Battle of Daugavpils

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Battle of Dyneburg

Part of Polish-Bolshevik War, Latvian War of Liberation

FT-17 tanks of the Polish 1st Tank Regiment preparing for the battle

Date	September 28, 1919 to January 15, 1920
Location	near Daugavpils, Latvia
Result	Decisive Polish victory

Combatants

Poland,

Latvia

Bolshevist Russia

Commanders

Edward Rydz-Śmigły

Strength

2 infantry divisions, 1 tank regiment

Polish-Soviet War
Target Vistula – Bereza Kartuska – Wilno – Minsk – Daugavpils – Koziatyn – Kiev – Volodarka – Mironówka – Olszanica – Żywotów – Miedwiedówka – Dziunków – Wasylkowce – Bystrzyk – Nowochwastów – Berezno – Spiczyniec – Boryspol – Zazime – Puchówka – Okuniew – Spiczyn – Lwów – Berezina – Nasielsk – Serock – Radzymin – Zadwórze – Warsaw – Komarów – Niemen – Zboiska – 2nd Minsk

Battle of Daugavpils (also known as the Battle of Dyneburg) was the final battle of the joint Polish and Latvian Operation Winter against the Red Army. It took place in late December of 1919 in the area around the city of Daugavpils. The fights in the area started on September 28 and ended in January of 1920.

From Polish perspective it was a part of the Polish-Bolshevik War, while in Latvia it is referred to as a part of Latvian War of Liberation.

The Polish commander of the 1st Legions Infantry Division general (later Marshal of Poland) Edward Rydz-Śmigły in late autumn of 1919 proposed that a joint Polish-Latvian operation against the Bolshevik forces be commenced. The front lines in the area were relatively peaceful and the city of Daugavpils could be captured relatively easily, especially that the Red Army was concentrating its forces further southwards. However, lack of support from the side of the Polish headquarters, as well as personal conflicts with general Stanisław Szeptycki resulted in Rydz-Śmigły's plan being refused.

However, the situation changed in December of 1919, after an military alliance had been signed between the governments of Poland and Latvia. General Rydz-Śmigły was given the command over a small operational group composed of his 1st Legions Division, as well as the 3rd Legions Infantry Division and several minor Latvian auxiliary forces.

The fights for the city and its surroundings took place in harsh conditions: the area was covered with more than 1 metre of snow and the temperature dropped below -30 C°. The Polish-Latvian forces reached the area of the Daugavpils fortress almost unopposed; Poles attacking from the south and Latvians from the north. Polish forces moved into the city and took the fortress without much opposition from the Russians.

Soon afterward the Poles passed the control of the city to the Latvians. Thanks to that cooperation the interwar relations between Poland and Latvia have been quite good, although Latvia refused to aid Poland in its continued struggle with Russia. Also, the opposition from Lithuania (which was hostile towards Poland after the Polish-Lithuanian War) preculded the Polish and Latvians governements from tightening their relationship, even through several forms of alliance were propsed (such as Latvia joining the Miedzymorze federation of Poland joining the Baltic Entente).