Obrona miasta Bełza w 1919 roku jako forma obrony aktywnej

In November 1918, a Polish-Ukrainian conflict broke out on the Polish Southeast Borderland including areas of Easter Galicia and Volhynia. The Battle of Lvov, which took place on 1st to 22nd November, finished with victory and was the first stage of the conflict. Seizing Lvov did not mean the end of Polish-Ukrainian fights that lasted until July 1919. On January 28, 1919, Col. Berbecki’s group reached the outskirts of Bełz and seized the town. During the fights, the enemy’s forces, which outnumbered ours, were defeated, 365 prisoners of war were taken, some officers including, 25 machine guns and other guns and ammunition were gained. The most important characteristic of Bełz defence was its active and offensive character. Taking into consideration the art of war during the defence of Bełz, it has to be stated that undertaken by Col. Berbecki form of active defence was the most effective solution enabling reaching success. Experiences gained at the defence of Bełz were included into Polish art of war. And thus Gen. Stanisław Haller ordered to introduce the subject “Tactics of Persistent Defence in Housing Estates” into the curriculum of General Staff School. There were used experiences and conclusions from Bełz defence, worked out by Col. Berbecki at the request of the Chief of Staff.