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Battle of Ulhówek and Rzeczyca
Part of the Polish-Ukrainian ethnic conflict
Date1st and 2nd of June, 1944
Location
Rzeczyca, Ulhówek and its surroundings
Result See Aftermath
Belligerents
Home Army Ukrainian Insurgent Army
SS Galizien
  Nazi Germany
Commanders and leaders
Zenon Jachymek Unknown
Strength
3,000 Unknown but more bigger then Polish forces
Casualties and losses
71 killed and 100 wounded Heavy
93 Ukrainian civilians killed

The battle of Ulhówek and Rzeczyca or the Ulhówek-Rzeczyca offensive were battles fought from the 1st to the 2nd of June 1944 in the outskirts in the villages of Ulhówek and Rzeczyca. The battles of Ulhówek and Rzeczyca was the largest battle between Polish and Ukrainian guerillas in the Lublin Voivodeship during World War II as part of the Polish–Ukrainian ethnic conflict. [1]

Background

Main articles: Polish–Ukrainian ethnic conflict § The conflict in the Hrubieszów, Tomaczów and Lubaczów counties in 1943; and Polish–Ukrainian ethnic conflict § The conflict in the Hrubieszów, Tomaczów and Lubaczów counties in 1944

In 1943, Polish partisans fearing that the Ukrainian Insurgent Army's terror would spread into the Lublin Voivodeship started attacking local Ukrainian activists, however these were not mass crimes, but executions carried out on designated individuals. [2] In response Ukrainian police units started pacification of Polish villages and Polish partisans started pacification of Ukrainian villages turning into a Vicious circle. The conflict in 1943 in the region lead to the execution of 456 Ukrainians, 286 of whom were, in Bozyk's words, 'nationally aware peasants'. The remaining group included Orthodox priests, Ukrainian national activists and officers of the Ukrainian Auxiliary Police. [3]

In March 1944 the Home Army and Peasant Battalions led by Zenon Jachymek and Stanisław Basaj started the largest anti-Ukrainian action of the Polish Underground State named the Hrubieszów revolution, [4] the result of the event was the killing of approximately 2,000 Ukrainians. [5]

In April of the same year the UPA started a major offensive against Polish partisans however the first offensive on the 5th of April failed, [6] and the offensive on the first day of Easter had an Inconclusive outcome. [7] Due to the failed offensives only sporadic attacks took place until the 15h of May when the UPA organized an offensive in the area of Nabrozh, Telatyn and Zulice. Telatyn changed hands several times. Fearing encirclement, the Polish troops had to withdraw across the Huczwa River from Nabróża. [8] On May 21 the UPA tried to attack Narol however the attack failed and UPA soldiers had to go back to their positions. [9]

Polish forces

On 1 June 1944, Polish units began preparing for an attack on the approximately fifty-kilometre-long Tyszowce - Łaszczów - Jarczów section. Its aim was to pre-empt the actions of the UPA units. The main strike was to be directed at Ulhówek and Rzeczyca, which were key points in the UPA's positions. [10] Nine groupings were formed: [11]

  • 1st Group under the command of Marian Pilarski "Grom" - 550 soldiers
  • 2nd Group under the command of Andrzej Dżygała "Korczak", composed of 6 units with 600 soldiers counting 40 Uhlans led by Franciszek Korczyński. It's task was to take positions for an attack in the Rachaj forest near Posadow, then to capture Rokitno from the north towards Ulhówek.
  • 3rd Group under the command of Tadeusz Niedziałkowski "Tomasz", composed of 5 units and 450 soldiers. It's task was to capture the villages of Podlodów and Żerniki, then launch an attack from the northwest on Ulhówek, and cooperate with the 4th Group.
  • 4th Group under the command of Franciszek Bednarski "Reneta", composed of 5 units and 450 soldiers. It's task was after capturing the village of Rzeczyca, to continue the attack on Ulhówek from the west.
  • 5th Group under the command of Józef Kozak "Waręż", composed of 1 company, 150 soldiers. It's task was to advance the attack on the Dębina manor, capture the road, and occupy positions to support the fighting groups.
  • 6th Group uder the command of Błażej Czop "Czapliński", with 250 soldiers it's task was to take up a starting position for an attack east of the village of Nedeżów towards Łubcze, Szlatyn, and Hubinek.
  • 7th Group under the command of Bronisław Wojciechowski "Czarny", it's task was to operate east of the Łubcze colony towards Chodywańce.
  • 8th Group under the command of Bronisław Bochenek "Głaz", it's task was to occupy the Rochaj Posadów-Steniatyn forest on the night of June 1–2 as a starting position for the attack on Ulhówek and Rokitno.
  • 9th Group under the command of Franciszek Samulak "Młot".

