensive in World War I, taking place in July 1917). The battle was the first significant action of the Czechoslovak Legions (volunteers fighting against the Central Powers) on the Eastern Front and the only successful engagement of the failed Russian offensive.

Battle of Zborov
Part of the Kerensky Offensive during the Eastern Front (World War I)

Czechoslovak legionnaries in the trenches
Date1–2 July 1917
Location
Zborov, Galicia, Austria-Hungary (now Ukraine)
Result Czechoslovak and Russian victory
Belligerents
Czechoslovak Legions
 Russian Republic		  Austria-Hungary
Commanders and leaders
Vyacheslav Platonovich Troyanov Eduard von Böhm-Ermolli
Arnold von Winckler
Strength
3,530[1][2] 5,500[3]
Casualties and losses
167 killed
700 wounded
(17 fatally wounded)
11 missing		 3,300 captured
(62 officers)
20 guns captured

Background Edit

As the reliability of many Russian military formations was in doubt, only units that volunteered to attack were used in the offensive. Among those who did was the Czechoslovak Riflemen Brigade (Československá střelecká brigáda), often called the Czechoslovak Legion, formed from three regiments of Czechs and Slovaks. The brigade (about 3,530 men), was low on equipment and training. Moreover, this was the first use of the brigade as a single formation; previously, the Russian command had used only smaller units of the brigade, mostly in reconnaissance actions.[4] On the other hand, overall morale amongst the members of the brigade was very high.[1]

The brigade was commanded by Russian Colonel Vyacheslav Platonovich Troyanov, but the tactical assault plan was prepared by Czech and Slovak officers serving in the Czechoslovak Legion. Professor Tomáš Masaryk, the main organizer of the Czechoslovak resistance against Austria-Hungary, was in telegraphic connection with colonel Nikolai Petrovich Mamontov so he could follow the situation from Saint Petersburg.

The brigade was deployed near Zborov, a town in today's Ukraine, in a sector of secondary importance. The 4th division protected it from the north, the 6th division from the south. The enemy, the army of Austria-Hungary, deployed four well entrenched and well equipped infantry regiments (IR), the IR 6, 35, 75 and 86 (in all, about 12,000 men).

Battle Edit

 
Counting Austrian prisoners

At 5:15 on the 2 July, the second day of the offensive, after an initial artillery bombardment, small groups of Legionnaires equipped with grenades attacked the enemy. At 8:00, Colonel Mamontov called Lieutenant Stanislav Čeček by phone to start the attack. After shock troops breached the barbed wire defenses, follow-up units took over to continue the attack. By 15:00 the Legion had advanced deep into enemy territory, breaking through the entire Austrian trench line; 3,300 enemy soldiers (62 officers) were captured, while 20 guns and large amounts of war material were seized.[5] The Legion's losses were 167 killed, 17 mortally wounded, 11 missing and around 700 injured.

Aftermath Edit

 
A memorial to the Legionnaires killed in the battle, Kalynivka, Ukraine

This success had no wider effect on the doomed offensive. The battle, however, gave propaganda and political capital to the leaders of the Czechoslovak resistance and convinced the Russian government to end its limitations on new units formed from Czech and Slovak soldiers captured during the war. Moreover, news of the armed action of the Czech exterior resistance reached the Czech people in Austria-Hungary for the first time. Any reference to Czech volunteers fighting on the side of the Entente was suppressed by censorship. But the surprising victory by the smaller Czechoslovak forces incited some Austrian politicians to demand an investigation of alleged treason by Czech units in the Austro-Hungarian Army and this made the victorious legionaries famous across the Empire.

After the war, the battle was used to propagate the heroic military cult surrounding the Legions who formed a cornerstone of the new Czechoslovak state. During the German occupation of Czechoslovakia (1939-1945), and later, when the communist party took power in 1948, the story was suppressed or ignored.

In the arts Edit

The battle was depicted in the 1938 Czech language propaganda film Zborov. The movie was based on a story by Rudolf Medek and directed by Jiří Slavíček and Jan Alfréd Holman. Due to the Munich Agreement, a shortened version of Zborov was first screened in January 1939.

