Historical calendar: 22 May 1919 – Poles win the conflict for Lviv

Historical calendar: anniversary of the liberation by the Polish troops of Lviv. The town was partially surrounded by Ukrainians since November 1918.

Today in our calendar we will look at the course of this clash.

On the night of October 31, the Ukrainians attacked the Lions from outside and inside. They occupied all the crucial facilities in the city but the airport in Lewandówka. Poles were surprised, but thanks to their determination they rapidly resisted organized resistance. School youth and local mill workers were fighting.

In spite of their modest weapons, Poles took up a daring police station where they managed to get 20 rifles and a large amount of ammunition. Encouraged by success, they took another expedition, this time to Chernivtsi Railway Station, where causing confusion, they captured respective boxes with ammunition and hand grenades. The obtained weapon was very useful, due to the fact that by 10 a.m. on 1 November, they had to defy the Ukrainian attack on the school. In the winning fight they captured a car with a device gun.

The next days brought fresh successes to the Polish side. Among others, the Main Railway Station managed to master, where 12 1000 Austrian manlicher rifles and 2 million ammunition were captured. The Kadecka School, the Police Directorate building, St. Jur's Hill and the city slaughterhouse were besides occupied.

In order to coordinate the fighting, Poles appointed the Chief Command of Defence of Lviv, headed by Captain Czesław Mączyński. Roman Abraham, Mieczysław Boruta-Spiechowicz, Wilhelm Starck, Ludwik Kopeć and Wit Sulimirski besides revealed their talents.

Under threat conditions, Poles revealed extraordinary organizational capabilities. The battlefield was divided into six episodes. Staff and assault companies were established, cavalry squadrons, a fleeting horsepower firearm division, a method unit and a workshop with sections: pyrotechnic, bombardment, miner, drilling, headlights, graphic and telegraphic; armored car and armored train were constructed. There were field gendarmerie, military militia, intent, verbund points and wellness services with a network of hospitals and medical points.

After the first success of Sagittarius Sicz began to feel little assured in Lviv. Having been incapable to cope with the increasing opposition of civilians, Ataman Dmytro Witowski issued 4 Lisutopada a call in which he announced the killing of residents of houses, from which shots would fall towards invincible Ukrainian troops. The Ukrainians started what they knew best – the slaughter of civilians.

During 22 days of fighting, Ukrainians committed crimes on about a 100 people – both soldiers of the Polish Army and civilians. The most bloody actions were carried out in Zamarstynów and Podzamcz, where in a fewer days they murdered respective twelve people. With a peculiar passion they hunted Polish legionaries, which they frequently tortured before their death. There are besides known cases of murdering full families. The crimes committed by Ukrainians caused understandable outrage among Polish defenders and led to escalation of the conflict.

It is besides worth mentioning local Jews. They formed a militia, whose authoritative task was to keep order in their inhabited parts of the city. Despite their declared neutrality, however, the Jews supported the Ukrainians. They fought with Polish troops, disarmed them, shot them from hiding places, and even committed crimes.

Already on November 9, a 600-man rescue for Lviv under Major Julian Stachiewicz took place from Krakow. On the way, she reached Przemysl on 11 November, from which she removed the Ukrainians after the fight. Here, he took care of the relief by order of Joseph Piłsudski gene. Boleslaw Roja. The Polish soldiers were only little than 80 km distant from Lviv, but were located in an area completely controlled by the opponent.

Immediately, a plan was made to make it look like an impact in the center and flanking an opponent from north and south to prevent Ukrainians from withdrawing from the city. Poles on 21 November at 6am began a decisive attack on Ukrainian positions. The battles were fought with varying happiness, but gradually the opponent was pushed east. Finally, Ukrainian command ordered evacuation from Lviv. The escapees set fire at the last minute to the parliament building and warehouses in the citadel and Podzamcz.

Poles realized besides late that the opponent was leaving the city, but inactive managed to take many prisoners into captivity. The defenders besides fell into the hands of large supplies of weapons, ammunition and food left by Ukrainians. In the morning of 22 November 1918, Lviv was free. Unfortunately, Ukrainian troops surrounded the city and blocked it. From then on, the fighting took the form of a position war.

The situation changed in April 1919, erstwhile the alleged blue army of General Joseph Haller arrived in Poland. The Polish offensive was planned from there. It began on 14 May and completely unlocked the city by 22 May. The conflict was over.

Shortly thereafter, the Ukrainians were disowned for Zbrucz.

Previous entry from our calendar is available Here..