Battle of Zborov (1917)

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Memorial of the killed legionnaires in battle, Kalinivka, Ukraine

Battle of Zborov (bitva u Zborova in Czech and Slovak language) was a small part of the Kerensky Offensive (the last Russian offensive in World War I, taking place in July 1917). The battle was the first significant action of the Czechoslovak Legions (volunteers fighting against the Central Powers) on the Eastern Front.

As reliability of many Russian military formations was in doubt it was decided to attack only with those units that volunteer to the task. Among those who did was the Czechoslovak Riflemen Brigade (Československá střelecká brigáda) formed of three regiments of Czechs and Slovaks. The brigade (about 3,500 men) was low on equipment and training. It was commanded by Russian colonel V.P. Trojanov.

The brigade was deployed near Zborov, a town in today's Ukraine, in a section of secondary importance. The 4th Finnish division protected it from the north, the 6th Finnish division from the south. The enemy, army of Austria-Hungary, had well entrenched and well equipped battalions No. 35, 75 and 86 (about 5,500 men) in place.

At 5:15 of July 2 (second day of the offensive), after initial artilery bombardment, small groups of legionnaires equipped with grenades attacked the enemy. After they breached through barbed wire defenses followup units continued with the attack. Until 15:00 the Legion advanced 4-5.5 km into enemy teritory. 3,300 enemy soldiers (62 officers) were taken into captivity; 20 cannons a large amount of military material was seized. The Czechoslovak losses were 167 killed, 17 wounded dying later, 11 missing and around 700 injured.

This success had no effect on the doomed offensive. During the retreat the Legion fought a defensive battle near Tarnopol with 320 killed. The battle, however, gave propaganda and political capital to the leaders of Czechoslovak resistance and convinced Russian government to put down any limits on forming new units from Czech and Slovak soldiers captured during the war.

After the war the battle became symbol of the heroic military cult around the Legions. After communist party took all power (1948) the event got downplayed or ignored.

[edit] Sources

Rudolf Medek, Vojtěch Holeček: "Bitva u Zborova a československý odboj" (Battle of Zborov and Czechoslovak resistance), 1922
Jan Galandauer: "2.7.1917 Bitva u Zborova - Česká legenda" (June 2, 1917 Battle of Zborov - the Czech legend), 2002, ISBN 80-86515-16-8