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© Michal Derela, 2020 | Updated: 14. 02. 2024 |
"Generał Konarzewski" with an original naval anchor emblem |
Among Polish armoured trains created from captured Soviet rolling stock, one of the most interesting was number 24 "Generał Konarzewski", despite the fact that its Polish combat career was short and the train itself was an improvised unit. It originated from one of the first armoured trains of the Russian army, originally constructed on Polish territory and used in combat almost since the beginning of World War I. Among early Russian units, it stood out by its maritime crew background and markings. It was also one of the first Bolshevik trains, numbered 1, and operated in 1918 in the same area and time as the first Polish armoured train "Związek Broni". The fate wanted, that two years later it was used by the Poles on the same line...
Note: links marked this way lead to Wikipedia articles.
During World War I, there appeared conditions for a wider usage of armoured trains, and Imperial Russia became one of pioneers in this field. A forming of the first units of this type began immediately after the outbreak of war, and they soon became widespread due to conditions of warfare on the Eastern Front. Initially, they were semi-improvised trains, later more advanced constructions began to appear, and they achieved perfection during the civil war. Wagons of one of the first Russian armoured trains of the Great War, which was formed and debuted in combat on Polish territory, ended their career in Polish hands – although to be precise, these peculiar wagons were created a little later during the war...
The history of this train is not entirely clear, however. When we created the page in 2020, we had managed to reconstruct its transformations better than before, and come to conclusions partly different from those presented in both Russian and Polish publications. This work became possible thanks to the help of Krzysztof Margasiński, whose article inspired the creation of this page[1]. Only later Russian research by Maxim Kolomiets[9] shed more light on the origin of this train and at the same time made the already established views based on this author's earlier works obsolete, which led to significant changes to the article in 2024. It should be noted that due to a lack of original documents regarding the composition of the train and its changes, findings in this matter are possible primarily on the basis of luckilly quite rich photographic material, found and interpreted only in the 21st century.
A postcard photograph of the first Russian armoured train (standard gauge) built in 1914 on the Warsaw-Vienna Railway |
The unique photograph of the second armoured train built in 1914 on the Warsaw-Vienna Railway in its earliest form, without machine gun loopholes, and probably without wagons's roofs. [www.photo-war.com] |
The train probably in mid-1915, with modifications like machine gun embrasures and roofs. The original locomotive, same as above, is most probably PR class (2-2-0) – visible is a low catwalk around the boiler with original railings. |
Armoured train of Special Duty Naval Regiment with modifications introduced in 1915. This photograph was often published in a slightly retouched version, as Minsk revolutionary train, but it has no anchors painted and has the original locomotive, what indicates 1915 year. |
It was previously assumed that in connection with the offensive of Central Powers towards the Vistula, at the beginning of November 1914, the Russian army formed one improvised armoured train in Warsaw area, which was the ancestor of the train of the Special Purpose Naval Regiment and the "General Konarzewski". Its core consisted of two large steel four-axle coal wagons of the French Fox-Arbel type, and this train was to enter combat in November at Koluszki station. More recent research, however, has shown that in fact at least two armoured trains were built in central Poland, basing on workshops and rolling stock of the Warsaw-Vienna Railway, and their construction began already in September, just before the German offensive. This railway, built in the mid-19th century on the initiative of Polish industrialists, was the first commercial railway line in the entire Russian Empire (the second railway in general after a short Tsar's railway), and was distinguished by a standard track gauge (1435 mm) instead of the wide track typical in the rest of Russia (1524 mm).
The creation of armoured trains in the frontline area of Poland, which had been annexed by Russia, began a few months after the outbreak of the war, probably on the initiative of the command of the North-Western Front, in order to secure railway transport. Most probably the first of them was a standard-gauge train built on the basis of two-axle open coal wagons of the Warsaw-Vienna Railway, which in older sources was referred to as the train of the 5th Siberian Railway Battalion and erroneously believed to have been formed in Riga in 1915[note 1]. Now it is known, that it was also the first Russian armoured train of the Great War.
According to newer research by M. Kolomiets, the hero of this article was the second armoured train built on the Warsaw-Vienna Railway. Older publications stated that it was built at the beginning of November 1914 in the workshops of the Russian 4th railway battalion in Kozłówka (now in Legionowo) on the orders of the commander of the 6th Siberian Rifle Division, hence the train was referred to as the armoured train of the 4th railway battalion[1,4]. In the latest study, Kolomiets no longer provides this detailed information, although the railway battalion probably had to supervise the construction of armoured trains in its area. This train, unlike the previous one, was based on two four-axle wide-gauge open wagons of steel construction of the French Fox-Arbel type, built in Russia, which were brought to this railway from Russian mainland railways in September. Their characteristic feature were sides, which had 18 narrow segments with X-shaped stiffening embossments, including four segments creating two pairs of double-leaf doors. Provisionally armoured wagons were covered from the inside with a thick layer of wood and probably additional steel sheets. Above the upper edge of the sides, the wagons received box-like superstructures, made of thick wood and covered with steel plates, almost certainly of ordinary thick steel (not armour steel). The superstructure had 20 evenly spaced narrow vertical loopholes for rifles on each side and five in end walls. Initially, there were no side embrasures for machine guns (perhaps they were in front walls). A characteristic feature of the upper superstructure was its covering with six sheets of sheet metal on each side. Wagon bogies were also covered with bent sheet metal. Initially, according to Kolomiets, the wagons had no roof, but soon they received flat roofs with high observation towers over front walls. By end of 1915 they were modified again and fitted with raised gable roofs.
