Memories From The Polish Soviet War

henryk · Post by **henryk** » 15 Jul 2004 20:09

I have been given copies of photos originally belonging to Jakub Bogal (my uncle) who obtained them during his service in the Polish Army in the Polish-Soviet War. Two other uncles, Andrzej and Jozef Bogal, are also in the photos. Included were images of the text from the back of the photos and an English translation of the text. To obtain an appreciation I have sorted the photos to a time line and determined the locations where the photos were taken and located them on a present day map of Northeastern Poland and Western Belarus.. Red text on the map denotes locations given on the photos and green reference points An additional location given on the photos, Zamosc, which is located in the center of Eastern Poland, is not included on the map.
Jakub Bogal (22 in 1920) served in the Telephone Platoon of the 3rd Infantry Regiment (pulk Piechoty). Andrzej Bogal (20 in 1920) served in the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Company, Artillery Munition Supply. Both participated in the Battle of Warsaw, but no pictures. Jozef Bogal (12 in 1920) is assumed to be a civilian visitor). Thanks to Don Stalkowski (grandson of Jakub) for the photo copies and to Andrzej Bogal (grandson of Andrzej) for the translation.

MAJOR EVENTS TIMELINE (North-East Poland only):
11 Nov 1918; Poland declares its independance.
16 Nov 1918: Soviet Western Army occupies Minsk and Wilno
12 Jan -12 Feb 1919: failure of Soviet Operation “target Vistula’ to capture Warsaw
9 Feb 1919: first battle: Polish victory at Bereza Kartuska
Apr 1919: Polish Operation Wilno
20 Jul, Aug 1919: Polish Operation Minsk
3 Jan 1920: Polish operation Dvinsk (Daugavpils) against Soviets to capture it for Latvia
19 Mar 1920: start of major Soviet offensive
15 May- 8 Jun 1920: Battle of Berezina
Jul 1920: Soviet breakthrough in Belarussia
Aug 1920: Battle of Warsaw; Soviet defeat and retreat
20 Sep- 18 Oct 1920: Battle of Niemen River (Polish capture Minsk 18 Oct)
18 Oct 1920: fighting ceases

henryk · Post by **henryk** » 15 Jul 2004 20:22

PHOTOS 1, 2, 3.

henryk · Post by **henryk** » 15 Jul 2004 20:32

Photos 4, 5, 6.

henryk · Post by **henryk** » 15 Jul 2004 20:38

Photos 7, 8, 9.

henryk · Post by **henryk** » 15 Jul 2004 20:45

Photos 10, 11, 12.

henryk · Post by **henryk** » 15 Jul 2004 20:54

Photos 13, 14, 16

sylvieK4 · Post by **sylvieK4** » 15 Jul 2004 21:24

Thank you, henryk, for sharing that incredible record!

PolAntek · Post by **PolAntek** » 16 Jul 2004 23:15

sylvieK4 wrote:Thank you, henryk, for sharing that incredible record!

That goes for me too! Photographic records of the events of this pivotal conflict are rare. It is a treat to see these. Many thanks again!

CoffeeCake · Post by **CoffeeCake** » 18 Jul 2004 00:19

Thanks for sharing henryk. There aren't many photos from this conflict, its nice to see that there is a record of it =)

Liluh · Post by **Liluh** » 18 Jul 2004 11:56

Thank you Henryk for this wonderful contribution. There are not many pictures avaliable for public view from this conflict.

Btw . I suddenly feel the urge to play with Photoshop and repair those pictures

Benoit Douville · Post by **Benoit Douville** » 23 Jul 2004 04:04

I also agree that this contribution by Henryk about the Polish-Soviet War is fascinating, I really appreciate. The fact is that the Polish-Soviet War was a pivotal conflict with a lot of importance like PolAntek said during that period of time. Too bad that we don't talk about it more today, fortunatley we have this forum.

Regards

Durand · Post by **Durand** » 23 Jul 2004 21:54

Hallo,

I add my voice to the chorous. Henryk, the photographs are very interesting and offer a rare glimpse of that nearly unknown conflict. Thank you for posting them here.

Best Regards,

Durand

henryk · Post by **henryk** » 17 Feb 2011 20:36

I am placing a link to this post in the Genealogy Forum: Polish Origins.
http://forum.polishorigins.com/index.php
On reviewing the pictures I posted, I decided to post two additional ones, which are the message reverse of two picture postcards, photo 15 (this has a Polish Army cancellation) and photo 16.
Here are translations of the messages:
15r
Dear brother Grodno Apr.21.1921
Thanks for the card you sent me. Nothing new here, everything as usual.
I'm sending you a picture postcard of a railroad bridge in one piece
and another with the bridge broken off.
J Bogal P... Telef
Address Józef Bogal
Wieś (village) Kolosy, S...
Czarkowy, Powiat (county) Pinczów
.... Kielieckiej

16r
Grodno Apr.21.1921
Look at this bridge in the water.Lies submerged and looks low, but it is
so high like an old .........? in the factory.
With greetings J.Bogal
Address Józef Bogal
Wieś (village) Kolosy,
S...Czarkowy, Powiat (county) Pinczów
.... Kielieckiej

Peter K · Post by **Peter K** » 28 Feb 2011 23:50

Photos of many graves of Polish soldiers who lost their lives during that war (Belarus):

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthrea ... 9&page=231

henryk · Post by **henryk** » 01 Mar 2011 20:45

Domen121 wrote:Photos of many graves of Polish soldiers who lost their lives during that war (Belarus):
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthrea ... 9&page=231

Thank you for the post. There must be thousands of graves there. I note there are also graves from WWII and the 1863 Uprising against Russia. It reminds of the graves I saw in Wilno/Vilnius and Latvia. Also the thousands of graves in Italy, France and the United Kingdom. Too many Poles lost and buried outside their homeland. "For Your Freedom and Ours".

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