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Battle of Peregonovka (1919)
Encyclopedia
In the Battle of Peregonovka (or Perehonivka) in September 1919, part of the Russian Civil War
, the (Makhnov
ist) Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army of Ukraine
routed elements of the (White) Volunteer Army
. The battle involved several major engagements, near Pomoshna, Yelyzavethrad
, Tashliche, Krutenke, Uman
, Perehonovka, and Kryvyi Rih
.
, the Red Army around Odessa
(including elements of the 12th and 14th RKKA) abandoned the city and retreated northwest. In early September Makhnovists linked up with other 12th Red Army forces west of Kiev.
Other formations, including most of the largely anarchist 7th Insurgent Rifle Division and one brigade of the 58th Rifle Division (the Crimean Rifle Division) left the Red army and reconstituted the Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army of Ukraine at Pomoshna.
Simultaneously, units of the Ukrainian People's Army conquered Uman
and the surrounding area while units of the White Volunteer army after landing at Odessa and marching north occupied Yelyzavethrad
and then marched west.
The Volunteer Army sought to destroy the Makhnovist forces and secure the rail line from Odessa to Yelyzavethrad. The Makhnovist forces sought to preserve their army and return to their home base (in Yekaterinoslav Governorate
, behind the White lines).
Each corps included three to four reinforced infantry regiments and tree to four smaller cavalry regiments with only a small artillery contingent. In the main battle, the 1st and 2nd corps were covering the eastern sector (front) around Perehonovka along the Yatran river; the 4th corps was covering the southern sector (right flank); the cavalry forces, detached from their parent corps, were on the northern sector (left flank), while the 3rd corps was covering the western sector (rear).
's Group of the Ukrainian People's Army, comprised two divisions, one brigade, and some supporting units:
Each division or brigade had 2-3 regiments of infantry and supporting artillery. By the end of August, the 5th Infantry Division and 1st Galician Infantry Brigade had deployed around Uman, and the 12th Infantry Division had deployed around Talne
and Shpola
, supported by the armored trains.
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
, the (Makhnov
Makhnovism
Makhnovism refers to various related political and economic theories elaborated by anarchist revolutionary leader Nestor Makhno, and by other theorists who claim to be carrying on Makhno's work. Makhnovism builds upon and elaborates the ideas of Peter Kropotkin, and serves as the philosophical...
ist) Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army of Ukraine
Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army of Ukraine
The Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army of Ukraine , popularly called Makhnovshchina, less correctly Makhnovchina, and also known as the Black Army, was an anarchist army formed largely of Ukrainian and Crimean peasants and workers under the command of the famous anarchist Nestor Makhno during the...
routed elements of the (White) Volunteer Army
Volunteer Army
The Volunteer Army was an anti-Bolshevik army in South Russia during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1920....
. The battle involved several major engagements, near Pomoshna, Yelyzavethrad
Kirovohrad
Kirovohrad , formerly Yelisavetgrad, is a city in central Ukraine. It is located on the Inhul River. It is a motorway junction. Pop. 239,400 ....
, Tashliche, Krutenke, Uman
Uman
Uman is a city located in the Cherkasy Oblast in central Ukraine, to the east of Vinnytsia. The city rests on the banks of the Umanka River at around , and serves as the self-governing administrative center of the Umanskyi Raion ....
, Perehonovka, and Kryvyi Rih
Kryvyi Rih
Kryvyi Rih or Krivoy Rog is a city in central Ukraine. It is situated in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, to the southwest of the oblast's administrative center, Dnipropetrovsk, at the confluence of the Inhulets and Saksahan rivers...
.
Background
In mid-August 1919, with the Ukrainian People's Army and the White Volunteer Army converging on KievKiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, the Red Army around Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
(including elements of the 12th and 14th RKKA) abandoned the city and retreated northwest. In early September Makhnovists linked up with other 12th Red Army forces west of Kiev.
Other formations, including most of the largely anarchist 7th Insurgent Rifle Division and one brigade of the 58th Rifle Division (the Crimean Rifle Division) left the Red army and reconstituted the Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army of Ukraine at Pomoshna.
