The defeat of the Red Army on the Shara

General Leonard Skersky awards the officers of the 10th Reconnaissance Squadron with the Order. 1920 g.

100 years ago, Pilsudski defeated Tukhachevsky's troops on the Shchara River. Polish troops completed the defeat of the Western Front of the Red Army, which led to the defeat of Soviet Russia in the war with Poland.

Development of the offensive of the Polish army. Slonim and Baranovichi

After the start of the retreat of the Red Army, the Polish high command developed a new offensive plan. Now the Poles were going to surround the main forces of the Soviet Western Front in the Baranovichi area. The 2nd Polish Army was to advance from the Lida - Mosty line, and the left wing of the 4th Army was to advance along the Brest - Slutsk highway south of Baranovichi. The situation was favorable for the Polish troops. Soviet troops were disorganized and moved more slowly than the enemy.

The 4th Army of General Skersky, after the capture of Volkovysk, moved to Slonim and Baranovichi. On September 26-27, 1920, the left wing of the 4th Army reached the Shchara River. General Konazhevsky's 14th Infantry Division was advancing on Slonim. The Polish division advanced in two groups: from the west (stronger) and from the south. They were opposed by the 17th and 48th Infantry Divisions of the 16th Army of A. Cook. The southern group on the night of September 27-28 captured the bridge, crossed the Shara and seized the bridgehead. Part of the forces bypassed the city from the east, suddenly attacked the enemy and intercepted the Slonim-Baranovichi road. On the 28th, the Western group captured Slonim.

Pursuing the retreating enemy, Polish troops reached Baranovichi on the morning of September 30. Despite the long march, the 14th division attacked the city on the move. Soon the Poles took Baranovichi, captured about 200 people, captured significant reserves of the Red Army. Polish soldiers took up old German positions east of the city, where they fortified and rebuilt. On October 1, the Reds tried to counterattack, but were driven back and suffered heavy losses.

Battle of the Neman and Shchara (Polish map)

Battle for Kobrin

Meanwhile, the southern wing of the 4th Polish army was fighting for Kobrin. Polish troops in Polesie operated separately from the main forces. They interacted with the task force of General Krayevsky (18th Division), which was advancing from the south, from the Ukrainian part of Polesie. Here the Poles were opposed by the newly formed 4th Soviet Army under the command of D. Shuvaev. The army had two rifle divisions and a cavalry brigade. Two more divisions were formed in its rear. Before the start of the retreat, the command of the Western Front assigned the 4th Army the task of recapturing Brest. However, the Poles preempted the enemy and launched the offensive first.

The troops of General Skersky on September 11 went to Kobrin. The city was attacked from the west and south by the regiments of the 14th (one regiment) and 11th divisions. On the night of September 11-12, having broken through the defenses of the 57th Infantry Division, the Polish troops captured Kobrin. To strengthen the defenses of the occupied city, the Poles urgently transferred the 16th Infantry Division to the area. The Poles took up positions on the Mukhavets River. The Soviet command tried to recapture Kobrin with the forces of three divisions - the 55th, 57th and 19th. On the night of September 15-16, Soviet sappers set up a crossing at Mukhavets. The 19th division, supported by artillery, attacked the regiment of the 14th Polish division, but the enemy withstood the onslaught. In the sector of the 16th Polish division, the Reds pushed the enemy back. But on the 17th, reinforcements arrived, and the Poles again went forward. They returned to their previous positions. Both sides suffered heavy losses in these battles. To distract the Red Army from the Kobrin direction, Skersky decided to attack Pruzhany. General Milevsky's group took Pruzhany on the night of September 18-19. But the fighting in the area of ​​the city continued until September 22. The Polish army held Pruzhany and captured up to 2 thousand people.

Thus, the Polish war took Kobrin and Pruzhany, in stubborn battles they defeated the newly formed 4th Soviet army. Soviet troops went over to the defensive along the Pruzhany - Gorodets line. On September 21, Polish troops (16th division) attacked Gorodets, but the Red Army repulsed the first assault. During the second attack, Polish soldiers were able to push the Reds behind the Dnieper-Bug canal. On September 22, the Poles conducted artillery training. On September 23, they went on the attack again, by the evening of the 24th the Polish troops broke the resistance of the 57th Soviet division and captured Gorodets. Thus, the Polish 4th Army created a threat of an exit from the north to the rear of the 12th Soviet Army in Volyn. Polish troops in Polesie (16th and 18th divisions) continued their offensive in Polesie, captured Ivanovo, Chomsk and Drogichin. On the 28th, the Poles reached the Yaselda River, the left tributary of the Pripyat.

