Battle of Kock (1920)

The Battle of Kock (1920) refers to a series of engagements fought near the Polish town of Kock during the Polish-Soviet War. It took place in mid-August 1920 as part of the larger Battle of Warsaw, a pivotal event in the war.

The battle involved elements of the Polish 4th Army under General Leonard Skierski attempting to halt the advance of the Soviet 16th Army under Nikolai Sollogub. The objective of the Soviet forces was to bypass Warsaw from the north and link up with other Soviet armies.

The fighting around Kock was characterized by intense battles for control of the town and surrounding areas. Polish forces, despite being outnumbered, managed to slow the Soviet advance and inflict significant casualties. The tenacious defense at Kock contributed to the overall disruption of the Soviet offensive towards Warsaw.

Ultimately, the Polish forces were forced to withdraw from Kock, but their determined resistance played a crucial role in buying time for the Polish army to regroup and launch its successful counter-offensive in the Battle of Warsaw. While Kock itself was lost temporarily, the battle contributed to the Polish victory in the larger campaign. The outcome of the Battle of Warsaw proved to be a turning point in the Polish-Soviet War, ultimately leading to a Polish victory and the Treaty of Riga in 1921.