And are defeated. Where can I find information about the Return to Russia of the Red Army in defeat and what punishments it or the leadership faced? I can't seem to get any info leads on google.
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Actually, Poles started that war. After defeating last pockets of Imperial "White" army Bolsheviks moved against Ukraine and quickly conquered large territories including Kiev. Polish leader Marshal Pilsudski had an agreement with Ukrainian leader Petlura and moved against Russians to help him. Poles quickly advanced and took Kiev in May 1920.
Extending their lines Poles became exposed and Russians counter attacked forcing them to retreat. Russians also moved from the North under the command of Marshal Tuhachevski. In August they were in the outskirts of Warsaw. Like Poles after taking Kiev, now Russians were overextended. Poles mobilized last forces and beaten Tuhachevski near Warsaw in famous Warsaw battle. Now Bolsheviks were in retreat. Poles retook most of their territory and both sides agreed to cease fire in October 1920. In March 1921 peace treaty was signed in Riga.
Tuhachevski blamed Stalin (who was commander of armies in the South) to Lenin for not helping him during Warsaw battle. Stalin never forgot that and took his revenge during 30's by arresting and executing him. Germans helped him with that. Seeing how brilliant Tuhachevski was, they forged his signature on some faked documents making him a traitor who worked for Germans. After it got to Stalin, he used that as an opportunity to get rid of him.
Many of 60 thousand Russian POWs decided not to come back to Bolshevik Russia. My grandfather who was 10 years old in 1920 told me that many of them were shocked that there were not lice removing facilities in Polish railroad stations.
Hope, that helped a little.
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