Select Pages

• The sharp deterioration in the situation on the Northern Front (...)
• Both groups left for their respective areas (...)
• The battle for Łabiszyn was an interesting example (...)
• Taking into account the strong resistance of the Germans (...)
• The second group did not take part in the direct attack. (...)

The battle for Łabiszyn was an interesting example of the decisiveness, and at the same time the creativeness of the insurgents. Second Lieutenant Dratwiński, who was not officially appointed commander, managed the action very efficiently, consulting all his activities with subordinate commanders. It is noteworthy that this was an arrangement between officers and non-commissioned officers, which was natural for a regular army. Both parties were experienced, were familiar with army service and understood each other perfectly - and this brought specific results. As a result, success was achieved using a very simple but effective method, without any serious or unnecessary losses. In principle, this local action deserves greater attention and it is a pity that some historians almost completely ignore it.

The second battle of Szubin was the most important accent of the insurgent offensive of 11–12 January 1919. Undoubtedly Szubin was also the main German centre after repulsing a Polish attack three days before and taking control of Żnin and Łabiszyn. On the other hand, the Poles, as well as for strictly military reasons, treated the necessity to capture Szubin as a matter of ambition.

The Polish forces were divided into two strike groups and one cover group.

Group 1 (commander: Stanisław Śliwiński):

– the Poznań Battalion,

– the Infantry Regiment from Września (commander: Zdzisław Beutler),

– a Heavy Machine Gun unit from Września (8 hmg, commander: Alojzy Nowak),

– 2 Artillery Half-Batteries: 2 howitzers – commander: Kazimierz Nieżychowski, 2 field cannons – commander: Tadeusz Fenrych

– sanitary service.

In total: 783 soldiers.

Task: march along the road running from Żnin through Malice–Suchoręcz–Słonawki–Słonawy–Grzecznapanna to the junction of the roads to Godzimierz and Szubin, and strike the city from the north.

Group 2:

– the Infantry Regiment from Wyrzysk (commander: Teofil Spychała),

– a half-battery of howitzers (commander: Jan Chylewski).

In total: About 200 people.

Task: to march from Kcynia through Zalesie and the Pińsko station to Wolwark and then attack Szubin from the west, along the axis of the road connecting Wolwark and Szubin. This was supposed to be an auxiliary strike.

Group 3 (cover) – commander: Zygmunt Kittel:

– an infantry half-battalion from Gniezno,

– a heavy machine gun unit,

– a cavalry squadron from Poznań (commander: Kazimierz Ciążyński),

 – a patrol of sappers from Poznań (commander: Second Lieutenant: Józef Sulerzyski),

– a half-battery of artillery (commander: Edward Brzeski).

In total: 400 soldiers.

Task: to safeguard the march of the main strike forces, control the area of Kołaczkowo by means of the cavalry squadron and to cover the approaches to the city from the north, from the area of Godzimierz Leśniczówka, using the forces of the Gniezno half-battalion and artillery.