These wagons could have been converted to the standard track, but it is not certain whether the train was a standard gauge one because of a locomotive used. According to the photos, it had a steam locomotive with an axle arrangement 2'B (2-2-0) and a three-axle tender, most probably of the Russian broad-gauge PR (ПР) class[9]. It was originally an express train locomotive, 12 of which were built in the years 1902-1905 for the broad-gauge branch Warsaw – Kalisz of the Warsaw-Vienna Railway, as type 83 of the Kolomna Works. The steam locomotive was covered on the sides with high, inclined flat steel plates, retaining the railings around the boiler typical for Russian locomotives. It does not seem logical to have converted the locomotive to a standard gauge, what was a complicated refit, since there were a number of standard-gauge locomotives available. Therefore we suspect, that the train originally had other standard-gauge armoured locomotive, but there are no photographs confirming this. It is notheworthy, that the first built train had a standard-gauge locomotive, replaced with the same PR class afterwards, when it operated as a broad-gauge train. It cannot be ruled out either, that at the beginning the second train had a different rolling stock, similar to the first train.
Older literature erroneously stated that the train used Ya (Я) class passenger steam locomotive with 1'C (1-3-0) axle arrangement, but locomotives of this class were not used by railways west of Białystok and this is also ruled out by the details of their construction, primarily a high catwalk around the boiler with a stepped railing. This view was undoubtedly influenced by later usage of Ya class steam locomotive in the train, as it was assumed that only the armour of the locomotive was changed. The use of a passenger locomotive, especially an express one, instead of a freight locomotive was unusual for armoured trains, but was probably due to availability.
Older sources stated that this train with Fox-Arbel wagons fought against the Germans in November 1914 at Koluszki station during the German offensive towards Łódź. There is evidence of an armoured train fighting there, but it is currently unclear which train it concerns. The train in question was taken over on November 5 (November 18 New Style), 1914, in Warsaw by Staff Captain V. Vasilyev, and then the next day it entered a fight against German patrols behind Skierniewice. Its crew consisted of three officers and 95 soldiers of the 251st Stavuchany Infantry Regiment of the 63rd Division, and its armament included rifles and one machine gun[9]. On November 9 (22), the train supported by infantry captured Koluszki station, and on November 10, it tried to break through to Łódź and fought a skirmish near Żakowice. On November 13 (26), the train was temporarily taken over by lieutenant A. Savelyev of the 4th Railway Battalion, and on that day the train restored a railway connection with Łódź, driving away the German infantry. The next day, Captain V. Milevanov took over the train. However, it is not actually known which train these reports refer to. We tend to believe, that it was the first standard-gauge train, with two-axle carriages, which had a machine gun and was actively used, as is evidenced by the large number of its photos in the press of the time. There are however mentions in reports, that "the second protected train" approached Koluszki on November 9 with ammunition for Łódź garrison (delivered on November 13), and that "the second protected train with a broken steam locomotive returns to Warsaw" on November 14; therefore, it had to be a standard gauge train as well[9]. There is no certainity whether this refers to the train with Fox-Arbel wagons. However, such wagons were undoubtedly better suited to transporting ammunition and supplies than two-axle coal wagons.
Armoured train of the 4th Railway Battalion reconstruction (based on a drawing by Arthur Przeczek – modified). |
In December, after a German failed offensive, active actions ceased in this area for some time, and the train with Fox-Arbel wagons was withdrawn to Ivangorod fortress (now: Dęblin), at an unknown time. In the meantime, it had to be converted to a wide gauge, typical for Russia. In July 1915 the train was taken over by the Naval Special Duty Regiment in Ivangorod fortress. The regiment was formed in March of Baltic Fleet sailors commanded by General-Major G. Mazurov, and fought in the Western Front. The train's armament was strengthened with two 37 mm Hotchkiss naval guns in wagons' end walls, and eight machine guns 7.62 mm Maxim with embrasures in lower side walls, two in each wagon's side. The ammunition carried was 200 rounds for cannons, 36,000 rounds in 144 belts and additional 72,000 loose ones for machine guns, and around 28,000 rounds in holders for rifles. The crew consisted, among others, of 80 riflemen. Probably observation turrets were added upon wagons' end walls at that time as well, and apparently roofs were adapted for lying soldiers (with low sandbag bulwarks). From then on, it was referred to as the "armoured train of Naval Special Duty Regiment" (бронепоезд Морского полка особого назначения, bronyepoyezd Morskogo polka osobogo naznacheniya).