In addition, on September 26, 1920, a partisan detachment of Bulak-Balakhovich (about 2600 bayonets and sabers), consisting of White Guards, with a sudden blow captured Pinsk, where the headquarters of the 4th Soviet army was located. The commander and chief of staff managed to escape. The enemy managed to capture almost the entire garrison of the city (about 2,4 thousand people), capture two armored trains, dozens of machine guns, and army supplies. As a result, the troops of the 4th Army temporarily lost contact with the command and combat effectiveness. In October, the White Russian People's Volunteer Army began to form in Pinsk. The new white army received the status of a "special allied army" from the Polish command.

The offensive of the Polish troops in September-October 1920. Map source: A. Gritskevich. Western Front of the RSFSR, 1918-1920. Fight between Russia and Poland for Belarus

Molodechno and Minsk

After the capture of Lida and Slonim, the Polish commander-in-chief Piłsudski on the night of September 28-29, 1920 ordered the 2nd and 4th armies to continue their offensive to the east. The Polish marshal set the task of encircling the enemy troops in the Novogrudok-Baranovichi area. The 2nd Army of Rydz-Smigly developed an offensive on Novogrudok and Molodechno, reaching the Western Dvina, the 4th Army of Skersky in the Minsk direction. The Polish leadership attached great importance to this operation, since peace negotiations were already underway in Riga. Pilsudski wanted to get better conditions for negotiations, that is, inflict a decisive defeat on the Red Army and occupy as many territories of Belarus and Ukraine as possible. In turn, the command of the Soviet Western and Southwestern Fronts was ordered to surrender to the enemy as little land as possible, but at the same time retain the troops.

By the beginning of October 1920, the Polish army had advanced 100–150 km in a week. On the evening of September 28, the command of the Western Front ordered the troops to withdraw to the line of the old Russian-German front Western Dvina - Braslav - Postavy - Myadel - Smorgon - Korelichi - Lyakhovichi and further south. It was planned to stop the enemy there. Tukhachevsky in Smolensk was optimistic. In fact, many divisions have completely or partially lost their combat effectiveness. The reinforcements had no combat experience. As a result, the troops were not ready for serious battles. In addition, the Polish troops had the best grouping, and the Soviet 3rd and 4th armies had largely lost their combat effectiveness. As a result, the Red Army was unable to stay on the line of the old German front.

On October 3, Tukhachevsky proposed to the main command to allow the army of the Western Front to withdraw to the lake line. Naroch - Smorgon - Molodechno - Krasnoe - Izyaslav - Samokhvalovichi - Romanove - r. Occasion In response, the main command announced on October 5 that this could complicate negotiations in Riga. Commander-in-Chief Kamenev gave instructions to preserve as many territories as possible, especially Minsk. The command of the Western Front tried to organize a counteroffensive and push the enemy back. The 27th division (front reserve) was deployed to defend Minsk. The 3rd and 16th armies were to go on the offensive, reach Lake Naroch and Smorgon, and advance in the south.

However, in early October, the Polish armies stepped up the onslaught. The Polish high command also wanted to achieve better positions before the conclusion of peace. Polish troops on Lithuanian territory again bypassed the positions of the 3rd Soviet Army and forced the Red Army to withdraw to the Western Dvina. Many parts of the Western Front were completely demoralized, did not want to fight and completely surrendered to the threat of encirclement. On October 7, Polish troops captured Ashmyany and Soly, on the 12th - Molodechno, on the 13th - Turov. On October 12, a truce was concluded in Riga, but according to its terms, the Poles could advance for another 6 days. Pilsudski ordered to go further east, pushing the Reds behind the Berezina. On October 15, the Polish army occupied Minsk, but then left it, withdrew to the line of the new border. On October 18, hostilities ceased, the troops were disengaged in accordance with a preliminary agreement.

Thus, the troops of the commander Tukhachevsky lost the battle on the rivers Neman and Shchara. The Red Army suffered heavy human and material losses, retreated from the territories of Western Belarus and Ukraine. Moscow had to make big concessions to Warsaw during the peace talks.

Comments

[Olgovich]

... Many parts of the Western Front were completely demoralized, did not want to fight and completely surrendered to the threat of encirclement. Pilsudski ordered to go further east, pushing the Reds behind the Berezina. On October 15, the Polish army occupied Minsk, but then left it, withdrew to new border lines. 1

Thus, the troops of the commander Tukhachevsky lost the battle on the rivers Neman and Shchara. The Red Army suffered heavy human and material losses, retreated from the territories of Western Belarus and Ukraine. Moscow had to make big concessions to Warsaw during the peace talks.

But a year ago, in 1919, ALL countries, incl. and Poland, agreed on the borders that still exist today.