In total, the Home Army forces mobilised for this action amounted to 3,000 men. The entire offensive was commanded by Captain Zenon Jachymek "Wiktor". [12]

The offensive

On 1 June 1944, the individual groups took up a starting posture for an attack, the units of the 1st Group left the Tyszowiec Forest for the designated positions with the task of securing the Polish offensive near Ulhówek from the north. [12] On the morning of 2 June the grouping started to develop for the attack from Dabrowa forest in order to drive out the UPA soldiers. Lieutenant "Ryszard"'s "Wiklina" company was to tie up the UPA garrison in Stara Wieś with a part of its forces, while "Grom" company was in reserve.Its platoon was to capture the strategically important road Mircze-Stara Wieś-Telatyn-Ulhówek, in order to prevent the enemy from receiving reinforcements from the Mircze region. [12] The unit's attempt to capture Dąbrowa failed because the "Kozak" unit unexpectedly encountered a 12-man SS "Galizien" sub-unit training in the forest, which was completely destroyed. [12] The attack by "Czarny" and "Kozak" on Dąbrowa collapsed under the hurricane fire of a strong Wehrmacht front unit that had previously occupied Dąbrowa. During the heavy fighting with the attacking enemy, "Kozak" and "Czarny" suffered heavy wounds. With the help of the "Czarny" and "Kozak" squads came the company of Lt. Konopy, "Czaruś". The battle, which lasted more than two hours, was inconclusive. The fighting at Dąbrowa was paid with the loss of 4 killed and 3 wounded. [13]

The grouping of the II sergeant senior A. Dżygało, "Korczak", while marching to their starting positions in the Zulice forest, accidentally encountered in the area of Zulice a Ukrainian unit providing cover for the Ukrainian Insurgent Army's grouping in Telatin. As a result of the unexpected shelling of the "Korczak" unit, nurse Stefania Gajewska, "Rosa", was killed. [13] The third company of the lieutenant, "Muryna" insuring the action of Korczak's troops, after a short battle, drove back the Ukrainian unit to Telatyn and moved to capture Posadów, Rzeplin and the surrounding forests. [13] The 2nd Group was quickly recognised by the enemy, which had a detrimental effect on the course and conduct of the entire action; moreover, "Korczak" halted the march of his units to the starting positions and moved to the Żulice forest. [13] The "Muryna" company occupied the village of Posadów and continued the fight with the Ukrainians for the hill near Rzeplin. At this time, the horse reconnaissance of the Korczyński cavalry group, in the strength of 96 Uhlans, attacked Rokitno, which, after some support from "Muryna"'s soldiers, was captured. [13]

A part of the "Korczak" detachment, stationed idly in the forest, moved at about 9.30 a.m. to support the remaining forces of the 2nd Platoon. From 11 p.m. the "Reneta" assault group of Lieutenant Fr. Bednarski was engaged in the battle. The 3rd group of rtm. Tadeusz Niedziałkowski, "Tomasz", with whom the commander of the group, Cpt. "Wiktor", was located, captured Podlody and took Żerniki. However, the sounds of the battle could not be heard from the Steniatyn Forest. [13]

At this time, Lt. "Reneta" renewed the attack with his 4th grouping from the west on Rzeczyca. The Ukrainian command directed more and more troops to Rzeczyca to reinforce the defence. The attack of Lieutenant "Reneta" collapsed under heavy Ukrainian fire. To the relief of the retreating Reneta's units came Capt. T. Niedziałkowski, "Tomasz", who, aware of the situation on the battlefield, left Bela's company and with part of his forces struck in the direction of "Ulhówka. A joint strike by Lt. Cpl. "Reneta" and Cpl. T. "Tomasz" on Rzeczyca failed and Sgt. Korczak" continued to stand idle in the Zulica forest instead of striking Ulhówek from the west. [14]

The "Waręż" unit, under the command of Józef Kozak, captured the Dębina manor, but unsuccessfully tried to launch an attack from the direction of the meadows on Rzeczyca in order to help the "Reneta" grouping entangled in the battle. [14] Lieutenant "Czaplinski"'s 4th grouping, without encountering any resistance in the villages of Lubcze, Szlatyn and Hubinek, moved towards Rzeczyca to support the embattled units. [14] Also, Group VII, 2nd Lt. B. Wojciechowski, "Czarny" continued the attack on Dyniska, driving the UPA out of it, and then, in another offensive, captured Dębina. [14]

The success of the Poles in the ongoing battle of Ulhówek and Rzeczyca could not escape the attention of the Germans, who deployed military aviation in the area of the battle, firing from their guns at Polish positions along the entire line of battle. [14] The Germans bombed: field hospitals in the Bukowiec forest, Pawlowka, Kolonia Muratyn and Paszkiewicz's manor. [15]

Due to the German intervention and the numerical superiority of the Ukrainian forces, at 16:00 Zenon Jachymek ordered a retreat of Polish forces by the Huczwa river. [14]

Aftermath

In total, during the offensive on the Polish side, 71 soldiers were killed and 100 were wounded. [14] [16] Ukrainian losses are unknown but are most likely to be heavy. [17] During the offensive, Ukrainian civilians were killed in Ratyczów (26 killed, including 6 women and 9 children), Żerniki (32 killed, including 17 women and 1 child) and the Steniatyn colony (35 killed, including 14 women and 7 children). [18] Though Polish forces retreated to their defensive positions the UPA was only able to counterattack on the 14th of June, the attack on Łaszczów by the UPA failed, and the attack was one of the final battles of the Polish–Ukrainian ethnic conflict in the region. The fighting in the region came to an end due to the Soviet intervention. [19] Despite the failure of the offensive, it prevented the UPA from making any deep inroads into the Zamojszczyzna region. [15]