In older publications this photograph was also captioned as the Naval Special Duty Regiment armoured train with Ya class steam locomotive in summer of 1915, in spite of striking differencies. It is obvious, that the locomotive is not Ya (Я) 1-3-0 class, as it was described, but 2-2-0 fast train locomotive – the details indicate PR (ПР) class (Kolomna works type 83). As far as we know, the locomotive has been correctly identified for the first time on our page in 2020. We suspected it was train from Ust-Dvinsk fortress, fighting at Riga front. Only in 2021, Kolomiets identified this train for the first time as the first armoured train of Warsaw-Vienna Railway, taken over by the 5th Siberian Railway Battalion in Ust-Dvinsk, converted to wide gauge, with original rolling stock (a two axle wagon) and new Fox-Arbel wagons, patterned upon the second Warsaw-Vienna Railway armoured train, but with wider loopholes and other differencies[9]. |
On 12 July 1915, the train of the Naval Special Duty Regiment was ready, and a week later it went into action to defend Ivangorod Fortress, covering withdrawing Russian units. The commander was Lieutenant Mukhin. On 19 July (1 August) alone, the train undertook six raids from the fortress in directions of Radom and Kozienice, fighting at Austrian infantry and cavalry. Thirteen crew members were awarded with St. George Crosses for this action. However, Russian troops were forced to withdraw from Ivangorod on 22 July, and the Naval Regiment was directed to the front. The train was then withdrawn to Brest, where on 8 August it was taken over by the 4th company of the 3rd Railway Battalion and refitted[4]. Probably at that time its locomotive was changed to Ya (Я) class no. 73 (of Polesia Railway, built in 1900, axle arrangament 1-3-0). It had a characteristic full streamlined armour, high above the boiler and a dome, distinguishing it from all Russian trains (older publications claimed erroneously, that only the armour of original locomotive was changed). Kolomiets wrote in an older source only, that already on 16 August, during the retreat from Brest, the train fought against the Germans near Kobryn, supporting Pereyaslav Infantry Regiment[4]. The train next returned to the Naval Special Duty Regiment. Around that time at the latest, characteristic marine emblems in a form of painted anchors appeared on wagons and the locomotive. Their colour was probably pale blue[1] (according to Kolomiets, white, but this seems less likely, because they contrast too weakly on some of the photographs). From mid-November to the beginning of the following year the train operated in Latvia, from Nicgale Station, subordinated to the 5th Cavalry Division[4]. In 1916 the train received number 4 in the Western Front (also known as number 4M, from Morskiy – Marine).
In March 1916 the train was directed to support Lake Naroch offensive in Belarus, operating on Dyneburg – Vilnius line. At night on 10 (23) March 1916, while supporting an attack, the train derailed on a damaged track. In the morning, the rear wagon was evacuated, and the locomotive the next day, but the leading wagon remained in place, and was completely destroyed by German artillery[9]. Until November 1916, the train was overhauled in Gomel and was completed with a similar newly-built wagon, basing on the same Fox-Arbel coal wagon, but differing in 18 rifle loopholes on the sides and 4 in the front wall (compared to 20 and 5). It also had three machine gun embrasures in each side, covered with flaps of the same design. It could be distinguished by the fact that on both sides above the 8th segment from the rear, the superstructure had a distinct vertical post (for stiffening?).
During the rehaul, on 31 May 1916, the Special Purpose Naval Regiment was expanded into a brigade. The train operated at least since November 14 in ranks of the Western Front, but there is no information if it was used in combat. It was a part of the naval brigade and manned by sailors, but in fact it was subordinated to the 10th Railway Battalion, which caused some organizational problems, being the subject of the correspondence of the command of the Western Front in April–May 1917, after the February Revolution in Russia[note 2].
In June 1917, at the request of the Western Front command, the supreme command (Stavka) transferred the train from the Naval Brigade to the 10th Railway Battalion (in short: 10-й желбат, 10th zhelbat). At that time it consisted of Ya class No. 73 armoured locomotive, two armoured wagons marked as A and B (of Yekaterina Railroad), and a logistics section with an ordinary Shch class No. 3146 locomotive (from Vistula River Railroad), 12 box wagons of different purpose (including three for the crew, two ambulatories, a kitchen and magazines), a 2nd class coach for officers, a rack wagon for wood and a flatcar to carry draisines[9]. The armament was two 37 mm cannons with 350 rounds in total, eight Maxim machine guns and 100 Mosin rifles. In spite of this, the "armoured train of the 10th Railway Battalion" remained unused until autumn 1917 due to a lack of qualified artillerymen and machine gunners in the battalion.
