Battle of Lida (1919)
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The Battle of Lida took place on 16 and 17 April 1919 around the city of
Lida Lida ( be, Лі́да ; russian: Ли́да ; lt, Lyda; lv, Ļida; pl, Lida ; yi, לידע, Lyde) is a city 168 km (104 mi) west of Minsk in western Belarus in Grodno Region. Etymology The name ''Lida'' arises from its Lithuani ...
during the
Polish–Soviet War The Polish–Soviet War (Polish–Bolshevik War, Polish–Soviet War, Polish–Russian War 1919–1921) * russian: Советско-польская война (''Sovetsko-polskaya voyna'', Soviet-Polish War), Польский фронт (' ...
of 1919–20. During World War I Lida was occupied by the German troops. In 1919 the
Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, after ...
briefly established
Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
power here. Polish troops under General
Józef Adam Lasocki Józef Adam Lasocki (1861-1931) was an officer in Austro-Hungarian Army. During the First World War, he commanded formations from regiment to division in size. From December 1918, he was a general in the Polish Army during the Polish-Soviet War. ...
reached the outskirts of the town, which was an important railroad junction, in early March 1919. On April 15 they resumed their advance and on April 17 they captured Lida, as a screening operation to the taking of Vilnius, which was the main target of Polish operation.


Background

In early 1919, the situation on the Polish–Ukrainian front stabilized (see
Polish–Ukrainian War The Polish–Ukrainian War, from November 1918 to July 1919, was a conflict between the Second Polish Republic and Ukrainian forces (both the West Ukrainian People's Republic and Ukrainian People's Republic). The conflict had its roots in ethn ...
). Further to the north, Polish – Soviet frontline went along the line
Brest Brest may refer to: Places *Brest, Belarus **Brest Region **Brest Airport **Brest Fortress *Brest, Kyustendil Province, Bulgaria *Břest, Czech Republic *Brest, France **Arrondissement of Brest **Brest Bretagne Airport ** Château de Brest *Brest, ...
Pinsk Pinsk ( be, Пі́нск; russian: Пи́нск ; Polish: Pińsk; ) is a city located in the Brest Region of Belarus, in the Polesia region, at the confluence of the Pina River and the Pripyat River. The region was known as the Marsh of Pinsk a ...
Baranavichy Baranavichy ( ; be, Бара́навічы, Belarusian Latin alphabet, Łacinka: , ; russian: Бара́новичи; yi, באַראַנאָוויטש; pl, Baranowicze) is a city in the Brest Region of western Belarus, with a population (as of ...
Skidzyelʹ. Southern sector of the Polish – Soviet frontline (near
Byaroza Biaroza ( be, Бяро́за, official Belarusian romanization standard: ''Biaroza'', formerly Бяро́за-Карту́зская; rus, Берёза, Beryoza; pl, Bereza Kartuska; Yiddish: קאַרטוז־בערעזע, tr. ''Kartùz-Bereze'' ...
), was protected by the so-called
Podlasie Podlachia, or Podlasie, ( pl, Podlasie, , be, Падляшша, translit=Padliašša, uk, Підляшшя, translit=Pidliashshia) is a historical region in the north-eastern part of Poland. Between 1513 and 1795 it was a voivodeship with the c ...
Group of the Polish Army concentrated, under General
Antoni Listowski Antoni Listowski (29 March 1865, Warsaw - 13 September 1927, Warsaw) was a Polish military officer. After being a mayor general of the Imperial Russian Army (from 1916 on), he became general in the Polish Armed Forces and took part in the Polish ...
, while in the north (around
Vawkavysk Vawkavysk ( be, Ваўкавы́ск, ; russian: Волковы́ск; pl, Wołkowysk; lt, Valkaviskas; yi, וואלקאוויסק; Names of European cities in different languages: U-Z#V, names in other languages) is one of the oldest towns in ...
), stationed the
1st Lithuanian–Belarusian Division The 1st Lithuanian–Belarusian Division ( pl, 1. Dywizja Litewsko-Białoruska, 1.DL-B; be, 1-ая Літоўска-Беларуская дывізія; lt, 1-oji Lietuvos-Baltarusijos divizija) was a volunteer unit of the Polish Army formed aro ...
, commanded by General
Wacław Iwaszkiewicz-Rudoszański Wacław Iwaszkiewicz-Rudoszański (26 August 1871 – 25 November 1922) was a Polish general. He was born in Omsk on 26 August 1871, and served in the Russian Imperial Army until the October Revolution. He was active in the defense of the for ...
. In early March 1919, Polish forces initiated a series of local offensives: on March 2, Poles captured
Slonim Slonim ( be, Сло́нім, russian: Сло́ним, lt, Slanimas, lv, Sloņima, pl, Słonim, yi, סלאָנים, ''Slonim'') is a city in Grodno Region, Belarus, capital of the Slonimski rajon. It is located at the junction of the Ščar ...
, three days later
Pinsk Pinsk ( be, Пі́нск; russian: Пи́нск ; Polish: Pińsk; ) is a city located in the Brest Region of Belarus, in the Polesia region, at the confluence of the Pina River and the Pripyat River. The region was known as the Marsh of Pinsk a ...
, and their units reached
Lida Lida ( be, Лі́да ; russian: Ли́да ; lt, Lyda; lv, Ļida; pl, Lida ; yi, לידע, Lyde) is a city 168 km (104 mi) west of Minsk in western Belarus in Grodno Region. Etymology The name ''Lida'' arises from its Lithuani ...
. In April 1919, Headquarters of the Polish Army had to make a strategic decision: whether to continue fighting the Ukrainians in
