Battle of Surkonty

The Battle of Surkonty took place on August 21, 1944, and is regarded as the first clash between Polish Home Army, and regular forces of the Red Army, supported by the NKVD. It occurred in forests near the village of Surkonty, 20 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of Grodno, on the territory of Belarus, and resulted in Polish defeat. The Soviets lost 132 men KIA, while Polish losses were 35 KIA (including local commandant, Colonel Maciej “Kotwicz” Kalenkowicz) and 1 WIA.

In late June 1944, the unit of Kotwicz left the area of Grodno, and headed eastwards, to join Home Army forces from Stolpce in order to fight together in Operation Ostra Brama. On July 13, the Home Army of the area of Wilno, together with the Red Army, freed the city. Soon afterwards, the NKVD began arresting Polish soldiers, and as a result of this action, local headquarters of Home Army ordered all men to withdraw to the countryside.

On July 18, at the edge of Rudniki Forest (Puszcza Rudnicka), some 6,000 Home Army soldiers concentrated, together with 12,000 civilian refugees. All were soon spotted by Soviet aircraft, so it was decided that the soldiers should be divided into smaller groups, and march towards Białystok. The unit of Maciej Kalenkowicz remained in the forest for a while, but under Soviet pressure, it had to retreat southwest.

On August 21, Poles were attacked by 3rd Battalion of 32nd Motorized Regiment of the NKVD. The battle lasted five hours: Colonel Kalenkowicz was killed, but the Poles did not surrender, and managed to escape encirclement.

The Battle of Surkonty is commemorated on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Warsaw, with the inscription "SURKONTY 21 VIII 1944".

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