Ya No. 73 locomotive in later train BP 6 "Putilovtsy", summer 1919. |
After the Bolshevik October Revolution, the crew, agitated on 29 October by podpraporshchik (Sergeant Major) Vasiliy Prolygin, arrested officers, and joined the Bolshevik side. Then the train, led by Prolygin, who was an engine driver, arrived at Minsk at night of 2 (15) November 1917, and its presence played an important role in an establishment of Bolshevik power in the city against other revolutionary factions. According to Soviet literature, the crew had already named the train after Lenin and painted his name in chalk on wagons by that time[7]. Nevertheless, photographs from 1918 indicate only, that the train carried a simple name: "Revolutionary train" (in an old spelling: Революціонный поѣзд, Revolutsyonnyi poezd), neatly painted on at least one wagon. Strangely, such name is never met in Russian literature in its context. Probably the inscription: "In the name of Comrade Lenin" (Imeni Tov. Lenina) was placed on the steam locomotive, which later carried such inscription it the train no. 6. The train participated, among others, in arresting of the Front staff in Mogilov. In January 1918 the train received an additional armoured wagon, originally armed with two 76.2 mm anti-aircraft M.1914 Lender guns, taken over from the 3rd independent railway anti-aircraft battery. Such wagons were a typical design built at Putilov Fatory in Petrograd (St. Petersburg), also on a four-axle Fox-Arbel wagon chassis, with a central low armoured casemate and two open emplacements at ends. It is not clear, however, if the wagon had functional armament, because subsequent photographs show it without cannons. Russian publications also generally mention, that 37 mm guns in original wagons' end walls were replaced with 76.2 mm field guns M.1902, but photographs prove, that this happened only after fighting near Zhlobin in February – March 1918.
A sketch of a combat area near Zhlobin. |
In February 1918, the train was supporting Bolshevik forces in Minsk area. It operated near Zhlobin against German Ober Ost forces, and Polish 1st Corps units operating from Bobruisk (former Polish allied forces, formed to fight against Germany in World War I). Its potential opponent was the Polish improvised armoured train "Związek Broni", operating on Bobruisk – Zhlobin route, although there were no direct clashes between trains (according to one Polish literary account, difficult to verify, a clash with a strong Bolshevik train was avoided by blowing a bridge just ahead of it, on the Dobosna River near Krasny Bereg between Bobruisk and Zhlobin)[note 3]. In fact, in a possible artillery duel, the Polish train could have been even stronger, with a 76.2 mm cannon on a frontal flatcar, while the Bolshevik train was only slightly better protected against small arms fire and splinters... It might be added, that Polish forces captured one anti-aircraft wagon of Putilov Works design in February, but it happened on the opposite direction from Bobruisk (in Osipovichi). After Bolshevik retreat behind the Dnieper river at the turn of February and March 1918 and the conclusion of the peace of Brest with Central Powers (18 February / 3 March 1918), the train was sent for repairs in Bryansk.
Further information about the train's fate are unfortunately divergent and its identity becomes uncertain. There is an information, that former train of the 10th zhelbat was renamed in early 1918 as the train No. 1 "Minsk communist [armoured train] named after Lenin" (Минский коммунистический имени Ленина, Minskiy kommunistichesky imeni Lenina) – several variations of this name exist[note 4]. However, according to official Soviet history of the train, its wagons were wrecked in fighting against Germans and "haydamaks" (Ukrainians) near Zhlobin in February 1918, after which the train went to Bryansk for "new armouring"[3].
The wagon of the "Revolutionary train" captured by Germans in February 1918. Painted anchors are barely visible. It is noteworthy, that the wagon had not been rearmed with 76.2 mm cannon yet, and has "No. 1" before the name (overpainted later). |
The "Revolutionary train" already fitted with 76.2 mm M.1902 cannon in an enlarged front opening. Further on, there is an anti-aircraft wagon of Putilov works, It is not clear, if the wagon has both cannons (there might be Maxim HMG positioned above a side cover). The locomotive is unarmoured or only partially armoured freight one (possibly O class). The photo was taken no earlier, than in late 1918, possibly on the Trans-Siberian Railway, which is supported by a presence of a wagon from Omsk in the background. An untidy Cyrillic inscription "8 St.D" (the 8th Rifle Division) has been written already on the print. |
The "Revolutionary train" from the front, shortly after capturing by the Poles in October 1919, showing its Fox-Arbel wagon without Polish names yet. Two propaganda paintings on the superstructure are hardly visible – the front one overpainted the anchor, and the rear one partially covered it. A dome of the locomotive seems to be removed or shot off and lying aside. |
The train from the rear, captured by the Polish. There is visible 76.2 mm M.1902 cannon in Diamond type wagon, and the second such MG wagon. Before the wagon there is a hand-powered draisine. |
Indeed, German troops temporarily captured at least one wagon of the train during the Bolshevik retreat in February 1918, because there have been found photographs of the "Revolutionary train's" newer Fox-Arbel leading wagon in German hands, before fitting with a 76.2 mm cannon. The captured train had an unidentified locomotive (perhaps unarmoured) and another ordinary or provisionally protected covered wagon. However, the armoured wagon certainly found its way back into Soviet hands somehow (at the latest, after a ceasefire in November 1918, although German Ober-Ost units in the East retained their weapons for some time). The fate of this wagon and the anti-aircraft wagon until the autumn of 1919, when they were captured by Polish troops, is however unknown and remains only a matter of speculation.