References Edit

  1. ^ a b "Bitva u Zborova" (in Czech). Bellum.cz. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  2. ^ (in Czech). Zborov 1917-2012. Archived from the original on December 9, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  3. ^ "Zborov 1917" (in Czech). Valka.cz. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  4. ^ Preclík, Vratislav. Masaryk a legie (Masaryk and legions), váz. kniha, 219 pages, first issue vydalo nakladatelství Paris Karviná, Žižkova 2379 (734 01 Karvina, Czech Republic) ve spolupráci s Masarykovým demokratickým hnutím (Masaryk Democratic Movement, Prague), 2019, ISBN 978-80-87173-47-3, pages 6 - 29, 36 - 39, 41 - 42, 44 - 96, 111-112, 124–125, 128, 129, 132, 140–148, 184–199.
  5. ^ PRECLÍK, Vratislav. Masaryk a legie (TGM and legions), váz. kniha, 219 str., vydalo nakladatelství Paris Karviná, Žižkova 2379 (734 01 Karviná) ve spolupráci s Masarykovým demokratickým hnutím (Masaryk democratic movement in Prague), 2019, ISBN 978-80-87173-47-3, page 35 - 52

Sources Edit

  • Rudolf Medek, Vojtěch Holeček: "Bitva u Zborova a československý odboj" (Battle of Zborov and Czechoslovak resistance), 1922
  • Jan Galandauer: "2.7.1917 Bitva u Zborova - Česká legenda" (June 2, 1917 Battle of Zborov - the Czech legend), 2002, ISBN 80-86515-16-8
  • PRECLÍK, Vratislav. Masaryk a legie (TGM and legions), váz. kniha, 219 str., vydalo nakladatelství Paris Karviná, Žižkova 2379 (734 01 Karviná) ve spolupráci s Masarykovým demokratickým hnutím (Masaryk democratic movement in Prague), 2019, ISBN 978-80-87173-47-3

External links Edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Battle of Zboriv (1917).
  • Overview of the battle (in Czech)
  • IMDb record for the movie Zborov
  • Bellum.cz – Battle of Zborov 2nd July 1917