And only the madmen who spent the entire World War in Switzerland did not fight and climbed further through Poland to Europe, forgetting their own hypocritical cries about "a world without annexations and indemnities" and killing tens of thousands of people.

So, did someone incur any punishment for failed political and military decisions? Not at all: Tukhachevsky was promoted to Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army-was appointed to them soon after he suppressed the Tambov people's uprising, where he showed himself to be an outstanding punisher-sadist (here he turned out to be talented).

The same is with his subordinates, the Lazarevichs, etc. The same is with the politicians.

Like nothing happened ...

[Nikolaevich I]

Quote: Olgovich

did anyone incur any punishment for failed political and military decisions? It did not happen at all: Tukhachevsky was promoted to Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army, he was appointed soon after he suppressed the Tambov people's uprising, where he showed himself to be an outstanding punisher-sadist (here he turned out to be talented).

Well, why do you say so bad about Tukhachevsky? Platoshkin will be offended by you! He, somehow, in one of the speeches "excitedly" justified the "red Napoleon" and admired him ...

[Moskovit]

It's bitter to read this. But on the other hand, the Polish hyena swallowed too large a piece, having received millions of disloyal population and an eternal enemy at hand. As a result, this led to the collapse of the Polish statehood, thousands of dead Poles and the return of lands to their intended purpose.

[Lewww]

"and the Soviet 3rd and 4th armies have largely lost their combat capability."

here again, the author has a clear gag introduced into the text of the source, which he retells in his own words.
1. As mentioned earlier, using the word "Soviet" in relation to the Red Army is not entirely correct, in the original (Gritskevich's book) the author uses "Russian".
2. the expression "have largely lost their combat capability" sounds clumsy. Correctly "fighting efficiency has decreased"

[Sergey Oreshin]

Quote: Olgovich

So, did someone incur any punishment for failed political and military decisions?

That is, in your opinion, it is necessary to shoot the commanders after each defeat? That way you can't get enough of the generals

[Olgovich]

Quote: Sergey Oreshin

That is, in your opinion, it is necessary to shoot the commanders after each defeat? That way you can't get enough of the generals

No, they should be prescribed immediately after finishing ... bosses Military Academy RKKA 1921 (to teach!) And early ... Geshtaba (to bring!), Right?

You in its life - have you seen something like that?

[Sergey Oreshin]

Quote: Nikolaevich I

and admired him ...

But in fact, there is something to admire professionally. Compare how old Lieutenant Tukhachevsky was in 18-20. and komchevsky, Kolchak and Denikin generals and colonels, whom he beat in the tail and in the mane on the Eastern and Caucasian fronts.
Yes, and inflicted several defeats on the Poles in the summer of 20th

[Sergey Oreshin]

For the information of Mr. Samsonov: the 4th Army was commanded not by "D. Shuvaev" (general, tsarist minister of war), but by his son, Alexander Dmitrievich Shuvaev, a former lieutenant colonel of RIA

[Sergey Oreshin]

A question to the author of this opus: is it worth waiting for articles about the defeats of the SWF in September-October 20th, or wait until someone scrapes up the information on Wikipedia, so that Samsonov can then copy and paste?)))

[Kostadinov]

Quote: Olgovich

But a year ago, in 1919, ALL countries, incl. and Poland, agreed on the borders that still exist today.

Poland did not agree and began an offensive by occupying Kiev. Together with the Poles, the White Guards fought against their own, including Wrangel. And the Bolsheviks defended their homeland. They did not have enough strength in 1921, but in 1939 they paid in full.

[Sergey Oreshin]

Quote: Olgovich

, immediately after finishing, it is necessary to appoint ... the heads of the Military Academy of the Red Army

In fact, Tukhachevsky was appointed head of the Military Academy not immediately after these defeats, but at the end of July 21st, after he defeated Bulak-Balakhovich in Belarus, took Kronstadt and defeated the Tambov rebels.
And in terms of the totality of victories during the years of the Great Patriotic War, Tukhachevsky in the Red Army had few equal.

Quote: Olgovich

and the beginning ... Geshtaba (to bring!), right?

Here I do not understand. The head of the RVSR Field Headquarters (from February 21st - the Red Army Headquarters) from 19 to 24 years was the former RIA General Pavel Lebedev. Tukhachevsky headed it only in November 25th

[bars1]

Not being in any way a supporter of Polish statehood, but its ardent enemy, I would nevertheless note that the Poles took revenge for almost 150 years of beating Poland with their muzzle on the table from Russia. It's a shame that Russia allowed this revenge. What a shame on the domestic aircraft.
It becomes clear why Stalin did not object to the German attack on Poland ...

[Sergey Oreshin]

Quote: bars1

What a shame on the domestic aircraft.