The history of the "1st communist armoured train named after Lenin" and its original wagons from the train of the Naval Special Purpose Brigade, apparently diverges at this point. Unfortunately, details of the overhaul in Bryansk in March 1918 are not known. The train undoubtedly received new wagons at that time; we can assume that they were of more modern twin-turret type, but surprisingly, no photos of such distinguished train are known in the available Russian literature. Briansk was one of centres of armoured train construction in Soviet Russia. According to S. Romadin, the train was later refitted at Krasnoye Sormovo plant in Nizhny Novgorod in October 1918, after receiving a serious damage at Syzran. Its fully armoured locomotive Ya class No. 73 was transferred to later famous armoured train No. 6 "Putilovtsy". It still retained is proud Navy heritage anchors, and slogans: Vsya Vlast Sovietam (All Power to Councils) on the tender and Imeni Tov. Lenina on the boiler (thanks to which the train in later literature became known under an erroneous name: No. 6 "Putilovtsy – by the name of comrade Lenin"). According to V. But, the train in turn received a new OV class locomotive – the first locomotive armoured at Krasnoye Sormovo, the design of which became typical for further Soviet trains afterwards. It should be noted, that Krasnoye Sormovo factory developed a typical twin-turret wagon design as well, known from Polish "Pierwszy Marszałek" train.
According to Soviet sources, the "Minsk communist armoured train..." took part in the suppression of the left-SR uprising in Moscow in July 1918. It was then subordinated to the 1st Army and directed to Siberia, where it participated in battles along the Trans-Siberian railroad at Simbirsk and Syzran in autumn 1918, against "white" forces and the Czechoslovak Legion, withdrawing eastwards. During Simbirsk operation, the train named after Lenin, commanded by S. Gulinski, captured a bridge on the Volga, contributing to the capture of Lenin's home town Simbirsk on 12 September 1918. It got damaged at Syzran afterwards.
After repairs, in December 1918 the "Minsk communist armoured train..." was moved to the southern front, fighting against "white" Volunteer Army in Donbass and North Caucasus from then on. Russian authors do not mention any participation of the train in combat against Poland in 1919, but they say instead that in February 1920 it was captured by the white forces, after which it was abandoned during an evacuation from Novorossiysk and regained by the Bolsheviks in April[5,6]. According to a book by M. Kolomiets devoted to "white" trains, four Bolshevik trains were captured on 7 February near Rostov, including "Tovarishch Lenin - No. 1-i" (Comrade Lenin - No. 1), and they were used to form "white" trains, left in Novorossiysk on 13 March. After its regaining, the "Minsk communist train..." was used against Gen. Wrangel's troops in Crimea, and on 16 December 1920 was renamed as the "First communist armoured train type A named after Lenin". After the civil war, it served in the North Caucasus Military District and took part in fighting against insurgents in North Caucasus. In April 1922 it was transferred to the West Front and soon dismantled[5,6].
As we mentioned, the fate of original rolling stock of the "1st Communist armoured train..." after February 1918 is unknown. Fortunately, a well known photograph above proves, that the wagon of 1916 manufacture was regained by Soviet forces and rearmed with 76.2 mm M.1902 gun. It still served with a former anti-aircraft armoured wagon, although it is not clear, whether this wagon was still armed with original Lender cannons, which were made in relatively small number. Circumstances of taking this photograph and the second similar are not known, but (contrary to Kolomiets) it had to occur after regaining of the wagon from German hands, therefore they were not taken in Minsk area in early 1918. There are suggestions in Polish literature, that they might have been taken on Trans-Siberian railroad, and a possibility of its stay in Siberia is supported by a presence of the wagon from Omsk railway direction in a background, and the fact, that the train captured by the Polish had a flatcar from Tomsk railway direction and Diamond type wagons, typical for trains operating there. However, actions at Simbirsk and Syzran were connected with the new train bearing the name of Lenin, and its old rolling stock might have been still in German hands by then.
The original train gained two further improvised armoured wagons – perhaps captured from the "white" army, created by an adaptation of large American four-axle Diamond type coal wagons[1]. One of them served as a rear artillery wagon, with a 76,2 mm M.1902 field cannon in end position, and two side machine guns loopholes, and the other as an infantry wagon, with four machine guns loopholes. They were constructed in a similar way to Fox-Arbel wagons, with superstructures built of thick wood – railway sleepers. A protection was a layer of wood and maybe concrete. It is not known what happened to the second original wagon of the naval train (K. Margasiński suspects, that it might have been attached to another train, lost on the Polish front in September 1919 near Luninets).
