August 13, 1920 · Central Poland, Vistula River Theater
August 13, 1920
The Red Army under Tukhachevsky swept through eastern Poland in summer 1920, and Lenin ordered an offensive on Warsaw to carry revolution into western Europe. Tukhachevsky's advance outran his supply lines while Budyonny's cavalry dawdled in Ukraine. Polish commander Piłsudski launched a brilliant counter-offensive — the 'Battle of Warsaw' or 'Miracle on the Vistula' — attacking the exposed Red Army flank on August 16. The Red Western Front collapsed; 60,000 Soviet soldiers were taken prisoner and 30,000 were interned in East Prussia. Poland retained its independence, confirmed by the Treaty of Riga (1921).
Commanders