Battle of Kock (1920)

The Russian 170th Brigade was the only Russian force to enter contact with the Polish 4th Army now positioned behind Wieprz river.[11] Its orders were to cross the river at Kock, seize the Kamionka-Lubartów area and through Michów seize the strategically important town of Dęblin and its 19th-century fortress.[9] The brigade was supported by numerous smaller detachments of infantry and cavalry, as well as the 58th Rifle Division advancing on its flank towards Łęczna and Piaski.[9] The previous day it offered a feeble attempt at crossing the Wieprz river near Kock, but was beaten off.[11] However, for unknown reasons the Poles abandoned the trenches surrounding the Kock bridgehead.[11]

In the early hours of August 14 the Russians mounted yet another assault, this time aimed directly at Kock.[11] Although the pressure of the enemy was small,[8] the Poles withdrew to Wola Skromowska on the other side of the river, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the south, after only a brief exchange of fire.[8] A wooden bridge across the river was destroyed by Polish engineers.[12]

Commanding officer of the Polish Fourth Army Gen. Leonard Skierski immediately ordered the 21st Division to retake Kock.[13] In order for the division to take part in the counter-offensive scheduled for early morning (2:00 am) of the following day, the town had to be retaken in the evening of August 15.[13] However, a Polish attack on that day stalled. It was discovered that the northern bank of the river was by then under firm control of the Russians, who brought up fresh reinforcements and security detachments to hold the bridgehead and a direct assault was not an option any more.[13] Polish forces on the left flank were more successful and captured the village of Ruska Wieś, overlooking the river on its northern bank.[13] This allowed for two battalions of infantry to ford the river there.[13] Later that night additional two battalions crossed the river virtually unopposed at Sułoszyn on the right flank.[13] Although the town was not retaken in time, this manoeuvre allowed the Poles to occupy convenient positions on both flanks of the enemy. One of the battalions from the right flank group was then dispatched by way of Tarkawica^[b] to Borki, 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) behind enemy lines, directly to the north of Kock and along the road from Kock to Radzyń Podlaski.[13] The role of the battalion was to screen against enemy reinforcements from Radzyń and prevent the withdrawal of enemy forces from Kock.[13]

Shortly before daybreak, the 4th Army started its counter-offensive against Russian left flank.[12] Contrary to Polish expectations, the Mozyr Group offered next to no resistance.[12] The only division initially in contact with the enemy was the 21st.[12] Its task was to retake the bridgehead it had lost on August 14.[12] From there it was to proceed due north, screening the main force from the direction of Radzyń Podlaski and by the end of the day achieve the Ulan-Tuchowicz line.[1] The following day it was to proceed towards Łuków.[14] For this task the 21st Division was provided with a limited aerial reconnaissance.[14] The 21st Division's headquarters and reserves consisting of a single battalion with a section of mounted scouts and a battery of heavy artillery was at Wólka Rozwadowska, all the remaining forces were dispatched for the front.[10]

The assault of Russian positions started before daybreak on August 16. At 4:45 the Polish battalion which had been advancing along the Ruska Wieś – Kock road entered the town.[13] However, this alerted the defenders who managed to occupy a tactically convenient high ground on the northern outskirts of the town.[13] After a short fight, the Polish battalion was pushed back west of the town with heavy losses.[13] Soon it was joined by another Polish battalion from the 1st Mountain Brigade.[13] A heated skirmish ensued and the enemy pursuit was stopped.[13]

With the Russians preoccupied with the fights on their right flank (to the west of Kock), the commander of the Polish 1st Mountain Brigade ordered his 2nd battalion to ford the river and capture the village of Górka on Russians' left flank.[13] At that point the Russian forces defending Górka were attacked from the front by the 2nd battalion and from the east by the 3rd battalion.[13] After a short struggle the Russians retreated northwards, exposing the left flank of the entire Russian force.[13] With both flanks defeated, the Russian forces broke down and retreated and by 6:30 the town of Kock was occupied by the Poles.[13]

The Russian brigade disintegrated, with its elements withdrawing in two directions: towards north-west in the direction of Serokomla and north towards Radzyń Podlaski.[13] The latter group reached the village of Annówka some 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Kock, but were defeated by the battalion from the 2nd Podhale Rifles Regiment after a short pursuit.[13] Forces withdrawing from that skirmish were again intercepted by a battalion of the 4th Podhale Rifles Regiment that had been dispatched towards Borki the previous night.[13] By 9:00 the battle was over.[13]