Battle of Kaniów
| 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". |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Poland Polish II Corps
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 German Empire
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| 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 Kaniv, or Battle of Kaniów took place during World War I on the night of 10–11 May 1918, near Kaniv, Ukraine (Ukrainian: Канів, Polish: Kaniów) between Polish and German army troops. The fighting pitted the Polish II Corps in Russia (including Brigade II of the Polish Legions), under general Józef Haller von Hallenburg, against 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.
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. The Germans, however, saw the II Corps as troublesome, and decided to ensure it would be disarmed, or would otherwise be incapacitated.
On 18 April the II Corps was ordered by the Regency Council to stop near Kaniv in Ukraine; in a triangle between Potik, Kozyn and Stepantsi. Soon it begun to be surrounded by a nearby German units. 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. II Corps readied for battle, and surprised Zierhold, who was unprepared for battle. Zierhold backed down saying that the ultimatum was a miscommunication. Soon however Zierhold received reinforcements, which convinced him he has enough strength to force the issue.
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