Battle of Daugavpils
Part of Polish-Soviet War and Latvian War of Independence
FT-17 tanks of the Polish 1st Tank Regiment preparing for the battle
Date September 28, 1919 to January 15, 1920 Location near Daugavpils, Latvia Result Decisive Polish-Latvian victory
Combatants
Poland, Latvia	Bolshevist Russia
Commanders
Edward Rydz-Śmigły
Strength
2 infantry divisions, 1 tank regiment

Battle of Daugavpils (also known as the Battle of Dyneburg) was the final battle of the joint Polish and Latvian Operation Winter against the Red Army. It took place in late December of 1919 in the area around the city of Daugavpils. The fights in the area started on September 28, and ended in January of 1920. Combatants Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic Second Polish Republic Commanders Mikhail Tukhachevsky Semyon Budyonny Joseph Stalin Józef PiÅ‚sudski Edward Rydz-ÅšmigÅ‚y Strength 950,000 including reserves 5 million 360,000 including reserves 738,000 Casualties Unknown, dead estimated at 100,000 - 150,000 Unknown, dead estimated at... The Latvian War of Independence, sometimes called the Latvian War of Liberation (Latvian: Latvijas brÄ«vÄ«bas cīņas, literally the struggles for the freedom of Latvia, or Latvijas atbrÄ«voÅ¡anas kaÅ—Å¡, the war of the liberation of Latvia), refers to series of military conflicts in Latvia between November... Image File history File links Polish FT-17 tanks of the Polish 1st Tank Regiment during the Battle of Dyneburg Author unknown, picture published without a copyright notice in a number of books, including PociÄ…g pancerny ÅšmiaÅ‚y w trzech wojnach by Janusz Magnuski Reproduction uploaded from [1], with... The Renault FT-17 (Automitrailleuse à chenilles Renault FT modèle 1917) was the French light tank. ... September 28 is the 271st day of the year (272nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... Daugavpils (Belarusian Дзьвінск Dźvinsk, Russian Двинcк Dvinsk, Lithuanian Daugpilis, German Dünaburg, Polish Dźwinów, DźwiÅ„sk or Dyneburg, Yiddish דענענבורג Denenburg), population 115,265 in 2000 census) is the second largest city in Latvia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Poland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Latvia. ... Image File history File links Flag_RSFSR_1918. ... Bolshevist Russia is a common term that refers to the Red side in the Russian government between the Bolsheviks October Revolution (November 7, 1917) and the constitution of the Soviet Union (December 30, 1922). ... Edward Rydz-Śmigły. ... Combatants Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic Second Polish Republic Commanders Mikhail Tukhachevsky Semyon Budyonny Joseph Stalin Józef PiÅ‚sudski Edward Rydz-ÅšmigÅ‚y Strength 950,000 including reserves 5 million 360,000 including reserves 738,000 Casualties Unknown, dead estimated at 100,000 - 150,000 Unknown, dead estimated at... Combatants Poland RSFSR Commanders Józef PiÅ‚sudski Vladimir Lenin Strength ~100,000 troops >100,000 troops Casualties  ?  ? {{{notes}}} The Russian Westward offensive of 1918 — 1919 was part of general move of the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic into the areas abandoned by the Ober-Ost garrisons, that were being... Battle of Bereza Kartuska (1919) Conflict Polish-Bolshevik War Date August, 1920 Place near Bereza Kartuska, near Brzesc, Belarus Result Polish victory Battle of Bereza Kartuska was one of the first conflicts between the organised forces of the Second Polish Republic and Soviet Russia and can be considered as one... Combatants Poland Bolshevist Russia Commanders Józef PiÅ‚sudski WÅ‚adysÅ‚aw Belina-Prażmowski Edward Rydz-ÅšmigÅ‚y Unknown Strength 9 cavalry squadrons 3 infantry battalions artillery support local population Unknown Casualties Unknown Unknown Operation Wilno refers to the