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Revision as of 14:58, 8 January 2005
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 same year. Its goal was to create independent Ukraine. With not enough support from Ukrainian population and growing pressure from the Bolshevik Red Army counteroffensive, after initial successes Polish and allied Ukrainian forces were forced to retreat from Ukraine.
Details
On April 24 Poland begun the Kiev Operation, aimed at creating a independent Ukraine, to become part of Piłsudzki's Międzymorze Federation. Poland signed a military alliance with the Ukrainian People's Republic of Symon Petliura. Peltura, after defeat of his government from the bolsheviks hands found asylum in Poland and now headed the new Ukrainian Army. The joint Polish - Ukrainian political campaign which goal was to raise the patriotic spirits among the population the plans to form a strong Ukrainian army capable of taking over the positions against the Soviets in Ukraine, while initially succesfull, had to be abandoned due to lack of time. The local population was tired of several years of war and the Ukrainian Army reached the strenght of only 2 divisions.
The plan of Kiev Operation was to beat Soviet troops on the Polish southern flank and establish a friendly government in the Ukraine. After winning the battle in the South, Polish General Staff planned a speedy withdrawal of the 3rd Army and strengthening of the northern front where Pilsudski expected the main battle with the Red Army to take place. As it is often the case the actual course of events was different than envisioned.
The 3rd Army easily won border clashes with the Soviets and the combined Polish-Ukrainian forces captured Kiev on May 7 encountering only token resistance, but the Bolshevik army, although badly mauled, avoided total destruction. Polish offensive stopped at Kiev and only a small bridgehead was established on the eastern bank of Dnieper. This military thrust soon met with a Red Army counterattack. On May 24, the Polish - Ukrainian force was engaged by the Semyon Budionny and his famous 1st Cavalry Army for the first time. Polish-Ukrainian forces succeeded in slowing and even defeating the Red Army on several occasions, The morale was high, Polish-Ukrainian forces were eager to defend Dnieper Ukraine and confident in their ability to withstand the Soviet offensive. Repeated attacks by this elite Budionny's cossack cavalry broken the Polish Ukrainian front on June 5th and on June 10th Polish armies were retreating along the entire front. It was a bitter day for the Poles and Ukrainians on June 13 when Kiev was evacuated and left to the Soviets. Petlyura's Ukrainians, although small in numbers fought bravely and with fierce determination throughout the rest campaign. In face of almost unlimited Russian reserves and slow growth of Ukrainian army Polish and Ukrainian forces were ordered to retreat and while the units mangaed to withdraw in order and relatively unscathed, they were tied in Ukraine and lacked sufficient strenght to support Polish Northern Front and strengthen defenses at the Auta River during the decisive battle that was soon to take place there.
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