Battle of Jazłowiec
| Battles of Jazłowiec | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Polish–Ukrainian War | |||||||||
Officers and non-commissioned officers of the 14th Jazłowiec Uhlan Regiment in 1921 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| West Ukrainian People's Republic | Poland | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Oleksander Hrekov | Konstanty Plisowski | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
|
Heavy losses; 1,500 captured[1] | Unknown | ||||||||
The Battle of Jazłowiec (Ukrainian: Битва під Язловцем) was a battle fought between the Ukrainian Galician Army commanded by General Oleksander Hrekov and Polish forces led by Konstanty Plisowski during the Polish-Ukrainian War, which took place from July 11 to 13, 1919. The battle ended with the victory of the Polish side and the capture of Jazłowiec.
Prelude
Most of the Polish units remained in their positions. Only in a few areas did General Iwaszkiewicz permit greater adjustments to the front line (primarily on the southern flank). The aim of these actions was to seize more advantageous positions in preparation for the resumption of the offensive planned for mid-July. The largest operation was carried out by the 4th Rifle Division.[2]
After the soldiers of General Lucjan Żeligowski’s 4th Rifle Division captured bridgeheads on the Dniester, the front command ordered its spearhead to move eastward. It was to occupy positions between the Dniester and General Franciszek Aleksandrowicz’s 4th Infantry Division. Carrying out this order, most of General Żeligowski’s soldiers crossed to the left bank of the river on July 6 and, after concentrating in the area of Sokołów and Barysz, began a march toward the Strypa. On July 8, the division commander received another order from General Iwaszkiewicz. The front commander instructed him to force a crossing of the Strypa and establish a broad bridgehead in the area of Jazłowiec.[2]
Battle
Between July 11 and 13, 1919, during the second Polish offensive in Eastern Galicia, a battle took place near Jazłowiec. The southern flank of the Polish forces advancing eastward encountered a concentrated Ukrainian brigade. On the first day, after crossing the Strypa River without resistance, Polish infantry captured the town, while the 14th Cavalry Regiment, commanded by Major Konstanty Plisowski, attacked the retreating Ukrainians, cutting off their escape route and crushing their main forces. On the second day, the Ukrainians launched a counterattack from positions east of Jazłowiec, which collapsed in the face of a daring charge by reserve squadrons of Polish cavalry.[3] During these two days of fighting, about 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers were captured by Polish forces.[4] The next day was only a pursuit of the defeated Ukrainians.[3]
Aftermath
In total, in the three-day battle, as many as 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers and a large amount of weapons were added to the Polish captivity.[1] Three days after the Battle of Jazłowiec, the Poles pushed the enemy beyond the Zbruch River, as well as from part of Volhynia.[5] The charge at Jazłowiec was considered one of the most brilliant victories in the history of Polish cavalry. In its memory, the 14th Uhlan Regiment was given the name of the Jazłowiec Uhlan, and July 11 became a regimental holiday.[6]
References
- ^ a b "Bitwa jazłowiecka - Polskie wojsko - Przystanek Historia". przystanekhistoria.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2024-04-21. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
- ^ a b Klimecki, Michał (2022). Czortków 1919. Historyczne Bitwy. Warszawa: Bellona. p. 160. ISBN 978-83-11-16454-3.
- ^ a b Rąkowski 2005, p. 277.
- ^ Rąkowski 2005, p. 39.
- ^ Biuletyn IPN: pismo o najnowszej historii Polski (PDF). Institute of National Remembrance. 2019. p. 13.
- ^ Rąkowski 2005, p. 278.
Bibliography
- Rąkowski, Grzegorz (2005). Przewodnik krajoznawczo-historyczny po Ukrainie Zachodniej. Pruszków: Rewasz. ISBN 978-83-89188-46-5.
- Tym, Juliusz S. (2021). Jazłowiec 11-13 VII 1919. Bitwy Kawalerii. Warszawa: My Hobby Media 4U Sp. z o.o. ISBN 978-83-66705-30-2.