The train captured by the Polish still bore the original name "Revolutionary Train" carefully painted on the leading Fox-Arbel wagon – but it appears that this name had been also handwritten on at least one of new Diamond wagons, acquired later. It is significant, that "No. 1" before the name was overpainted – apparently carried by now by the new train, which bore the name of the "Minsk communist train named after Lenin". Only provisional protection and armament suggests, that the train was not enlisted as a regular Red Army armoured train, and had no number. M. Kolomiets suspects, that it belonged to some Rifle Division – what is indicated by an inscription on the wagon's right side. Probably it was the 8th Rifle Division, in accordance with inscriptions made on prints of photographs of the rearmed wagon (probably made by current owners).
The train from the rear, shortly after its capture, without Polish names. On Diamond type wagon on the left there is probably visible a part of handwritten name "[Rev]olutsyonny[i poezd]". |
Good quality frontal photograph, with Soviet markings and a Polish name written. In a better resulution, upon a Soviet propaganda painting of unknown theme there is a small inscription: "Smyert tir[anom?]" (Death to the tir[ans?]) visible. To the left there is probably a red Russian inscription: "... Strelkovoi divizii" ([of] Rifle Division), then some silhouette, and in a middle of the wagon, Polish eagle. Noteworthy are wooden blocks on the inside of hatches. A cannon has been replaced with German 7.7 cm FK 96n/A. The wagon still still proudly carries its frontal anchor. It seems, that Polish name was overpainted on the second wagon. |
Early photograph of the left side shows an interesting mix of Bolshevik name "Revolutsyonnyi poezd" on the leading wagon and Polish "Generał Konarzewski" on the locomotive and last wagons. Note a camouflage of trees. |
The train from the rear, in the same period as above. |
Clearly visible Diamond type machine gun wagon and N-class locomotive. Unfortunately, unknown original inscriptions have been overpainted on the wagon. On the tender, below Polish name there is Soviet Russian national marking: R.S.F.S.R. [Photo [1] from P. Handke col.] |
Similar view as above. One might wonder, if a patched dent in artillery wagon's superstructure was caused by Polish artillery. |
Late photograph with a name painted on anti-aircraft wagon as well. Previously the wagon was marked only with letter A. On the leading wagon, the anchor is still partly visible under a painting. |
In autumn of 1919, the train consisting of wagons of former armoured train of the Naval Special Duty Regiment and the 10th railway battalion, was directed to the western front, acting again in Bobruisk region from Zhlobin, where it was active a year and a half earlier. This time, its enemies were soldiers of independent Poland, during Polish-Soviet war. Bobruisk was captured on 28 August 1919 by the 1st Division of Greater Poland Riflemen (1 Dywizja Strzelców Wielkopolskich), and on 1 September Polish troops also captured a bridgehead on the left – eastern bank of the Berezina to protect the city from artillery fire from the other bank. The railway bridge in Bobruisk had been destroyed by the bolsheviks. The bridgehead was the object of Soviet attacks, supported by armoured trains of the 16th Army, including the hero of our article. In order to expand the bridgehead, on 15 October the Greater Poland Army Group attacked from the bridgehead, under the command of General Daniel Konarzewski. It might be noted, that only in late 1919 Greater Poland Army (Wojsko Wielkopolskie), of Greater Poland province, was formally merged with Polish Army (Wojsko Polskie).
On 16 October, the 3rd Battalion of the 3rd Greater Poland Rifles Regiment (later 57th Infantry Regiment) and the 8th battery of the 3rd Field Artillery Regiment (later 14th Regiment), surprised the armoured train returning from a night shelling of Polish positions. The Poles set up an ambush near Plessy village and unscrew the tracks there. The fight took place between Vavulichy and Rynia stations (current villages of Dubovka and Kovali)[note 5]. The battle participant described: then to the right in the forest single shots can be heard, followed by a prolonged, dry machine gun bang... The sound of machine guns is getting closer, a thin smoke trail appears above the forest, and after a moment, green-gray body of the Bolshevik armoured train emerges from behind trees. According to an anonymous account, one cannon grenade exploded inside the machine gun wagon, killing the crew, and other grenade broke the steam engine boiler, after which the train was captured by Polish soldiers. The history of the 57th Regiment says: the enemy tried to defend himself, but under the pressure of delighted outposts, which sprang up and ran to the train, slipping on the snow, part of enemies gave up, and part escaped to the nearby forest, where they were caught by neighboring companies... After some time almost all battalion gathered and moved the train some 3 kilometres back. Polish losses are not precisely known, but apparently they were insignificant. It may be noted, that erroneous dates September 16 or November 16 are also encountered.
