BITHUANIA UNDER THE COST OF THE POLISH LEGIANS
Battle of Kostyuchnówka 1916 – the bloodiest conflict of the Polish Legions.
Legionnaires in trenches at shooting positions on the east front above Styrem – positions under Kostyuchnówka.
On 4 July 1916 the Polish Legions started fighting the overwhelming Russian troops at Kostyuchnówka in Volyn. It was the bloodiest conflict of the Legions in which about 2,000 Polish soldiers were killed or wounded.
"I am arrogant of the behaviour of the 1st Brigade in these combats at Kostyuchnówka, and I want to believe that each 1 of us, as a soldier's law is, brought out of these days quite a few experience and learning, erstwhile he saw so many fresh things for himself, in so many fresh forms of combat took part. In a fewer days of specified a fight, a recruit becomes an old religion to remember and teach others.” – wrote Józef Piłsudski in an order of 11 July 1916.
In his words there was no exaggeration – the conflict of Kostiuchenówka was a actual test of combat for legionaries, and let the conflict of fighting be demonstrated by the fact that the Hungarian Honwed troops in the immediate vicinity withdrew on the first day of the battle. Under the village above Styrem, in Poleś Wolyński, troops from all 3 legion brigades were deployed. 1 of them was personally commanded by a future marshal.
"I am arrogant of the behaviour of the 1st Brigade in these combats at Kostyuchnówka, and I want to believe that each 1 of us, as a soldier's law is, brought out of these days quite a few experience and learning, erstwhile he saw so many fresh things for himself, in so many fresh forms of combat took part. In a fewer days specified a fight, a recruit becomes an old religion to remember and teach others," Józef Piłsudski wrote in an order of 11 July 1916.
BRUSSELS
It was not the first time Poles fought the Russians under Kostyuchnówka – in the fall of 1915 along the Styru valley there was a border of the war front. The legionaries invaded the village as early as late September; then, under enemy pressure, they had to leave it. More than a period later, on November 3-10, the fighting in this area was fought by the 2nd Brigade. They were successful – the local brick hill was captured, later renamed “Polish Mountain”.
Eight months later, Poles were ordered to keep the front line at all costs. This task was related to the Russian-designated major catch-up operation to be carried out by Gen. Alexey Brusławov (the Bruslaw offensive).
The Tsaric Army moved on to the offensive in June 1916. The Austro-Hungarian Command did not foresee Russian actions on specified a large scale, which is why it left depleted forces in the East. Meanwhile, the enemy broke the defensive lines under Lutsk and expanded the area of the attack on Bukovina and Polesie. There were besides fights with Poles. The soldiers of the 2nd Brigade under Hruziatyn, Tuman and Holuzia were the first to clash with the enemy.
DISPROPTION OF POWER
However, the most fierce battles with the participation of Poles took place a small later in the Kostyuchnówka area – this was the way to Kowel, 1 of the directions of the Russian attack. The legionnaires of the 1st and 3rd Brigades (the 2nd Brigades were in retreat), supported by Hungarians on their wings. The right flank is 128. Honwed Brigade, Left – 11th Cavalry Division.
Poles were stationed in the area: Optowa-Kostiuchnówka-Wolczeck and defended 3 fortification lines. The most advanced position was the alleged Reduta Piłsudski; behind it there was an area of earth fortifications (the alleged Polish Forests and Saper Forests). The forces there defended access to the surrounding towns. In 1 of them – a settlement erected by Poles, called Legionov – was the Legion Command. General Stanisław Puchalski led the Polish forces. Piłsudski, on the another hand, was located in Karasina, a fewer kilometres away.
The disproportion of forces of both sides was crucial – legionaries had about 5,500 gunmen and 800 owlans. The Russians had 13,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry from the 46th Army Corps. The opponent besides had a considerable advantage in the weapon, with about 120 guns. There were 49 dense device guns, 26 guns and 15 mortars on the condition of Polish troops.
BITE CONTENT
On 4 July attacking the central direction of the attack, the Russians encountered strong opposition from dug legionaries. Poles expected offensives, their positions had already been bombarded by aviation and artillery. Hostile balloons were besides operating above the area of future fighting, from which prefield reflection was conducted. That's how Russian fire usually got to its destination. Effective attacks have led, among others, to break communications between command and the first line of defense.
Soldiers 100 attacked Polish positions. Infantry Division, supported by the forces of the 77th Infantry Division and the 16th Cavalry Division. The task of repelling the main enemy forces fell on legionaries from the First Brigade, defending the Piłsudski Reduts. Fears were fought in the heat, which besides affected the physical condition of the soldiers.
