Battles & Campaigns · 1920
Battle of the Niemen River
Neman River, near Hrodna (Grodno), Belarus
What happened
After losing at Warsaw, the Soviet army built a defensive line along the Neman River. Polish troops attacked near Grodno while another force went around the Soviet flank and cut its railway supply line. When Polish cavalry took Pinsk, Tukhachevsky ordered a retreat.
Why it matters
It was the second-largest battle of the Polish–Soviet War. It reversed the Soviet position after Warsaw.
What came next
An armistice was signed on 12 October 1920 and took effect on 18 October; the Peace of Riga ended the war on 18 March 1921.
Did you know?
Some historians see it as a series of battles hundreds of kilometres apart rather than one battle.
Timeline
- Aug 1920Battle of Warsaw.
- 15 Sep 1920Battle of the Niemen River begins.
- 26 Sep 1920Polish cavalry take Pinsk.
- 12 Oct 1920Armistice signed; in effect 18 Oct.
- 18 Mar 1921Peace of Riga.