Polish troops in Khyriv
As is known, Poland, using the plight of the Soviet Republic 1919 year, despite, what the Soviet government first recognized the independence of its national, without a declaration of war invaded Galicia, most of Belarus, It invaded the Eastern Ukraine. Leaders of the Polish state hatched a plan to create a Greater Poland - from the Baltic to the Black Sea. However, 1919 the Poles were forced to weaken their fighting against the Soviet Republic, as we understand, that the victory of Kolchak or Denikin, speakers under the slogan of "great and indivisible Russia", jeopardize national independence of Poland.
AT 1920 year, significantly strengthening its armed forces due to the assistance of the Entente, Polish government developed a plan of attack on the Soviet Republic by two fronts under the command of General C. Sheptytsky and Marshal S. Pilsudskogo (all over 148 thousand. bayonets and sabers, 894 guns, 4157 guns, 51 aircraft). The plan was planned, defeating the Soviet troops Southwestern Front, seize Kiev and Odessa, and after the release of the line of the Dnieper, regrouping forces in the North, master Belarus.
25 April the Polish forces of the Southwestern Front of Marshal Pilsudski launched an offensive in the strip of Pripyat until Dnieper. With almost five-fold superiority in numbers, the enemy has achieved considerable success. 12-I and 14th Army of the Southwestern Front (15,6 thousand. bayonets and sabers, 236 guns, 1232 gun), providing stubborn resistance, We retreated to the east. 26 April enemy captured Zhitomir and Korosten, 28 - Zhmerynka, and the next day - Vinnitsa. But he failed to encircle and destroy the Red Army. Departing in divergent directions, the Red Army forced the Polish command to disperse its forces on a broad front, to conduct a frontal pursuit.
Already 28 April Politburo(b) It approved the plan of the High Command to defeat the enemy. According to the plan the main attack was in Belarus Western Front forces (Commander - M. n. Tukhachevskiy, PBC members - and. FROM. Unšliht, A. P. And Rozengolts. T. Smılga). On the troops of the South-Western Front (Commander - A. AND. Egorov, members of the PBC - P. AND. Berzin, X. D. Rakovskiy, AND. AT. Stalin, M. TO. Vladimirov) assigned auxiliary task - to stop the advance of the enemy in Ukraine and to strike in the direction of Rivne - Brest, introducing into suitable engagement with the Northern Caucasian first Mounted army Budennogo. 9 of May at the Commander in Chief was convened a special meeting to discuss measures to combat the advancing troops Belopol'skii chaired A. A. Brussiloff. The country has deployed intensive efforts to mobilize all forces and means to repel the attacks of the bourgeois-landlord Poland.
14 May, while the enemy was still afflict our South-Western Front, went on the offensive forces of the Western Front. Though the Red Army had almost one and a half total, and in the direction of the main attack (15-Army A. AND. Plugs) - almost double superiority in, offensive did not give the desired results. It was not sufficiently prepared, not backed by reserves for the development of the incipient success. Western Front Command is clearly underestimated the strength and capabilities of the enemy, failed to take appropriate measures on the organization of cooperation between the armies, whereby the 16th Army (Commander - H. AT. Solohub) He went on the offensive with a delay of two days, wherein the blow in 40 km to the south of this area it. As a result, the enemy was able to stop the offensive and drive the Red Army to 8 June almost to their original positions. Nevertheless, fights on the Western front had some positive value. They tie up large groups of enemy, diverted part of its forces from Ukraine, facilitating the action of the Southwestern Front.
Retreating Polish troops in Ternopil, 14 May 1920 of the year
Meanwhile, regroup and pulling reserves, troops of the South-Western Front, acting against the superior forces of the enemy, 5 – 7 June broke through the defenses (First Cavalry Army) and began a rapid advance, liberated Kiev and drove to 17 June Poles almost to their original positions before their April offensive.
A successful counter-offensive of the Red Army in the Ukraine has created favorable conditions for a general offensive of the Western and South-Western Fronts.
4 July 1920 the Western Front went on the offensive. As a result, the general offensive of the two fronts by mid-July the situation of the Polish forces was disastrous. In connection with the note Curzon, offers on behalf of the Allies to the Soviet government to immediately stop military action against Poland and to establish so-called "ethnic boundaries", The High Command of the Red Army has developed a report on the strategic plans. It stressed, that the advancing fronts have resources for two months of intense struggle. During this time, you can reach Warsaw and defeat Wrangel. At the same time noted, that in view of the lack of provisions in the subsequent struggle can take a protracted nature and the enemy will be enough "small concentration of fresh forces, to blow in a certain place firmly shake the entire front ". It was proposed to focus on solving one of the problems facing.
the Soviet government, Having examined the report of the Commander in Chief, It ordered the troops of the Western and South-Western fronts to develop further the offensive, both to the border, intended Entente, and beyond this limit in the case of, if the force of circumstances, we were forced to temporarily move the border. According to the instructions of the High Command of the Red Army 21 July approved a plan vigorous attack two fronts. Red Army is progressing well.
Success on the Polish front was clearly overvalued Soviet command. The command of the Western and South-Western fronts was observed that, that the enemy was retreating, trying to save manpower, their units combat-ready. The rapid advance of the Red Army was seen as a complete demoralization of the enemy. 22 July Revolutionary Military Council of the Southwestern Front commander in chief offered to bear the brunt from Brest to Lviv direction, here hoping for a quick success.
Based on the proposals of the fronts, General Headquarters, not appreciating, what consequences may result in modification of the original plan, It abandoned the idea strikes on Warsaw by two fronts. Now Western front advancing on Warsaw, and Southwest - Lvov. Both fronts operated in isolation from each other. This inevitably led to the dispersion of forces at the decisive moment of the war, the weakening of the main attack, formation of a weak portion on the front junction. This decision was clearly a mistake.
Developments on the fronts showed, that the adopted plan is not justified. I did not justify itself, and the calculation of the Polish proletariat. The Polish government at a critical moment skillfully played on the patriotic feelings of Poles, mobilize available resources and prepared a counter-offensive.
In this way, due admitted as a political, and military miscalculations campaign on the Vistula was unsuccessful.Gabriel Tsobehiya