49°40′N 25°9′E / 49.667°N 25.150°E / 49.667; 25.150

October 22, 2023
battle, zboriv, 1917, confused, with, battle, zborov, 1649, battle, zborov, Зборівська, битва, zborivska, bytva, ukrainian, Зборовское, сражение, russian, schlacht, zborów, german, bitva, zborova, czech, bitka, zborove, slovak, part, kerensky, offensive, last,. Not to be confused with Battle of Zborov 1649 The Battle of Zborov Zborivska bitva Zborivska bytva in Ukrainian Zborovskoe srazhenie in Russian Schlacht bei Zborow in German bitva u Zborova in Czech bitka pri Zborove in Slovak was a part of the Kerensky Offensive the last Russian offensive in World War I taking place in July 1917 The battle was the first significant action of the Czechoslovak Legions volunteers fighting against the Central Powers on the Eastern Front and the only successful engagement of the failed Russian offensive Battle of ZborovPart of the Kerensky Offensive during the Eastern Front World War I Czechoslovak legionnaries in the trenchesDate1 2 July 1917LocationZborov Galicia Austria Hungary now Ukraine ResultCzechoslovak and Russian victoryBelligerentsCzechoslovak Legions Russian Republic Austria HungaryCommanders and leadersVyacheslav Platonovich TroyanovEduard von Bohm Ermolli Arnold von WincklerStrength3 530 1 2 5 500 3 Casualties and losses167 killed700 wounded 17 fatally wounded 11 missing3 300 captured 62 officers 20 guns captured Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 In the arts 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksBackground EditAs the reliability of many Russian military formations was in doubt only units that volunteered to attack were used in the offensive Among those who did was the Czechoslovak Riflemen Brigade Ceskoslovenska strelecka brigada often called the Czechoslovak Legion formed from three regiments of Czechs and Slovaks The brigade about 3 530 men was low on equipment and training Moreover this was the first use of the brigade as a single formation previously the Russian command had used only smaller units of the brigade mostly in reconnaissance actions 4 On the other hand overall morale amongst the members of the brigade was very high 1 The brigade was commanded by Russian Colonel Vyacheslav Platonovich Troyanov but the tactical assault plan was prepared by Czech and Slovak officers serving in the Czechoslovak Legion Professor Tomas Masaryk the main organizer of the Czechoslovak resistance against Austria Hungary was in telegraphic connection with colonel Nikolai Petrovich Mamontov so he could follow the situation from Saint Petersburg The brigade was deployed near Zborov a town in today s Ukraine in a sector of secondary importance The 4th division protected it from the north the 6th division from the south The enemy the army of Austria Hungary deployed four well entrenched and well equipped infantry regiments IR the IR 6 35 75 and 86 in all about 12 000 men Battle Edit nbsp Counting Austrian prisonersAt 5 15 on the 2 July the second day of the offensive after an initial artillery bombardment small groups of Legionnaires equipped with grenades attacked the enemy At 8 00 Colonel Mamontov called Lieutenant Stanislav Cecek by phone to start the attack After shock troops breached the barbed wire defenses follow up units took over to continue the attack By 15 00 the Legion had advanced deep into enemy territory breaking through the entire Austrian trench line 3 300 enemy soldiers 62 officers were captured while 20 guns and large amounts of war material were seized 5 The Legion s losses were 167 killed 17 mortally wounded 11 missing and around 700 injured Aftermath Edit nbsp A memorial to the Legionnaires killed in the battle Kalynivka UkraineThis success had no wider effect on the doomed offensive The battle however gave propaganda and political capital to the leaders of the Czechoslovak resistance and convinced the Russian government to end its limitations on new units formed from Czech and Slovak soldiers captured during the war Moreover news of the armed action of the Czech exterior resistance reached the Czech people in Austria Hungary for the first time Any reference to Czech volunteers fighting on the side of the Entente was suppressed by censorship But the surprising victory by the smaller Czechoslovak forces incited some Austrian politicians to demand an investigation of alleged treason by Czech units in the Austro Hungarian Army and this made the victorious legionaries famous across the Empire After the war the battle was used to propagate the heroic military cult surrounding the Legions who formed a cornerstone of the new Czechoslovak state During the German occupation of Czechoslovakia 1939 1945 and later when the communist party took power in 1948 the story was suppressed or ignored In the arts EditThe battle was depicted in the 1938 Czech language propaganda film Zborov The movie was based on a story by Rudolf Medek and directed by Jiri Slavicek and Jan Alfred Holman Due to the Munich Agreement a shortened version of Zborov was first screened in January 1939 References Edit a b Bitva u Zborova in Czech Bellum cz Retrieved 5 July 2016 Zborov 1917 in Czech Zborov 1917 2012 Archived from the original on December 9 2013 Retrieved July 5 2016 Zborov 1917 in Czech Valka cz Retrieved 5 July 2016 Preclik Vratislav Masaryk a legie Masaryk and legions vaz kniha 219 pages first issue vydalo nakladatelstvi Paris Karvina Zizkova 2379 734 01 Karvina Czech Republic ve spolupraci s Masarykovym demokratickym hnutim Masaryk Democratic Movement Prague 2019 ISBN 978 80 87173 47 3 pages 6 29 36 39 41 42 44 96 111 112 124 125 128 129 132 140 148 184 199 PRECLIK Vratislav Masaryk a legie TGM and legions vaz kniha 219 str vydalo nakladatelstvi Paris Karvina Zizkova 2379 734 01 Karvina ve spolupraci s Masarykovym demokratickym hnutim Masaryk democratic movement in Prague 2019 ISBN 978 80 87173 47 3 page 35 52Sources EditRudolf Medek Vojtech Holecek Bitva u Zborova a ceskoslovensky odboj Battle of Zborov and Czechoslovak resistance 1922 Jan Galandauer 2 7 1917 Bitva u Zborova Ceska legenda June 2 1917 Battle of Zborov the Czech legend 2002 ISBN 80 86515 16 8 PRECLIK Vratislav Masaryk a legie TGM and legions vaz kniha 219 str vydalo nakladatelstvi Paris Karvina Zizkova 2379 734 01 Karvina ve spolupraci s Masarykovym demokratickym hnutim Masaryk democratic movement in Prague 2019 ISBN 978 80 87173 47 3External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Battle of Zboriv 1917 Overview of the battle in Czech IMDb record for the movie Zborov Bellum cz Battle of Zborov 2nd July 191749 40 N 25 9 E 49 667 N 25 150 E 49 667 25 150 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Zboriv 1917 amp oldid 1168124387, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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