Considering that the Red Army was 2 years old + the diversion of part of its forces to Wrangel, Semyonov and various rebels + general weariness from the war, going on for 6 years + the great help that the Entente provided to Poland - it is not surprising that they lost.
And the Poles are actually good soldiers and their command staff in that war was very good

[Lewww]

You can also add that the Poles fought for the revived Poland - their homeland.
And the fighters of the Red Army were allegedly for (as the commissars told them) some mythical triumph of the proletariat throughout the world, but in reality for the trophies obtained, including by robbing the civilian population.
Different morale

[Sergey Oreshin]

Quote: Lewww

You can also add that the Poles fought for the revived Poland - their homeland.

In reality, they fought for the interests of the Polish landowners and bourgeoisie. And for the interests of the bourgeoisie of France, Britain and the United States, who feared for their capital and therefore pumped up arms to the Poles (in the style of "let Jan die in the fight against Ivan, and save Uncle Sam's money"). One must not look at the slogans, but at what stands behind them.

Quote: Lewww

And the fighters of the Red Army allegedly for (as the commissars told them) some mythical triumph of the proletariat throughout the world

In 1919, some circles of the Polish military insistently called for a march on Smolensk, while others were not even averse to thinking about a march towards Moscow (Pilsudski, however, reasonably objected that in any case, the Poles would not be able to hold Moscow for a long time).
On the territory of Belarus and Ukraine occupied by the Poles, the power of the landowners was restored, the bourgeois returned, etc.
So I wouldn't be so categorical

Quote: Lewww

extracted, including by robbing civilians.

During the years of the Civil War, all armies were robbed ("self-supplied" according to the terminology of that time). The Poles also robbed only on the way

[Lewww]

"For the interests of the Polish landowners and bourgeoisie, they fought in reality. And for the interests of the bourgeoisie of France, Britain and the United States, who feared for their capital."

colleague, there is no need to write in the words of the history textbook of the USSR of the 70th year, the wrong audience.

During the years of the Civil War, all armies were robbed ("self-supplied" according to the terminology of that time).

resembles a typical female "all men are bastards"

In such cases, I usually write "to be a patriot you don't have to be an idiot"

[Sergey Oreshin]

Quote: Lewww

colleague, there is no need to write in the words of the history textbook of the USSR of the 70th year, the wrong audience.

Sometimes Soviet textbooks very accurately reflect the essence of what is happening.
"War for the Fatherland" assumes that the enemy wants to destroy your country and your state. The RSFSR did not set as its goal the destruction of Poland, the Polish people and Polish statehood. In the event of a hypothetical victory, the Polish SSR would have been formed, in which radical socio-economic transformations would have taken place, and the Polish elite (those very landowners and capitalists) would have lost their political and economic privileges.
So it turns out that the Poles, duped and drugged by nationalist propaganda, fought for the interests of their bourgeoisie and gentlemen, and also covered the capitalist elite of the West from a possible offensive of the Red Army.

[Lewww]

In the event of a hypothetical victory, the Polish SSR would be formed

Colleague, I don’t presume to guess what would have been formed in the event of the victory of the Red Army in the Polish campaign: the PSFSR or something else.
My conclusion is simpler:

You can also add that Poles fought for a revived Poland - their homeland.
And the fighters of the Red Army were allegedly for (as the commissars told them) some mythical triumph of the proletariat throughout the world, but in reality for the trophies obtained, including by robbing the civilian population.
Different morale

Simply put, ordinary soldiers of the Red Army had a p / v whether they won or not, but the Poles are a little different, they had a specific goal - to defend the independence of their young state

So it turns out that the Poles, duped and drugged by nationalist propaganda, fought for the interests of their bourgeoisie and lords,

Do you think that a more correct decision for the Polish army would be to fight for the idea of ​​world communism?

[Sergey Oreshin]

Quote: Lewww

but the Poles are a little different, they had a specific goal - to defend the independence of their young state

This is what the Polish authorities told them, they say, bloody Muscovites are coming, they want to deprive us of our independence.
But, paraphrasing you, did the simple hard worker Jan not care where he lived - in the Polish Republic or the PSSR.
Rather, under the Polish Republic, he had to work for a relatively low salary, live in a small room on the outskirts of Warsaw / Krakow / Lodz, while the Polish elite lived much more luxuriously. But when it got hot, Yanov was immediately called in to defend the "independence of Poland."
But under the PSSR you look, and it would be better for the common people.

Quote: Lewww

Do you think that a more correct decision for the Polish army would be to fight for the idea of ​​world communism?

The Polish army was patchy. It is clear that representatives of the wealthy classes fought in its ranks for their class privileges, but, in my opinion, there was definitely no reason for the workers and poor peasants to shed their blood for the bourgeoisie; protect themselves