Battle of Skoczów

Battle of Skoczów
Part of the Polish–Czechoslovak War
Date January 28–30, 1919 Location Near Skoczów, Poland Result truce, stop of Czechoslovak offensive[1]
Belligerents
Czechoslovakia	Poland
Commanders and leaders
Josef Šnejdárek	Franciszek Latinik
Strength
more than 10,000 soldiers (including 20 battalions of infantry and 3 squadrons of cavalry) 28 machine guns 1 armoured train	3,000–4,000 soldiers (including 6 battalions of infantry and 2 squadrons of cavalry) 1 piece of artillery 1 armoured train
Casualties and losses
unknown	18 killed[1]

The Battle of Skoczów took place in late January 1919, during the Polish–Czechoslovak War. It ended in a stalemate, as Czechoslovak forces, which tried to capture whole territory of former Duchy of Teschen, were stopped by Polish Army near the town of Skoczów. It was the biggest battle of the war.^[2]

Monument "In memory of fallen fighting to keep Silesia Polish" in Skoczów, designed by Artur Cienciała, unveiled in 1961.

Czechoslovak offensive in the Duchy of Teschen began on January 23. Due to the ongoing Polish–Ukrainian War and Greater Poland Uprising, and the budding Polish–Soviet War (which erupted in February 1919), the bulk of Polish Armed Forces was located in other provinces of the country. As a result of the Czechoslovak offensive, weak Polish forces near Cieszyn were forced to retreat east- and northwards. To avoid encirclement, on January 26 Poles evacuated from Cieszyn. Colonel Franciszek Latinik, who commanded Polish forces in the area, created a defensive line along the Vistula, from Strumień in the north to Ustroń in the south. Above all, Latinik wanted to prevent the enemy from breaking through to Bielsko-Biała and Żywiec.

On January 27 the Czechs entered Cieszyn. Enjoying numerical superiority (3 to 1), they continued their offensive in order to reach western bank of the Vistula, together with Bielsko. On the next day, first clashes took place near Skoczów. After fierce defense, the Poles withdrew to Ustroń and Drogomyśl. On January 30, the Czechoslovaks broke through Polish lines near Strumień. Despite several attempts, they failed to achieve success in other locations, such as Skoczów, Ochaby, Iskrzyczno and Miedzyswiecie, and their offensive stalled.

Due to stubborn defence of the Poles, and new orders from Prague, General Josef Šnejdárek, who commanded Czechoslovak forces in the area, proposed a truce. Since Polish situation was difficult, Colonel Latinik agreed, and the truce was signed on January 31.

The Battle of Skoczów is commemorated on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Warsaw, with the inscription "CIESZYN - SKOCZÓW 23 - 26 I 1919".

References