Legacy

The battle near Ulhówek and Rzeczyca was the largest battle fought between Polish and Ukrainian partisans during World War II in the Zamość region. [1] In the 50th anniversary of the battle a monument was built for the partisans of the Home Army and Peasant Battalions who took part in the battles from the 2nd to the 5th of April and the 2nd of June. the battle of Rzeczyca was added in 2017, along with 21 other places to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw. [20] [21]

References

  1. ^ a b "Uroczystości patriotyczne w Posadowie" (in Polish). 2020-06-15. W posadowskim lesie 2 czerwca 1944 roku miała miejsce największa na Zamojszczyźnie bitwa z wojskami Ukraińskiej Powstańczej Armii – armii, która zarówno przeważała liczebnie jak również była lepiej uzbrojona niż oddziały AK i BCh. [In the Posadów forest on June 2, 1944, the largest battle in the Zamość region took place with the troops of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army - an army that was both numerically superior and better armed than the Home Army and BCh units.]
  2. ^ Motyka, Grzegorz (1999). Tak było w Bieszczadach (in Polish). Warsaw: Volumen. p. 172. ISBN  8372330654.
  3. ^ Bożyk (2007). Konflikt polsko-ukraiński na południowo-wschodniej Lubelszczyźnie podczas okupacji niemieckiej (in Polish). Przemyśl. p. 168.{{ cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ( link)
  4. ^ Zajączkowski, Mariusz (2015). Ukraińskie podziemie na Lubelszczyźnie w okresie okupacji niemieckiej 1939-1944 (in Polish). Instytut Pamięci Narodowej--Komisja Ścigania Zbrodni przeciwko Narodowi Polskiemu. Oddział w Lublinie. p. 284. ISBN  978-83-7629-769-9.
  5. ^ Hałagida, Igor. "Ukraińskie straty osobowe w dystrykcie lubelskim (październik 1939-lipiec 1944) - wstępna analiza materiału statystycznego". Institute of National Remembrance: 385.
  6. ^ Motyka, Grzegorz (1999). Tak było w Bieszczadach (in Polish). Warsaw: Volumen. p. 200. ISBN  8372330654.
  7. ^ Motyka, Grzegorz (1999). Tak było w Bieszczadach (in Polish). Warsaw: Volumen. p. 201. ISBN  8372330654.
  8. ^ Motyka, Grzegorz (1999). Tak było w Bieszczadach (in Polish). Warsaw: Volumen. p. 203. ISBN  8372330654.
  9. ^ "Lubaczowskie struktury Związku Walki Zbrojnej / Armii Krajowej i ich udział w walkach o Narol w maju 1944 r. – Muzeum Kresów w Lubaczowie" (in Polish).
  10. ^ Armia Krajowa na Ziemi Tyszowieckiej. p. 20.
  11. ^ "Walki polsko- ukraińskie na wschodzie powiatu tomaszowskiego- " Bitwa o Ulhówek"" (PDF). pp. 2–3.
  12. ^ a b c d "Walki polsko- ukraińskie na wschodzie powiatu tomaszowskiego- " Bitwa o Ulhówek"" (PDF). p. 3.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Walki polsko- ukraińskie na wschodzie powiatu tomaszowskiego- " Bitwa o Ulhówek"" (PDF). p. 4.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g "Walki polsko- ukraińskie na wschodzie powiatu tomaszowskiego- " Bitwa o Ulhówek"" (PDF). p. 5.
  15. ^ a b Żurek, Stanisław (2019-06-04). "KALENDARIUM LUDOBÓJSTWA. CZERWIEC 1944 ROK". Kresowy Serwis Informacyjny (in Polish).
  16. ^ "72 Rocznica walk pod Posadowem, Rzeczycą i Żulicami" (in Polish). 2016-06-08.
  17. ^ The text suggests that the UPA was met with fierce resistance during the offensive, which resulted in heavy losses for their forces. Although no specific figures are given, the narrative describes the UPA struggling to repel the Polish offensive, suggesting that they suffered heavier casualties.
  18. ^ Hałagida, Igor (2017). Ukraińskie straty osobowe w dystrykcie lubelskim (październik 1939-lipiec 1944). p. 387.
  19. ^ Bożyk, Andrzej (2008). Konfl ikt polsko-ukraiński na południowo-wschodniej Lubelszczyźnie podczas okupacji niemieckiej w świetle badań polskich i ukraińskich po 1989 roku (in Polish). p. 206.
  20. ^ "Polacy walczący z banderowcami upamiętnieni na Grobie Nieznanego Żołnierza". polska-zbrojna.pl (in Polish).
  21. ^ "Nowe tablice Macierewicza na Grobie Nieznanego Żołnierza. Poświęcone są walkom z OUN i UPA". Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish).
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