Lithuanian and Belarusian Self-Defence
Encyclopedia
Lithuanian and Belarusian Self-Defence was a voluntary military formation (militia
) composed primarily of Poles
that was created in the aftermath of First World War during the formation of Second Polish Republic
in the Kresy
Polish-Russian borderlands.
The areas of operation of this militia formation were centered around Wilno (now, Vilnius), Minsk
and Grodno (now, Hrodna). The units, former around autumn 1918 were primarily involved in protection the local residents from deserters and bandits, quelled unrest among the peasant and faced the increasing incursions by the Bolshevik
forces which were following the retreating German Ober-Ost forces.
On 8 December 1918 general Władysław Wejtko who was involved in the creation of militia arrived in the Polish capital of Warsaw
, where naczelnik
Józef Piłsudski confirmed him as the 'leader of all Polish forces in Lithuania and Belarus'.
However the militia was soon faced with numerically superior Bolshevik forces. In December 1918 in Minsk
, a group of roughly 1500 Poles and Belarusians under the 'Samoobrona' banner rose to arms to defend the city against the advancing forces of Soviet Russia
. However, due to Russian numerical superiority and lack of support from the side of the short-lived Belarusian National Republic
, the group withdrew towards central Poland. Shortly thereafter, a roughly 2,500 men strong 'Samoobrona' force was created in Wilno (modern Vilnius) to defend it against the Reds in January 1919. In the effect of four day long fights for the city, the Polish forces were pushed back and the city had to be abandoned. In the coming months the cities would change hands several times during the struggle of various factions (for example, during Vilna offensive
and Operation Minsk
).
Most of the 'Samoobrona' forces were reformed, starting January 8, into a single unit - the 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Division under the command of general Władysław Wejtko - now officially part of the newly formed Polish Army. The division took part in the Polish-Soviet War
of 1919-1920.
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
) composed primarily of Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
that was created in the aftermath of First World War during the formation of Second Polish Republic
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
in the Kresy
Kresy
The Polish term Kresy refers to a land considered by Poles as historical eastern provinces of their country. Today, it makes western Ukraine, western Belarus, as well as eastern Lithuania, with such major cities, as Lviv, Vilnius, and Hrodna. This territory belonged to the Polish-Lithuanian...
Polish-Russian borderlands.
The areas of operation of this militia formation were centered around Wilno (now, Vilnius), Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
and Grodno (now, Hrodna). The units, former around autumn 1918 were primarily involved in protection the local residents from deserters and bandits, quelled unrest among the peasant and faced the increasing incursions by the Bolshevik
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....
forces which were following the retreating German Ober-Ost forces.
On 8 December 1918 general Władysław Wejtko who was involved in the creation of militia arrived in the Polish capital of Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, where naczelnik
Naczelnik
Naczelnik is the Polish word for Leader. It was first used as an official title by Tadeusz Kościuszko during the Polish revolutions of the 18th Century...
Józef Piłsudski confirmed him as the 'leader of all Polish forces in Lithuania and Belarus'.
However the militia was soon faced with numerically superior Bolshevik forces. In December 1918 in Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, a group of roughly 1500 Poles and Belarusians under the 'Samoobrona' banner rose to arms to defend the city against the advancing forces of Soviet Russia
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic , commonly referred to as Soviet Russia, Bolshevik Russia, or simply Russia, was the largest, most populous and economically developed republic in the former Soviet Union....
. However, due to Russian numerical superiority and lack of support from the side of the short-lived Belarusian National Republic
Belarusian National Republic
The Belarusian People's Republic was a self-declared independent Belarusian state, which declared independence in 1918. It is also called the Belarusian Democratic Republic or the Belarusian National Republic, in order to distinguish it from Communist People's Republics...
, the group withdrew towards central Poland. Shortly thereafter, a roughly 2,500 men strong 'Samoobrona' force was created in Wilno (modern Vilnius) to defend it against the Reds in January 1919. In the effect of four day long fights for the city, the Polish forces were pushed back and the city had to be abandoned. In the coming months the cities would change hands several times during the struggle of various factions (for example, during Vilna offensive
Vilna offensive
The Vilna offensive was a campaign of the Polish–Soviet War of 1919–1921. The Polish army launched an offensive on April 16, 1919, to take Vilnius from the Red Army. After three days of street fighting from April 19–21, the city was captured by Polish forces, causing the Red Army to...
and Operation Minsk
Operation Minsk
Operation Minsk refers to the Polish offensive and capture of Minsk from the Bolshevik control in early August 1919.In the summer of 1919 after the Polish successes in several Polish-Russian skirmishes, the two combatants have been near the limits of their capabiity to wage warfare with each...
).
Most of the 'Samoobrona' forces were reformed, starting January 8, into a single unit - the 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Division under the command of general Władysław Wejtko - now officially part of the newly formed Polish Army. The division took part in the Polish-Soviet War
Polish-Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War was an armed conflict between Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine and the Second Polish Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic—four states in post–World War I Europe...
of 1919-1920.