Eastern Galicia Eastern Galicia ( uk, Східна Галичина, Skhidna Galychyna, pl, Galicja Wschodnia, german: Ostgalizien) is a geographical region in Western Ukraine (present day oblasts of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Ternopil), having also essential h ...
and
Volhynia Volhynia (also spelled Volynia) ( ; uk, Воли́нь, Volyn' pl, Wołyń, russian: Волы́нь, Volýnʹ, ), is a historic region in Central and Eastern Europe, between south-eastern Poland, south-western Belarus, and western Ukraine. Th ...
, or to move bulk of the forces to
Polesia Polesia, Polesie, or Polesye, uk, Полісся (Polissia), pl, Polesie, russian: Полесье (Polesye) is a natural and historical region that starts from the farthest edge of Central Europe and encompasses Eastern Europe, including East ...
and
Belarus Belarus,, , ; alternatively and formerly known as Byelorussia (from Russian ). officially the Republic of Belarus,; rus, Республика Беларусь, Respublika Belarus. is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by R ...
, and face the Soviets.
Józef Piłsudski ), Vilna Governorate, Russian Empire (now Lithuania) , death_date = , death_place = Warsaw, Poland , constituency = , party = None (formerly PPS) , spouse = , children = Wan ...
chose the latter option, probably for personal reasons, as he was emotionally attached with the city of Vilnius. In early April 1919, Polish units concentrated along the line of the
Yaselda The Yaselda (, alternative transliteration ''Jasieĺda'', , ), is a river in Brest Region in south-west Belarus. It is linked via the Dnieper–Bug Canal to the city of Pinsk. It is a left tributary of the Pripyat. It is connected to the Oginski C ...
River and the
Oginski Canal The Oginski Canal is a canal in Belarus which connects Yaselda River and Shchara River. Its length is 54 km. Its construction was started in 1765 by prince Michał Kazimierz Ogiński Michał Kazimierz Ogiński ( – ) was a Polish nobleman ...
. Soviet forces controlled the towns of Vilnius, Lida, Baranavichy and
Luninets Luninets ( be, Лунінец, russian: Лунине́ц, pl, Łuniniec, lt, Luninecas, yi, לונינייץ, Luninitz BGN/PCGN romanization: ''Luninyets'') is a town and administrative centre for the Luninets district in Brest Region, Belarus. ...
, while German units of the
Ober Ost , short for ( "Supreme Commander of All German Forces in the East"), was both a high-ranking position in the armed forces of the German Empire as well as the name given to the occupied territories on the German section of the Eastern Front of ...
remained east of
Grodno Grodno (russian: Гродно, pl, Grodno; lt, Gardinas) or Hrodna ( be, Гродна ), is a city in western Belarus. The city is located on the Neman River, 300 km (186 mi) from Minsk, about 15 km (9 mi) from the Polish b ...
. The area of Lida was guarded by weak Soviet forces, and Polish troops took advantage of it, capturing
Eišiškės Eišiškės (, pl, Ejszyszki, russian: Эйши́шки/Eishishki, be, Эйшы́шкі/Eishyshki, yi, אײשישאָק/Eyshishok/Eishishok) is a small city in southeastern Lithuania on the border with Belarus. It is situated on a small group ...
, located between Lida and
Varėna Varėna (; pl, Orany; yi, אוראַן ''Oran'') is a city in Dzūkija, Lithuania. History The town was founded in 1862 near the Warsaw – Saint Petersburg Railway, south of Sena Varėna (Old Varėna). At that time it was a small settleme ...
. Following the order of Polish Headquarters, both Vilnius and Lida were to be captured in a simultaneous operation. Forces, sent to Lida under General Józef Lasocki, consisted of the following units: * 1st Battalion of
2nd Legions' Infantry Regiment The 2nd Legions' Infantry Regiment ( pl, 2. pułk piechoty legionów, 2ppLeg) was a Polish military unit active between 1914 and 1944. Initially a part of the Polish Legions in World War I, after the war it was incorporated into the Polish Army. D ...
(Captain Emil Czaplinski), * 1st Battalion of
3rd Legions' Infantry Regiment Third Legions Infantry Regiment (Polish language: 3. Pulk Piechoty Legionów; 3 pp Leg.) was an infantry unit of Polish Legions in World War I, Polish Army and the Home Army. It existed in 1914–1939 and 1944–1945. The regiment was formed in th ...
(Captain
Waclaw Zborowski Wenceslaus, Wenceslas, Wenzeslaus and Wenzslaus (and other similar names) are Latinized forms of the Slavic names#In Slovakia and Czech_Republic, Czech name Václav. The other language versions of the name are german: Wenzel, pl, Wacław, Więces ...
), * 3rd Battalion of
4th Legions' Infantry Regiment Fourth Legions Infantry Regiment (Poland) (Polish: 4 Pulk Piechoty Legionow, 4 pp Leg.) was an infantry regiment of the Polish Legions in World War I (1915–1917) and the Polish Army in 1918–1939. During the interbellum period, it was garrison ...
(Captain Stefan Jazdzynski), * a battery of field artillery and two batteries of heavy artillery, * two infantry battalions of 41st
Suwałki Suwałki ( lt, Suvalkai; yi, סואוואַלק) is a city in northeastern Poland with a population of 69,206 (2021). It is the capital of Suwałki County and one of the most important centers of commerce in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. Suwałki i ...
Infantry Regiment, * cavalry group of Major Gluchowski.