Polish offensive and capture of Wilno (Vilnius) during the first... Combatants Poland Bolshevist Russia Commanders StanisÅ‚aw Szeptycki Unknown Strength 14,000 Unknown Casualties Unknown heavy Operation Minsk refers to the Polish offensive and capture of Minsk from the Bolshevik control in 1919. ... Combatants Poland Bolshevist Russia Commanders Jan Romer Strength 1 cavalry division, 1 Infantry Division Battle of Koziatyn (also known as the Raid on Koziatyn and Koziatyn Envelopment) of April 25th-April 27th, 1920, was one of the most spectacular raids of the Polish cavalry during the Polish-Bolshevik War. ... The Kiev Offensive (or Kiev Operation) was an important military operation, carried out by Polish Army and allied Ukrainian forces during the Polish-Bolshevik War, from April 1920 to June of the same year. ... Combatants Poland Bolshevik Russia Commanders Stefan Dab-Biernacki Aleksandr Yegorov Strength 2 infantry regiments, 1 cavalry regiment, 1 artillery group 4th Cavalry Division Casualties ? ? The Battle of WoÅ‚odarka was a clash between the Polish Army and Siemion Budionnyis First Cavalry Army. ... Combatants Poland Bolshevik Russia Commanders Strength at least two regiments 11th Cavalry Division Casualties {{{notes}}} Battle of Bystrzyk happened on May 31, 1920, near the village of Bystryk near Kiev. ... Combatants Poland Bolshevik Russia Commanders Strength 2 battalions (part of 1st Legions Infantry Regiment) 58th Rifle Division Casualties {{{notes}}} Battle of Boryspil happened on June 2, 1920, near the town of Boryspil near Kiev. ... During the Polish-Soviet War of 1920 the city of Lwów was attacked by the forces of Aleksandr Yegorov. ... Combatants Second Polish Republic Bolshevist Russia Commanders Strength Casualties The Battle of Nasielsk was fought on August 14 and August 15 of 1920 between Polish and Soviet forces. ... The Battle of Radzymin was part of the Battle of Warsaw during the Polish-Bolshevik War. ... Battle of Zadwórze (sometimes referred to as the Polish Thermopylae) was a battle of the Polish-Bolshevik War. ... The Battle of Warsaw (sometimes referred to as the Miracle at the Vistula, Polish Cud nad WisÅ‚Ä…) was the decisive battle of the Polish-Soviet War, the war that began soon after the end of World War I in 1918 and lasted until the Treaty of Riga in 1921. ... Combatants Poland Bolshevik Russia Commanders Juliusz Rómmel Semyon Budyonny Strength 6 regiments 17 500 men, 20 regiments Casualties 500 KIA, 700 horses Unknown. ... Combatants Russia Poland Commanders Mikhail Tukhachevsky Józef PiÅ‚sudski Strength ~100,000 on the Western Front (September 1) 96,300 (September 15) Casualties uncertain, at least 40,000 POWs The Battle of the Niemen River was the second-greatest battle of the Polish-Soviet War. ... Combatants Poland, Latvia Bolshevist Russia Commanders Edward Rydz-ÅšmigÅ‚y Strength 2 infantry divisions, 1 tank regiment Battle of Daugavpils (also known as the Battle of Dyneburg) was the final battle of the joint Polish and Latvian Operation Winter against the Red Army. ... The Workers and Peasants Red Army (Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия, Raboche-Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya; RKKA or usually simply the Red Army) were the armed forces first organized by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War in 1918 and that in 1922 became the army of the Soviet Union. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Daugavpils (Belarusian Дзьвінск Dźvinsk, Russian Двинcк Dvinsk, Lithuanian Daugpilis, German Dünaburg, Polish Dźwinów, DźwiÅ„sk or Dyneburg, Yiddish דענענבורג Denenburg), population 115,265 in 2000 census) is the second largest city in Latvia. ... September 28 is the 271st day of the year (272nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ...

