Battle of Krechowce

The Battle of Krechowce (Polish: Bitwa pod Krechowcami) took place on July 24, 1917, during World War I. Polish uhlans, who fought in the Imperial Russian Army, were ordered to halt the advance of German Army, which tried to capture the city of Stanisławów, located at that time in Austrian Galicia. The battle between Polish and German forces took place near the village of Krechowce (Крихівці). The uhlans managed to check the Germans for a whole day, and then retreated to Stanisławów.

On July 21, 1917, 1st Uhlan Regiment (400 soldiers), which was part of the so-called Puławy Legion entered Stanisławów, where it defended civilian population from Russian marauders, who looted the city. In the outskirts of Stanisławów, Russian 11th Infantry Division was located, but another Russian unit ordered to defend the area in the south, 19th Infantry Division, did not take its positions, as most of its soldiers had fled.

Russian general Pavel Sytin, who commanded 11th I.D. was well aware of the danger of encirclement from the south and ordered his troops to prepare retreat through two bridges over the rivers of Bystrzyca Sołotwińska and Bystrzyca Nadwórniańska, east of Stanisławów. Sytin then asked Polish 1st Uhlan Regiment to protect the retreat and check the Germans for as long as possible, in order to save most of his troops and artillery.

Colonel Bolesław Mościcki, who commanded the Regiment, split his forces into two groups, which, due to the hilly terrain, were not in touch with each other. Furthermore, he decided to attack the enemy with mounted troops. His 4th squadron protected the road from Radzcza to Stanisławów, 2nd squadron attacked the village of Krechowce, 3rd squadron advanced behind 2nd squadron, and 1st squadron remained in reserve.

On July 24, 1917, at 3:30 p.m., Polish forces, reinforced by a Russian armored vehicle, went into action. Krechowce was manned by Bavarian infantry, supported by artillery and armored vehicle. After reaching the center of the village, Polish soldiers had to retreat, due to superior German firepower. Soldiers of 2nd and 3rd squadrons got off their horses and awaited action. Colonel Moscicki sent a few patrols to Krechowce, simulating another attack. They returned at app. 8 p.m., informing about German reinforcements, which had appeared in the village.

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Wikipedia