Defense of the lower Vistula and the battle of Włocławek as the essential episodein the battle of Warsaw in 1920

Abstract

The fights in defense of Włocławek and its vicinity lasted from August 14 (Saturday) to August 19. (Thursday), when the aggressor left the city. Analyzing the very course of the activities of the Polish side on the “lower Vistula” in August 1920, we can distinguish three stages. The first is the chaotic organization of the defense of the “lower Vistula” line by the Ministry of Military Affairs, and then by the command of the Northern Front. The second is the delaying fights on the outskirts of the Vistula (Mława, Działdowo, Brodnica) and defensive fights on the river line (Bobrowniki, Nieszawa, Włocławek, Płock). Finally, the third is the pursuit of the rapidly retreating Bolshevik troops and clearing the area of survivors and marauders.

Looking at the individual stages in detail, it is worth noting that the first stage lasted until August 12. It included staff and fortification works. However, their performance did not meet the scale of the impending threat or the defense needs. The realities of war meant that many issues had to be corrected at the last minute, and sometimes even completely changed. This applies in particular to the organization of command and the fortification works carried out in the suburbs of Włocławek and Płock, which required the involvement of larger forces (2–3 divisions) than were later available.

The second – heavy buoys from Mława to Brodnica, the purpose of which was to prevent the enemy from entering the Pomeranian corridor and to fight for crossings on the Vistula. During this period, the Bolsheviks had an advantage in numbers and equipment, including moral ones. The 4th Army took part in the struggle along with the 3rd Cavalry Corps subordinate to it (four rifle divisions and two cavalry divisions), having long victorious fights behind them. Its opponent were ad hoc crews of the commons, badly armed, untrained and composed of staged and spare units. Most of the soldiers serving in these units had not previously participated in combat, so they had no combat experience. During the period under discussion, the operational and tactical initiative was entirely in the hands of the Soviet commanders. They set the directions of actions, they chose the place and time of offensive actions.

The third is the pursuit of the escaping enemy. Only the troops moved to the north-east (the group of colonel Aleksandrowicz) took part in this action, as the troops blocking the crossings on the Vistula in the region of Włocławek and Płock did not manage to establish combat contact with the enemy forces quickly retreating under the pressure of Gen. Sikorski’s 5th Army. Therefore, their main occupation was the liquidation of the remnants of Bolshevik troops, which did not manage to break through the Polish cordon to the east.

The entire fighting in the vicinity of Włocławek lasted 5 days, of which only in Włocławek itself was actually on August 16, and the city was under fire on the following days, which undoubtedly caused a lot of damage (the bridge, church institutions and urban housing development).

In addition, around 2,000 people were involved, especially when it comes to the Polish side on the critical day of August 16. soldiers, most of them just mobilized, with little combat experience. On the Russian side, the forces were several times greater (15,000–16,000), but in the scale of the entire Battle of Warsaw, they were not large. The Bolsheviks originally wanted to cross the Vistula, on the Bobrowniki – Nieszawa line and over the bridge in Włocławek. Secondly (after the destruction of the bridge) also on the Bobrowniki – Nieszawa line and probably east of the city.

It seems that the attackers had a chance to break through to the left side of the Vistula twice and organize a strong resistance there: once at Nieszawa – if they would start crossing their troops faster, and the second time – when they set off in pursuit of the returning Polish soldiers over the bridge. In both cases, there was no determination.

Considering the duration of the fight and the forces involved, it can be said that it was only an episode of the Battle of Warsaw.