From the Polish perspective it was a part of the Polish-Bolshevik War, while in Latvia it is referred to as a part of Latvian War of Independence. Polish-Bolshevik War Conflict Polish-Bolshevik War Date 1919–1921 Place Central and Eastern Europe Result Polish victory The Polish-Soviet War (also known as the Polish-Bolshevik War or the Polish-Russian War) was the war (February 1919 – March 1921) that determined the borders between the Russian... The Latvian War of Independence, sometimes called the Latvian War of Liberation (Latvian: Latvijas brÄ«vÄ«bas cīņas, literally the struggles for the freedom of Latvia, or Latvijas atbrÄ«voÅ¡anas kaÅ—Å¡, the war of the liberation of Latvia), refers to series of military conflicts in Latvia between November...

The Polish commander of the 1st Legions Infantry Division general (later Marshal of Poland) Edward Rydz-Śmigły in late autumn of 1919, proposed that a joint Polish-Latvian operation against the Bolshevik forces be commenced. The front lines in the area were relatively peaceful and the city of Daugavpils could be captured relatively easily, especially since the Red Army was concentrating its forces further southwards. However, lack of support from Polish headquarters, as well as a personal conflict with general Stanisław Szeptycki resulted in Rydz-Śmigły's plan being refused. Symbol of the division in modern NATO code Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division () was a tactical unit of the Polish Army between the World Wars. ... Marshal of Poland (Marszałek Polski) is the highest rank in the Polish Army. ... Edward Rydz-ÅšmigÅ‚y (March 11, 1886 - December 2, 1941); nom de guerre ÅšmigÅ‚y, TarÅ‚owski, Adam Zawisza) was a Polish politician, an officer of the Polish Army, painter and poet. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Workers and Peasants Red Army (Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия, Raboche-Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya; RKKA or usually simply the Red Army) were the armed forces first organized by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War in 1918 and that in 1922 became the army of the Soviet Union. ... StanisÅ‚aw Szeptycki StanisÅ‚aw Maria Szeptycki (1867-1950) – Polish military commander, general. ...

However, the situation changed in December of 1919, after an military alliance had been signed between the governments of Poland and Latvia. General Rydz-Śmigły was given the command over a small operational group composed of his 1st Legions Division, as well as the 3rd Legions Infantry Division and several minor Latvian auxiliary forces. A military alliance is an agreement between two, or more, countries; related to wartime planning, commitments, or contingencies; such agreements can be both defensive and offensive. ... Operational Group (Polish Grupa Operacyjna, abbreviated GO) was the highest level of tactical division of the Polish Army before and during World War II and the Polish Defence War. ...

The battle for the city and its surroundings took place under harsh weather conditions, the area was covered with more than one meter of snow and the temperature dropped below -30 C°. The Polish-Latvian forces reached the area of the Daugavpils fortress almost unopposed; Poles attacking from the south and Latvians from the north. Polish forces moved into the city and took the fortress without much opposition from the Russians. Celsius is, or relates to, the Celsius temperature scale (previously known as the centigrade scale). ...

Soon afterward the Poles relinquished control of the city to the Latvians. Thanks to that, the interwar relations between Poland and Latvia were good, although Latvia refused to join Poland in its continued struggle against Soviet Russia. The problems that precluded the Polish and Latvian governements from expanding their relationship were the opposition from Lithuania (which was hostile towards Poland after the Polish-Lithuanian War) and a dispute about six Latvian communes with majority of Polish inhabitants (south to the Daugava river).^[1] Several forms of alliance were proposed by Poland, such as Latvia joining the Miedzymorze federation of Poland. It chose to join the Baltic Entente instead. Combatants Poland Lithuania Commanders Adam Nieniewski Silvestras Žukauskas Strength  ? ca. ... Commune can refer to various things: commune (subnational entity) of various European and African countries Commune in France. ... River Daugava flowing through Riga city into the Baltic Sea The Daugava or Western Dvina (Latvian: Daugava, German Düna, Belarusan: Заходняя Дзьвіна, Russian: За́падная Двина́, Finnish Väinä) is a river rising in the Valdai Hills, flowing through Russia and Belarus, and then Latvia, draining into the Gulf of Riga, an arm of... Międzymorze (Myen-dzih-MOH-zheh): name for Józef Piłsudskis proposed federation of Poland, Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine. ... The Baltic Entente was a mutual defense pact signed between Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia on September 12, 1934 in an attempt to establish a defense union between the three nations. ...

See also

• List of battles of the Polish-Soviet War

List of battles of the Polish-Soviet War by chronology: Soviet Target Vistula offensive (January-February 1919) Battle of Bereza Kartuska (February 9, 1919: the first battle of the conflict) Operation Wilno: Polish offensive to Wilno (April 1919) First Battle of Lida (April 1919) Operation Minsk: Polish offensive to Minsk...

References