Fighting on Insurgent Fronts

BATTLE FOR KĄKOLEWO 28 January 1919

Marek Rezler

The battle for Kąkolewo, fought on 28 January 1919 by insurgents from the Pawłowice section, is an example of a swiftly led clash against German fire shot from two armoured trains. The trains arrived at the station in Kąkolewo and opened fire to cover the infantry which was under attack. The Germans initially managed to occupy the station, but they were stopped by Polish machine guns as they were heading towards the village. As a result of a counter-attack, which was supported by a company from Środa, the Germans were forced to withdraw from the railway station and the landing paratroopers then had to get on the damaged trains. Their second attempt at occupying Kąkolewo in a similar way, on 14 February, was also a failure.