The Battle of Nasielsk was fought on August 14 and August 15 of 1920 between Polish and Soviet forces. The Polish launched a counterattack against Soviet forces who were besieging Warsaw. Polish General

Władysław Sikorski Władysław Eugeniusz Sikorski (; 20 May 18814 July 1943) was a Polish military and political leader. Prior to the First World War, Sikorski established and participated in several underground organizations that promoted the cause for Polish i ...

, commanding the Fifth Army, consisting of three infantry and two cavalry divisions, was given the task of containing the Soviet right wing formed by the Soviet 4th , 15th, and 3rd Armies, consisting of twelve infantry and two cavalry divisions. The Poles took the offensive on the morning of 14 Aug., crossing the Wkra and

Vistula The Vistula (; pl, Wisła, ) is the longest river in Poland and the ninth-longest river in Europe, at in length. The drainage basin, reaching into three other nations, covers , of which is in Poland. The Vistula rises at Barania Góra in ...

Rivers. Gen. Karnicki raided

Ciechanów Ciechanów is a city in north-central Poland. From 1975 to 1998, it was the capital of the Ciechanów Voivodeship. Since 1999, it has been situated in the Masovian Voivodeship. As of December 2021, it has a population of 43,495. History The ...

and captured the Soviet IV Army's plans and cyphers. On 16 Aug., Sikorski entered Nasielsk, using tanks, armoured cars, and two armoured trains. On 18 Aug. he neared his objectives on the Orzyc and Narew Rivers.Davies, N., 1972, White Eagle, Red Star, London: Macdonald & Co, Sikorski's attacks allowed Pilsudski to launch his strike force on 16 Aug. Sikorski "had ensured the clearance of the Vistula bridgehead and the success of the counter-offensive from the

Wieprz The Wieprz (, ; ua, Вепр, Vepr) is a river in central-eastern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It is the country's ninth longest river, with a total length of 349 km and a catchment area of 10,497 km2, all within Poland. Its cour ...

. The Soviets withdrew their 15th and 3rd armies, and abandoned the 4th Army to its fate.

References

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Nasielsk Nasielsk is a small town in Masovian Voivodeship, Poland. It is located approximately north of the Polish capital Warsaw, on the Warsaw- Gdańsk rail line and serves as a railway junction. In 2020, the population of the town was estimated at 7, ...

1920 in Poland

August 1920 events