Battle of Radzymin (1920)

Battle of Radzymin
Part of the Polish–Soviet War
Polish infantry in a trench outside Radzymin. The soldier in the centre wears an Adrian helmet, while the rest have maciejówka caps inherited from the Polish Legions
Date August 13–16, 1920 Location Near Radzymin, Poland 52°25′0″N 21°11′0″E / 52.41667°N 21.18333°E / 52.41667; 21.18333Coordinates: 52°25′0″N 21°11′0″E / 52.41667°N 21.18333°E / 52.41667; 21.18333 Result Polish victory
Belligerents
Russian SFSR	Poland
Commanders and leaders
Vitovt Putna Ivan Smolin	Jan Rządkowski Józef Haller Franciszek Latinik
Units involved
21st Rifle Division 27th Rifle Division	10th Infantry Division 11th Infantry Division 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Division
Strength
15,000 soldiers 91 artillery pieces 390 machine guns	17,000 soldiers 109 artillery pieces 220 machine guns
Casualties and losses
Heavy	ca. 3,040 killed and wounded

The Battle of Radzymin (Polish: Bitwa pod Radzyminem) took place during the Polish–Soviet War (1919–21). The battle occurred near the town of Radzymin, some 20 kilometres (12 mi) north-east of Warsaw, between August 13 and 16, 1920. Along with the Battle of Ossów and the Polish counteroffensive from the Wieprz River area, this engagement was a key part of what later became known as the Battle of Warsaw. It also proved to be one of the bloodiest and most intense battles of the Polish-Soviet War.

The first phase of the battle began on August 13 with a frontal assault by the Red Army on the Praga bridgehead. The Soviet forces captured Radzymin on August 14 and breached the lines of the 1st Polish Army, which was defending Warsaw from the east. Radzymin changed hands several times in heavy combat. Foreign diplomats, with the exception of the British and Vatican ambassadors, hastily left Warsaw.

The plan for the battle was straightforward for both sides. The Russians wanted to break through the Polish defences to Warsaw, while the Polish aim was to defend the area long enough for a two-pronged counteroffensive from the south, led by General Józef Piłsudski, and north, led by General Władysław Sikorski, to outflank the attacking forces.

After three days of intense fighting, the corps-sized 1st Polish Army under General Franciszek Latinik managed to repel a direct assault by six Red Army rifle divisions at Radzymin and Ossów. The struggle for control of Radzymin forced General Józef Haller, commander of the Polish Northern Front, to start the 5th Army's counterattack earlier than planned. Radzymin was recaptured on August 15, and this victory proved to be one of the turning points of the battle of Warsaw. The strategic counteroffensive was successful, pushing Soviet forces away from Radzymin and Warsaw and eventually crippling four Soviet armies.

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