The captured train was towed towards Bobruisk, manned by a crew of 60 soldiers of the 3rd Greater Poland Riflemen Regiment, and informally named "Generał Konarzewski", in honor of the commander of the Wielkopolska Group, General Daniel Konarzewski. Lieutenant Adolf Łojkiewicz became the commander. At the turn of November and December 1919, the train was taken over by the crew from the Armoured Train Squadron of Greater Poland Army (trains: "Danuta", "Rzepicha" and "Goplana"), under the command of Squadron's commander Major Włodzimierz Dołęga-Dziakiewicz[1]. On 2 December 1919, the train was blessed during a religious ceremony, and officially named "Generał Konarzewski" (also known as "Generał Konarzewski 1. Dywizji Strzelców Wielkopolskich" – General Konarzewski of the 1st Greater Poland Riflemen Division). In February 1920, the train along with the Greater Poland Army was merged with the Polish Army. However, it was not included in a list of regular armoured trains and not given a number initially. The train consisted of four original wagons and N class unarmored steam locomotive – it is not known whether it was the locomotive captured with the train or in another place on the bridgehead (it was not possible to deliver the locomotive from Bobruisk due to the destruction of the bridge)[note 6]. On the locomotive and wagons the name "Generał Konarzewski" was painted, separated with a red shield with Polish eagle, with a smaller annotation: "1 Dyw. Strzelców Wielkopolskich" (1st Div. of Greater Poland Riflemen).
The "Generał Konarzewski" took part in the defense of 15 km wide and 30 km long bridgehead on eastern bank of the Berezina, patrolling only on one available section of Bobruisk – Gomel railway line, to the village of Kovali (23 km from the Berezina). According to K. Margasiński, it even reached Krasny Bereg station (about 40 km – it was a line on which the "Związek Broni" train operated two years earlier). On the Soviet side, two or three stronger armoured trains operated there, but there were no clashes known. Already from February 1920, Polish military railway authorities postulated a liquidation of the train after the reconstruction of the bridge in Bobruisk due to its low combat value, which ultimately did not happen. Its commander, who had been opposing plans to reduce the crew, was replaced with Leutenant Grzegorz Lubicz-Zalewski eventually. On 17 March 1920 the train was assigned to the 4th Army. Also in March 1920, the train was temporarily given the number 8 (after the train "Wilk"), then number 24 (P.P. 24 – Pociąg pancerny nr 24). It operated on the bridgehead until the Soviet offensive in July 1920. During the retreat of Polish troops, due to the impossibility of evacuation, the wagons of "Generał Konarzewski" were blown up on 9 July 1920, and the locomotive was pushed off the destroyed bridge to Berezina[1].
It was not the end of the train's name, because also in July a standard gauge train P.P. 24 "Generał Konarzewski" was created in Bobruisk of the rolling stock of the Greater Poland Armoured Train Squadron (P.P.17 "Rzepicha", previously merged with "Goplana"), manned by part of the broad-gauge "Konarzewski" crew. The commander was still Lieutenant Grzegorz Lubicz-Zalewski, then Capt. Adam Ciećkiewcz (formerly from P.P.19 "Śmiały-szeroki") and Lieutenant Włodzimierz Matzner (formerly from P.P.1 "Piłsudczyk"). It covered a retreat of the 14th Infantry Division and in August 1920 was dismantled in Warsaw[1].
A composition of the train right after its capture by the Polish and in Polish service:
"Generał Konarzewski" armoured train reconstruction. Author: Arthur Przeczek. |
You can mail me with question or comments – corrections, photographs or additional information are welcome. Especially we are interested to hear opinions of Russian armoured train researchers.
Our thanks to Krzysztof Margasiński and Arthur Przeczek.
Notes:
1. The literature commonly states (after M. Kolomiets?) that the train of the 4th Railway Battalion used Ya (Я) class passenger steam engine from the beginning to 1918, but it is not clear whether this results from documents, or is just a supposition. Our doubts are raised by the fact that locomotives of this class in peacetime service were not used by Russian railways west of Białystok. It is difficult to unambiguously verify the steam engine class on the available photographs due to the complete sheeting of the boiler. An axle arrangement 1-3-0 (2-6-0 or 1'C) of seems to fit. Locomotives of Ya class, however, had a characteristically bevelled upper chimney edge as a rule. In our opinion, a steam locomotive of a more common N class, with the same axle arrangement, may be more likely, especially that NV (НВ) and Nv (Нв) classes were used on St. Petersburg - Warsaw Railway and Vistula Railways, and could be easily found near Warsaw. In our opinion it also suits the shape and location of the chimney better. It should be noted by the way, that the use of a passenger, not freight locomotive, was quite unusual for armoured trains, but perhaps it was due to availability.
2. M. Kolomiets in his older work[4] quotes a letter from Major General Nikolai Tikhmenev of April 26, 1917 to the Stavka of the Supreme Commander, in which he writes about organizational difficulties resulting from the fact that the train of the "Special Naval Brigade" located on the Western Front is assigned to the 10th Railway Battalion and requests to transfer the train to the 10th Battalion. The author then states that it happened in June 1917. In a more recent work, Kolomiets gives the date of the letter as April 26, 1916 and states that the train was assigned to the 10th battalion by the order reforming the brigade of May 21, 1916[9]. There is probably an error as to the year in the newer work, because in April-May 1916 the train had undoubtedly not completed its rehaul (it was only on March 31 that the regiment commander applied for the purchase of steel sheets), and before May 31, 1916, there was no Special Maritime Brigade, only regiment. Moreover, the transfer of the train in the summer of 1917 is more probable in the light of the information that the 10th battalion could not complete its staff until the autumn of 1917.
