Battle of Komarów

Part of Polish-Soviet War

Date	30 August to 2 September 1920
Location	Komarów and Wolica Śniatycka, near Zamość, Poland
Result	Decisive Polish victory

Belligerents

Poland

Russian SFSR

Commanders and leaders

Strength

1,700 men, 6 regiments

17,500 men, 20 regiments

Casualties and losses

500 KIA, 700 horses

Estimated 4000 KIA

The Battle of Komarów, or the Zamość Ring, was one of the most important battles of the Polish-Soviet War. It took place between 30 August and 2 September 1920, near the village of Komarowo (now Komarów) near Zamość. It was one of the largest cavalry battles since 1813 and the last great battle of any significance in which cavalry was used as such and not as mounted infantry.

The battle ended in a disaster for the Soviet 1st Cavalry Army, which sustained heavy casualties and barely avoided being surrounded and destroyed. After the battle, the morale of the 1st Cavalry Army collapsed, and this once most feared Soviet army no longer remained an effective fighting force.

After the Battle of Zadwórze, the forces of the Bolshevik 1st Cavalry Army under Semyon Budyonny were halted for over a day. By this time the Russian cavalry units had lost much of their initiative and had not managed to reach or intervene in the Battle of Warsaw. After the Bolsheviks lost the struggle for the capital of Poland and started their retreat eastwards, the forces of Budyonny were ordered by Tukhachevski to march northwards to attack the right flank of Józef Piłsudski's advancing forces in order to draw Polish forces away from the north and relieve pressure on the routed Western Army. Tukhachevski believed that if Polish forces were required to turn south, he could reverse the disaster unfolding in the north and resume his westward offensive to capture Warsaw.

However, heavy fighting in the area of Lwów and the upper Bug River postponed the march. By the time the 1st Cavalry Army reached the area of Zamość on August 30, 1920, the Polish forces had already managed to redirect much of their troops to the area and organize a line of defense.

On August 29, the 1st Cavalry Army fought the first battle with units of the Polish 1st Cavalry Division. A small "Special Battalion" led by Major Stanisław Maczek fought a successful delaying action near the village of Waręż. Later that day, the Polish 1st Krechowce Uhlan Regiment chanced upon several unprepared Bolshevik units and took 150 POWs, three pieces of artillery and seven machine guns in the villages of Łykoszyn and Tyszowce.

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Wikipedia