24. Tsarist Fort from the early 20th century in Beniaminów
The Fort in Beniaminów is a valuable example
of imperial fortification art. It was created
according to the concept of the Russian
general. Professor Konstantin Ivanovich
Wieliczka (1856-1927), the author of the
fortifications built in the area stretching from
the Modlin fortress, to Vladivostok and Port
Arthur. In the central part of the Fort in Beniaminów,
numerous gigantic concrete
barracks were built numbering 20 soldiers’
chambers with semi-circular vault. On both
sides of the barracks, latrines and bathhouses
were provided.
The Tsarist period of the fort in Beniaminów ends on August 10, 1915, when German troops captured it. Before the withdrawal, the Russians managed to blow up the main defence elements.
The fort in Beniaminów played an important military role in the Polish-Soviet War and especially during the Battle of Warsaw in mid-August 1920. It served as the second line of defence of Warsaw (the so-called ‘former German defence line’) before the advancing Bolshevik troops. The soldiers of the 48th Rifle Borderland Infantry Regiment heroically defended the fortifications. On August 14, 1920, the Bolsheviks drove a wedge between Radzymin and Beniaminów, occupying the nearby villages of Dąbkowizna and Wolka Radzymińska. On the night of 14th to 15th August 1920, the Soviets attempted twice to break into the fort. During the fighting, both sides suffered heavy losses. 10 Poles were killed and 23 soldiers were wounded. But they managed to capture a machine gun and took 26 Russian prisoners from three regiments: 241st Peasants Rifle Regiment commanded by Tierentiew, 243rd Petrograd Rifle Regiment ‘Uvarov’ (both belonging to the 81st Rifle Brigade of combrig Stepanov) and the 189th Rifle Regiment (21st Rifle Division of Ivan Smolin).
The Tsarist period of the fort in Beniaminów ends on August 10, 1915, when German troops captured it. Before the withdrawal, the Russians managed to blow up the main defence elements.
The fort in Beniaminów played an important military role in the Polish-Soviet War and especially during the Battle of Warsaw in mid-August 1920. It served as the second line of defence of Warsaw (the so-called ‘former German defence line’) before the advancing Bolshevik troops. The soldiers of the 48th Rifle Borderland Infantry Regiment heroically defended the fortifications. On August 14, 1920, the Bolsheviks drove a wedge between Radzymin and Beniaminów, occupying the nearby villages of Dąbkowizna and Wolka Radzymińska. On the night of 14th to 15th August 1920, the Soviets attempted twice to break into the fort. During the fighting, both sides suffered heavy losses. 10 Poles were killed and 23 soldiers were wounded. But they managed to capture a machine gun and took 26 Russian prisoners from three regiments: 241st Peasants Rifle Regiment commanded by Tierentiew, 243rd Petrograd Rifle Regiment ‘Uvarov’ (both belonging to the 81st Rifle Brigade of combrig Stepanov) and the 189th Rifle Regiment (21st Rifle Division of Ivan Smolin).