3. "At Krasny Bereg, when our pathetic armoured train parody was attacked by a well-set Bolshevik armoured train, before which it was necessary to blow up the track, and Bickford's rope got wet, [Sgt.] Pająk jumped to the lineman's booth for a burning wood. He carried it in a bare hand, while the Bolshevik armoured train was closing, firing machine guns. Under fire, Pająk blew up the bridge, but he had to cure several weeks in a hospital" – Melchior Wańkowicz, Strzępy epopei. Possibly it concerns blowing-up of the bridge over the Dobysna in Krasnyi Bereg on 12 or 13 February 1918.
4. Different variations of the train's name are used in publications, and it seems, that it was not firmly established:
- Nr. 1 "Minsk communist [train] named after Lenin" (BP no. 1 Minskiy kommunisticheski imeni Lenina)[3,9],
- "1st Minsk armoured train named after Lenin" (1-i Minskiy bronepoezd imeni Lenina) (used in crew's letter from 24 August 1918),
- "1st Communist armoured train named after Comrade Lenin” (1-i Kommunisticheskiy BP imieni Tov. Lenina),
- "Minsk communist armoured train named after comrade Lenin" (Minskiy kommunisticheski bronepoezd imeni tov. Lenina)[2],
- "Minsk communist armoured train named after V.I. Lenin" (Minskiy kommunisticheski bronepoezd imeni V.I. Lenina)[5],
5. The train was captured, according to Polish descriptions, between stations Vavulichy and Rynia - current villages of Dubovka (in Belarussian: Dubauka) and Kovale (Kavali). The station next to the village of Dubovka is now called Savichy (from the village located on the opposite side of the tracks), while the station Rynia (now Telusha, in Belarussian: Tsalusha) is in fact located in the village of Kovale (Kavali), not in the village of Rynia located about 8 km north of the tracks, nor in the village of Telusha (Tsalusha) located on the railway line between Dubovka and Kovale (3 km from Dubovka and 8 km from Kovale). The village of Plessy is located between Kovale and Telusha. The old Vavulichy in the Bobruisk region should not be confused with the village of this name in Drahichyn region. (A map of the region)
6. It is not clear from where the locomotive used in "General Konarzewski" originated. If an anonymous account published in Polish interwar press is trustworthy, and the locomotive had pierced boiler with steam coming out, it would certainly not be repairable in non-factory conditions. On the other hand, the possibility of obtaining another locomotive on the bridgehead could have been limited, while the locomotive could not be delivered from Bobruisk due to the destruction of the bridge. In earliest photos, perhaps taken shortly after capture, we can see the same N class steam engine, but apparently with a broken off (dismantled?) steam collector dome lying on the right side of the boiler. Perhaps it was its original steam locomotive and it could have been an effect of artillery shelling. This would mean that the Soviet train had unarmoured locomotive, what could have happened in the absence of an armoured locomotive available. Damage to the steam collector only could be easier to repair, although it seems doubtful whether it could have been repaired outside of the workshop - especially if the collector was damaged by the artillery shell. Perhaps the damage to the locomotive was not really serious. It is noteworthy, that the history of the 57th Regiment mentioned, that "after repairing the engine" the train was moved to Bobruisk.
Sources:
1. Krzysztof Margasiński, Artur Przęczek: Szerokotorowy pociąg pancerny "Generał Konarzewski" 1. Dywizji Strzelców Wielkopolskich (1) i (2), "Świat Kolei" nr. 9/2019 i 10/2019
2. Maksim Kolomiets: Bronya Russkoi Armii. Broneavtomobili i bronepoezda w Pervoi mirovoi voinie; Moscow, 2008
3. Maksim Kolomiets: Russkie bronepoezda Pervoi Mirovoi. "Stalnyie kreposti" v boiu; Moscow, 2013
4. Maksim Kolomiets: Pociągi Pancerne Armii Rosyjskiej 1914 - 1917, "Militaria" Vol.1 Nr 4 (1993)
5. Vladimir But: Na frontah grazhdanskoi voiny. Bronepoezda "krasnyh". Chast 1; "Nauka i Tehnika" 5/2012
6. Igor Drogovoz: Kreposti na kolesach: Istoria bronepoezdov; Mińsk, 2002
7. N. Akulov: Bronepoezd vyshol v boi; "Sovetskiy Voin" nr 7/1971
8. J. Podwapiński: Ilustrowany zarys historji 57 p. p. wlkp. (3 p. strzelc. wlkp.) dla szeregowych; Poznań, 1927
9. Maksim Kolomiets: Oruzhie Velikoi voiny. Bronepoyezda Rossiyskoi armii; Moscow (?), 2021
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