Simultaneously, units of the Ukrainian People's Army conquered Uman
Uman
Uman is a city located in the Cherkasy Oblast in central Ukraine, to the east of Vinnytsia. The city rests on the banks of the Umanka River at around , and serves as the self-governing administrative center of the Umanskyi Raion ....
and the surrounding area while units of the White Volunteer army after landing at Odessa and marching north occupied Yelyzavethrad
Kirovohrad
Kirovohrad , formerly Yelisavetgrad, is a city in central Ukraine. It is located on the Inhul River. It is a motorway junction. Pop. 239,400 ....
and then marched west.
The Volunteer Army sought to destroy the Makhnovist forces and secure the rail line from Odessa to Yelyzavethrad. The Makhnovist forces sought to preserve their army and return to their home base (in Yekaterinoslav Governorate
Yekaterinoslav Governorate
The Yekaterinoslav Governorate or Government of Yekaterinoslav was a governorate in the Russian Empire. Its capital was the city of Yekaterinoslav .-Administrative divisions:...
, behind the White lines).
Composition of the Makhnovist Forces
The Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army of Ukraine, led by Nestor Makhno, comprised four corps and army units:- 1st Donets Corps, led by Kalashnikov
- 2nd Azov Corps, led by Vdovychenko
- 3rd Yekaterinoslav Corps, led by Havrylenko
- 4th Crimean Corps, led by Pavlovsky
Each corps included three to four reinforced infantry regiments and tree to four smaller cavalry regiments with only a small artillery contingent. In the main battle, the 1st and 2nd corps were covering the eastern sector (front) around Perehonovka along the Yatran river; the 4th corps was covering the southern sector (right flank); the cavalry forces, detached from their parent corps, were on the northern sector (left flank), while the 3rd corps was covering the western sector (rear).
Composition of the White Forces
The Volunteer Army committed the 4th Crimean Infantry Division and various independent brigades in the battle. The regiments of the 4th Crimean Infantry Division (of the Volunteer Army) were named after the regiments of the 13th and 34th Infantry Division (of the prewar Russian Army).Composition of the Ukrainian Directory Forces
TiutiunnykYurii Tiutiunnyk
Yuri Yosypovych Tiutiunnyk was a Ukrainian military commander of the Ukrainian People's Army of the Ukrainian People's Republic during the Ukrainian-Soviet War.-Early...
's Group of the Ukrainian People's Army, comprised two divisions, one brigade, and some supporting units:
- 5th Infantry Division
- 12th Infantry Division
- 1st Galician Infantry Brigade of the Ukrainian Galician ArmyUkrainian Galician ArmyUkrainian Galician Army , was the Ukrainian military of the West Ukrainian National Republic during and after the Polish-Ukrainian War. -Military equipment:...
- Several Armored TrainsArmoured trainAn armoured train is a train protected with armour. They are usually equipped with railroad cars armed with artillery and machine guns. They were mostly used during the late 19th and early 20th century, when they offered an innovative way to quickly move large amounts of firepower...
Each division or brigade had 2-3 regiments of infantry and supporting artillery. By the end of August, the 5th Infantry Division and 1st Galician Infantry Brigade had deployed around Uman, and the 12th Infantry Division had deployed around Talne
Talne
Talne is a city in Cherkasy Oblast of Ukraine. Population is 16,388 ....
and Shpola
Shpola
Shpola is a city located in the Cherkasy Oblast in central Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Shpoliansky Raion , and is situated at . As of 2004 the estimated population is 18,400.-History:...
, supported by the armored trains.
Timeline Debate
- According to Arshinov, the armies met at Krutenke on September 25, Perehonovka one day after Krutenke, and Kryvyi Rih one day after Perehonovka.
- According to Voline, the armies met at Krutenke on September 25 and Perehonovka on the 26th.
- According to Belash, the armies met at Krutenke on September 25, Perehonovka on the 27th, and Kryvyi Rih on October 1.