Battles of Nabróż
| Battles of Nabróż | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Polish–Ukrainian conflict, Massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia and Eastern Front of World War II | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Ukrainian Insurgent Army |
 Home Army.svg){kind=small} Peasant Battalions | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Unknown |
Jan Opiełka | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
Third Attack: 2–30 killed 11–30 wounded |
Third Attack: 15 killed Several captured | ||||||
| 30–100 Poles murdered[a] | |||||||
The Battles of Nabróż took place between the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and the Home Army in the Lublin Voivodeship, in Nabróż and its vicinity, May 1944, resulting in UPA success.[1]
Prelude
[edit]After a number of successful UPA attacks in the Lublin Voivodeship, Polish leadership was politically divided. AK commanders were blamed for heavy losses and failing to stop insurgents. However, this divide only worsened the situation for Poles. Polish forces made attempts to appeal to the local population.[3] Despite this, insurgents continued their attacks.[4]
Battles
[edit]Initial attack 4-5 May
[edit]UPA launched an attack on Nabróż, the attack was repulsed and the settlement was damaged.[5] UPA didn't make further attempts to capture Nabróż at this time, with the clashes continuing in other settlements of Tomaszów and Hrubieszów Counties instead.
Attack 17 May
[edit]On May 17, 1944, five UPA hundred units attacked the village of Nabróż, which was an important defense link in the Polish defense line against Ukrainian nationalists. The attack was repelled by partisans led by, among others, by Senior Sgt. Jan Opiełka alias "Arab". Due to the threat, the majority of the Polish population was evacuated beyond the Huczwa River.[6]
Final attack 18-19 May
[edit]UPA liquated many settlements around Nabróż. UPA renewed their attacks on this settlement. Heavy fighting took place in and outside Nabróż, which was initially developing in Polish favour. The situation was saved by insurgent reinforcements, which turned the tide of this clash.[7] Insurgents made Germans flee and Luftwaffe failed to inflict any casualties on them during this clash. The Ukrainian side estimated Polish losses at 46 killed and several captured, while UPA suffered 2 killed and 11 wounded.[2] Other sources estimate that Poles lost 15 killed, while UPA suffered losses of about 30 dead and as many wounded.[6][8]
Aftermath
[edit]As a result of final attack, Polish forces retreated behind the Huczwa River.[2] Fighting for Nabróż ended in Ukrainian victory.[1] Polish-Ukrainian clashes continued in other areas and reached its peak at Narol.[9]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Grzegorz Motyka (2022). From the Volhynian Massacre to Operation Vistula. Brill U Schoningh. p. 196. ISBN 978-3506795373.
- ^ a b c Mariusz Zajączkowski. p. 353.
- ^ Mariusz Zajączkowski (2015). Ukraińskie podziemie na Lubelszczyźnie w okresie okupacji niemieckiej 1939-1944. Instytut Pamięci Narodowej, IPN. p. 349. ISBN 978-83-7629-769-9.
- ^ Mariusz Zajączkowski. p. 350.
- ^ Mariusz Zajączkowski. p. 351-352.
- ^ a b Markiewicz, Jerzy (1980). Partyzancki kraj: Zamojszczyzna 1 I 1944 - 15 VI 1944 (Wyd. 1 ed.). Lublin: Wydaw. Lubelskie. p. 336-341. ISBN 978-83-222-0195-4.
- ^ Mariusz Zajączkowski. p. 352.
- ^ Motyka, Grzegorz (1999). Tak było w Bieszczadach: walki polsko-ukraińskie 1943-1948 (in Polish). Oficyna Wydawnicza Volumen. p. 203. ISBN 978-83-7233-065-9.
- ^ Mariusz Zajączkowski. p. 354.