Remains of Polish soldiers murdered by Bolsheviks found in Latvia

Polish archaeologists uncovered remains of Polish soldiers at a site near Daugavpils, Latvia, that fought under the command of General Edward Śmigły-Rydz against the Bolsheviks in 1919.

Remains of a Polish soldier’s uniform (by Andrzej Ossowski)

Remains of two soldiers were unearthed at the site of the former Polish military cemetery at Katymiołka. Previously, remains of 8 other individuals were found. They were the soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division of Polish Legions and 1st Tank Regiment. Analysis of documents from the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw allowed to identify them. Polish soldiers under the command of Gen. Edward Śmigły-Rydz fought together with the Latvian army from December 1919 to January 1920 against the Bolsheviks. On January 3rd 1920 the joint troops managed to seize Dyneburg (present Daugavpils) and to push the Bolsheviks out of Latgale. The remains of both found individuals will be re-buried at the Polish quarter of the military cemetery at Ławkiesy (Laucesa).

(after Andrzej Ossowski & TVP Info)

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