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Key 1920 battle against Bolsheviks reenacted near Warsaw

15.08.2023 22:45
History enthusiasts have reenacted a key 1920 battle near Warsaw that helped save Poland’s newly regained independence, news outlets have reported.
Actors recreate scenes from Polands 1920 victory over the Russian Bolsheviks in Ossów near Warsaw.
Actors recreate scenes from Poland's 1920 victory over the Russian Bolsheviks in Ossów near Warsaw.Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz

Some 100 reenactors on Tuesday flocked to Ossów, a village near the Polish capital, to recreate the country's victory over the Russian Bolsheviks 103 years ago, public broadcaster Polish Radio's polskieradio.pl website reported.

The August 14, 1920 Battle of Ossów was part of the wider Battle of Warsaw, which is considered to have saved Poland’s newly regained independence and prevented the Bolshevik revolution from spreading into western Europe.

The 1920 Battle of Warsaw is considered to have stopped the Bolsheviks from spreading their revolution across Europe. The 1920 Battle of Warsaw is considered to have stopped the Bolsheviks from spreading their revolution across Europe. Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz

Often described as the “Miracle of the Vistula,” the Battle of Warsaw was part of the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-1921 and was fought from August 12 to 25, 1920 as Red Army forces commanded by Mikhail Tukhachevsky approached the Polish capital.

Polish forces led by Marshal Józef Piłsudski counterattacked, forcing the Soviets to withdraw.

Around 4,500 Polish soldiers were killed, 10,000 went missing and 22,000 were wounded, compared with estimated Russian losses of 10,000 killed, 500 missing, 30,000 wounded and 66,000 taken prisoner.

The 1920 Battle of Warsaw has been listed among the most important battles that have decided the fate of the world.

August 15 marked Armed Forces Day in Poland, an annual celebration commemorating the 1920 victory.

Poland regained independence on November 11, 1918, the day World War I ended, after 123 years of partition by Russia, Austria and Prussia.

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Source: polskieradio.pl, TVP