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• As the plans to capture Bydgoszcz were abandoned (...)
• Group II. Commander (...)
• To make matters worse (...)

 As the plans to capture Bydgoszcz were abandoned, the decision was taken to expand the uprising in the direction of Inowrocław. Presumably, the author of this plan was W. Jedlina - Jacobson. Finally, however, a unit which consisted of 100 people, mainly insurgents from Gniezno and Września left Gniezno on 1 January 1919 under the command of Second Lieutenant Paweł Cyms. On that very same day, the unit occupied Trzmeszno. Here, a small unit of local volunteers commanded by Władysław Wlekliński (about 50 people) joined Cyms. At the same time, changes in the organisation of the command were introduced. Cyms maintained command of all the combined forces, and Mieczysław Słabęcki became the commander of the Gniezno-Września Company. 

Then, this small corps set off for Mogilno. The town had previously been liberated, therefore, it would welcome the unit commanded by Cyms as a Polish town. From there, the Gniezno-Września company was sent to Strzelno, where, with the support of the local population, it fought a victorious battle against the Germans who were stationed there. Soon, on 2 January, the main forces of Cyms entered Strzelno and were reinforced with volunteers arriving from surrounding areas. By order of the commander of the regrouping, the expedition was joined by a unit formed in Mogilno and commanded by Stanisław Roloff.

In the night of 2 to 3 January 1919 Kruszwica liberated itself through its own means and resources. On the way to this town, the encountered German units were disarmed and the town of Wronowy was liberated. Thus, this area was cleared of armed Germans and on 5 January all local insurgent units were concentrated in Kruszwica without any obstacles. Next day, a unit from Miłosław (commander: Stanisław Pluciński) and the 1st Battalion of the 31st Infantry Regiment from Włocławek in the territory of the Kingdom of Poland, commanded by Captain Michał Zabdyr, arrived in the following composition: two infantry companies, one heavy machine gun platoon (3 pieces), a communication team and a sanitary patrol - in total 370 people. The appearance of these soldiers from the border cordon was an exceptional event and could cause political consequences which would threaten the development of armed activities in the “German” part of Greater Poland. In bringing these soldiers, Captain Zebdyr acted on his own, out of the patriotic impulse of his heart, disregarding the consequences which could unfold as a result of his patriotic gesture. Obviously the insurgents in Inowrocław did not have anything against the presence of two companies of a regular army acting in their favour.

In the meantime, in Strzelno, P. Cyms received an order regarding the immediate cessation of any activities, issued by the Commissariat of the Supreme People’s Council. As a result of this, the Polish commanders were at a loss. In Mątwy, even during the march for Inowrocław, a meeting was held between Cyms and a representative of the Supreme People’s Council - Feliks Koszutski. The intention was to stop the march of Cyms’ units, thus implementing the results of the negotiations with the Germans. The sentiments among the insurgents and the news of the German repression of Poles after the failed attempt at taking control of the city on 4 January prevailed. The decision was taken to fight for Inowrocław.

The insurgent march of the group commanded by Paweł Cyms to Inowrocław went down in the history of the Greater Poland uprising. On 1 January 1919, the expedition from Gniezno reached Mogilno, marching along the route between Jankowo Dolne, Łukowo, Trzemeszno and Wydartowo. Next day the insurgents left Mogilno and arrived in Kruszwica, passing such towns as Bystrzyca, Jeziorki, Strzelno, Młyny, Wronowy, Stodolno and Stawsko Wielkie. After three days, on 5 January, the route was continued and the insurgents left for Inowrocław, marching through Mątwy.

The German 140th Infantry Regiment, of unknown size, was stationed in that city (commander: Major Grollmann). It was fully ready to repulse the Polish attack – especially after a German officer sent to start negotiations was detained by Cyms.

Second Lieutenant Paweł Cyms commanded 900 soldiers concentrated in Matwy; their armament was not uniform and the soldiers hardly had 20 bullets per gun. The plan was to seize the railway station (in order to cut off any way of retreat for the German staff and deliver reinforcements from Bydgoszcz), to surround and take control of the barracks of the 140th Infantry Regiment, and then occupy the entire city. The reconnaissance of the German forces was very poor. Furthermore, the action aimed at seizing Inowrocław was neither compliant with the decisions and instructions of the Commissariat of the Supreme People’s Council nor the provisions of the armistice signed in the city just one day before, when an attempt at taking control of the city by forces of local insurgents had failed. As a matter of fact, the only advantage of the planned action was the decisiveness and determination of the Polish soldiers.

The plan for the seizure of Inowrocław was agreed upon in Mątwy. For the purpose of its implementation, P. Cyms divided his forces into two strike groups.

Group I. Commander: Captain Michał Zabdyr.

Composition:

– the 1st Company of the 31 Infantry Regiment  about 120 people

– the Witkowo unit (commander: Stanisław Połczyński)      about 50 people

– the Miłosław unit (commander: Stanisław Pluciński)        about 30 people

– the Kruszwica company (commander Ignacy Nowak)     about 120 people

– the Strzelno company (commander Stefan Różnowicz)    about 100 people

(this  last company joined the other units in Inowrocław)

In total: about 420 soldiers.

Armaments: rifles, double-barrelled shotguns, 2 heavy machine guns.

Task: to enter Inowrocław from the south, via Poznańska Street and Szymborska Street, occupy the artillery barracks on the eastern outskirts of the city, take control of the city centre and continue the attack towards the infantry barracks. Furthermore, it would be necessary to cross the railway line running to Toruń.