The operation consisted of 3 coordinated, though separate phases: defence on the lines of Pig, Wkry and Narwi - which was a kind of preliminary action; a decisive offensive from the Pig (to the north, to the wing of the Bolshevik forces) and the denial of the Red Army for Narew, the pursuit, assault and demolition of the Tuchaczewski Army. During the Polish preparations for the final resolution the Bolsheviks approached Warsaw. They thought she would surrender in a fewer hours. The capital was to be straight attacked by 3 armies: III, XV and XVI, while the 4th Army along with the horse corps of Gaj-Chan marched on Włocławek and Toruń with the intention of crossing the Vistula River in Kujawy, returning south and taking the capital in ticks from the west. The Warszawska conflict began on 13 August with a fight for the prefield of the capital, including Radzymin, who had passed from hand to hand respective times.
On 14 August, the attacks on the Wkra line took place by the 5th Army of General Władysław Sikorski, having the forces of russian IV and XV army against each other. In a fierce fight under the prayer fortress, among others, 18 were distinguished. Division of Infantry Gen. Franciszek Krajewski. dense buoys, completed with Polish success, besides took place under Pułtusek and Serock. On August 16, General Sikorski took Nasielsk with a bold attack. However, another russian units continued their march towards Brodnica, Włocławek and Płock.
One of the crucial fragments of the conflict of Warsaw was the capture on August 15 by the 203 calibers. The Ulan Regiment of the 4th russian Army office in Ciechanów, and with it - the law firm of the army, warehouses and 1 of the 2 radio stations, serving the Soviets to keep communication with the Minsk command. It was rapidly decided to redesign the Polish transmitter to the russian frequency and start jamming enemy transmitters, so the second of russian radio stations could not take orders. For on the same frequency Warsaw broadcast for 2 days the texts of the Scriptures - the only sufficiently extended texts that were found quickly. So the deficiency of communication practically eliminated russian 4. Army from the conflict of Warsaw.
On 15 August, Polish troops fought the Red Army, including Radzymin, Ossow and Zielonka. Eventually, Polish soldiers, at the price of large losses, maintained Radzymin and another towns, rejecting Bolsheviks far from their positions.
On 16 August, thanks to the actions of Marshal Piłsudski, there was a breakthrough. The alleged maneuvering group commanded by him, consisting of 5 infantry divisions and a cavalry brigade, broke the Bolshevik defence in the area of Kock and Ticov, and then attacked the rear of the Bolshevik troops attacking Warsaw. Tuchaczewski had to retreat over Niemen.
The Bolsheviks suffered the final defeat under Oswiec, Białystok and Kolne. According to the fresh concept, the Polish hit group was to gather over the lower Wieprzem, between Dęblin and Chełm, and to be part of thoroughly organized Polish troops.
The Piłsudski defensive line of about 800 km was based on the river: Orzyc-Narew-Wisła-Wieprz-Seret. He divided it into 3 fronts, assigning command to generals to whom he had the top confidence: Joseph Haller (North Front - defence of Warsaw), Edward Śmigł-Rydz (Central Front - attack on Tuchaczewski's army) and Wacław Iwaszkiewicz (South Front).
On 18 August, after clashes at Stanisławów, Łosicami and Sławatycze, Polish forces were on the Wyszków-Stanisławów-Drohiczyn-Siemiatycze-Janów Podlaski-Kodenń line. At this time, General Sikorski's 5th Army, tying the overwhelming russian forces attacking it from the west, moved to an east assault, winning the Pułtusk and then Serock.
On 19 August, Polish units, at Piłsudski's command, went to pursuit activities, trying to prevent the retreat of Tuchaczewski's main forces located north of Warsaw.
On 21 August, a decisive phase of pursuit activities began: the 1st Infantry Division with 3. The Polish Army forced Narew under the Rybaks, cutting off the way of retreating to the remainder of the 16th russian Army towards Białystok, while the 15th Infantry Division from 4. The Polish Army, after mastering advanced Mazovia, cut off the retreat of the 15th russian Army troops from the Ostrołęka area. Similarly, the 5th Polish Army moved towards Mława.
The 4th Bolshevik Army, not knowing about the defeat at Warsaw, attacked Włocławek according to guidelines - thus closing its retreat. In this situation, the only option for russian troops was to cross the border of East Prussia, which they besides did on August 24. any of them were disarmed there. On August 25, Polish troops reached the Prussian border, thus ending their pursuits.
As a consequence of the conflict of Warsaw, the Polish side lost about 4.5 1000 people killed, 22 1000 wounded and 10 1000 missing. Losses to the Soviets are unknown. It is assumed that about 25 1000 Red Army soldiers were killed or badly injured, 60 1000 were imprisoned in Poland, and 45 1000 were interned by the Germans.
According to papers found in fresh years and released in August 2005 of the Central Military Archive, as early as September 1919 the Red Army ciphers were broken by Lieutenant Jan Kowalski.
The Polish counteroffensive has thus succeeded, among others, thanks to the cognition of the enemy's plans and orders, as well as the ability to usage this cognition by the Polish command.
The conflict of Warsaw was considered the 18th groundbreaking conflict in planet history. She decided to keep independency by Poland and stopped the Bolshevik Revolution march on Western Europe.
for: polskieradio.pl