The battle

On April 16, 1919, at 5 a.m., Polish forces attacked the town from three sides – north, west and south. At the same time, Polish cavalry headed eastwards, to cut rail connection between Lida and
Maladzyechna Maladzyechna ( be, Маладзе́чна, Maladziečna, ; russian: Молоде́чно, Molodechno; pl, Mołodeczno) is a city in the Minsk Region of Belarus, an administrative centre of the Maladzyechna District (and formerly of the Maladzyech ...
. Bolshevik forces in the town, supported by the Jewish residents, put up a strong resistance. Since the battle ensued for much longer that Józef Piłsudski had predicted, additional Polish forces were sent by trains: 2nd Battalion of 5th Legions Infantry Regiment (Captain
Bernard Mond Bernard Stanisław Mond (Spanier) (November 14, 1887 in Stanisławów – July 5, 1957 in Kraków) was a Polish general of the Jewish background in the interwar period. He fought in the First World War, Polish–Ukrainian War, Polish–Soviet Wa ...
), and 1st Battalion of 6th Legions Infantry Regiment (Major
Stefan Dąb-Biernacki Stefan Dąb-Biernacki (7 January 1890 – 9 February 1959) was a Polish commander who served as the commander of the Prusy Army during the invasion of Poland in 1939. Early career He was a member of the Polish Legions in World War I, and he late ...
). Heavy fighting lasted for the whole night of April 16/17, with several soldiers killed and wounded on both sides. The Bolsheviks called an armoured train, which managed to halt Polish advance for some time. Polish soldiers finally managed to cross the railroad track, and entered the suburbs of Lida. During a bloody street fighting, Poles had to capture one house at a time, but after reinforcements had been brought in, they destroyed railroad track with hand grenades. On April 17, at 4 in the morning, general Polish assault began, with main forces concentrated in the direction of the rail station. After one hour of heavy fighting, Lida was captured. The Poles captured a Bolshevik armoured train, weapons, ammunition and 350 prisoners of war. The Bolsheviks retreated eastwards, chased by Polish cavalry of the 7th Lublin Uhlan Regiment under Major Janusz Głuchowski. Polish engineers immediately began working on the destroyed rail track, to enable troop transports to Vilnius. At noon on April 17, Józef Piłsudski came to Lida. The Battle of Lida was commemorated on Warsaw Tomb of Unknown Soldier, with the inscription "LIDA 16 IV 1918 – 28 IX 1920".


References

* Mieczyslaw Wrzosek: Wojny o granice Polski Odrodzonej 1918–1921. Warszawa: Wiedza Powszechna, 1992. . * Lech Wyszczelski: Wojna polsko-rosyjska 1919–1920. T. 1. Warszawa: Bellona, 2010, s. 696. . {{coord, 53, 53, N, 25, 18, E, display=title
Lida Lida ( be, Лі́да ; russian: Ли́да ; lt, Lyda; lv, Ļida; pl, Lida ; yi, לידע, Lyde) is a city 168 km (104 mi) west of Minsk in western Belarus in Grodno Region. Etymology The name ''Lida'' arises from its Lithuani ...
1919 in Belarus Military history of Belarus April 1919 events Western Belorussia (1918–1939)