"In dense dust, the tongues of fire shone erstwhile in a time, and the smoke ran heavy, grey and blue. The air has become heavy, stinky, the smoke consumes itself in the breast, biting, sharp, irritating eyes, eyes halt seeing, ears hear. (...) No trenches can be seen, no wires can be seen, no people can be seen, nothing can be seen,” he described the fighting of the Legions of Wacław Lipinski.
The image of demolition in Polish trenches emerges from the account of another combat participant, Marian Kukiel. "In the rubble there were ramparts, beams crushed to the ground, wires in front of the right wing partially disappeared, 1 position of a dense device weapon was broken, firearm damaged, telescope buried, wire connections (telephones – PAP) all broken, landowners collapsed like cottages from cards. As I walked along the position, I saw my people mutilated, mutilated in the ground and swamp," Kukiel wrote.
HUNGARY RUN
On the evening of the first day of the fight, the Russians resumed the frontal attack, but Poles stood up to the challenge. "The dense masses of the opponent, which emerged from Kostyuchnówka manor home and the forest north of the manor house, were planted close to the wires. (...) Then the Polish line roared with a volley, the device guns spoke, sowing death in enemy ranks. The Moskals threw themselves in a panic to escape," Piłsudski reported.
The legionaries, though having to leave the battlefield, did their job, importantly delaying the hostile offensive. As a result, the front was not interrupted, and the Austro-Hungarian troops withdrew avoiding the lap over Styr.
The price for the bloodthirsty conflict of spirit and sacrifice was enormous: they died, sustained wounds or disappeared without news of about 2,000 legionaries, including many officers. The most losses were recorded in the 5th Infantry and Brigade Regiment – about 500 soldiers (loss exceeded 50% of the individual position of the regiment).
Unfortunately, the defence of neighbouring positions occupied by Hungarians broke down – legionaries were in a dangerous position.
They partially retreated, leading in the meantime effective counterattacks – besides at night. We managed to reflect, among others, lost positions on the alleged Polish Mountain. Many times the conflict turned into a bayonet fight. The Russian cavalry was besides attacked; the biggest clash with her was fought on 6 July under Volcheck.
Eventually, under enemy pressure, legion soldiers were pushed to the 3rd line of fortifications. The defenders were exhausted. "Sunfire, a surviving fire from the sky, an artillery storm, exacerbated by the echoes of the forest, the sight of those who group unpunished into a fresh attack of the enemy masses, the deficiency of food and, above all, of water, all of this in a depriming way worked on soldiers," wrote legionary Marian Dąbrowski.
In the end, due to the terrible situation caused by the breach of defence on the wings, on 6 July in the afternoon, The Legion Command ordered its troops to leave their positions. Poles retreated behind the Stochod River line, where soon, after the stabilisation of the front, the fighting took on a positional character.
The Hardest 1
The legionaries, though having to leave the battlefield, did their job, importantly delaying the hostile offensive. As a result, the front was not interrupted, and the Austro-Hungarian troops withdrew avoiding the lap over Styr.
The price for the bloodthirsty conflict of spirit and sacrifice was enormous: they died, sustained wounds or disappeared without news of about 2,000 legionaries, including many officers. The most losses were recorded in the 5th Infantry and Brigade Regiment – about 500 soldiers (loss exceeded 50% of the individual position of the regiment).
"The artillery fire, with an unknown power on our trenches, massive enemy attacks, bayonet penetration by the enemy's infantry, mass troops of the Russian cavalry, yet retreating in highly dense conditions – this is what we have been through in a fewer days," says Piłsudski's order issued respective days after the bloody battle. The commander of the 1st Brigade stressed that his soldiers – despite large casualties – withdrew only erstwhile they were in real danger of being completely surrounded. "We have always been the last to leave the battlefield," he said.
In the memories of “My First Fears” Piłsudski wrote: “Moments erstwhile I, who kept highly careful the blood of the subordinates, avoided sometimes deliberately working for fame, to not pay for it dearly, could know whether I had to hazard the full inadequacy of my commanding squad, putting myself on the card and myself as commander. The hardest of my command works: Ulina Mała, Marcinkowice and Kostuuchnówka". (PAP)
Source:
http://jejeje.pl/updates/battle-sub-kostiuchnovka-1916-the bloodiest-bottle-legion-Polish
