Позиционная война на Даугавском фронте (с сентября по декабрь 1919 г.)

ENAfter the successful operation in Zarasai, Lithuania, on 26 August 1919, the Lithuanian Army chased away the Red Army to the other side of the river Daugava in Ilūkste area, Latvia. At the beginning of September 1919, the enemy launched major attacks leading to intensive trench warfare on September 5 with active intelligence supported by artillery fire. Both sides switched to trench tactics based on strategically positioned cannons and machine guns and finely adjusted fire. Artillery attacks took place on a nearly daily basis. Lithuanians were mostly attacked in Kalkūni area, whereas Russians were defeated in Daugavpils and its surroundings. The situation at the front changed on 8 November when the Daugava froze over and no longer divided the confronting sides, thus forcing them to reconsider their tactics. In the period from 1 September to 31 December 1919, there were only 12 days of peace, i.e. September 11, 18, 30, October 1, 2, 13, 14, 16, 17, November 3, and December 27 and 28. The year 1920 began with mutual fire. The night from 2 to 3 January 1920 marked the last time Lithuanian scouts crossed the Daugava to attack the Bolsheviks. On 3 January, a successful attack of the Latvian and Polish troops expelled the Bolsheviks from Daugavpils, separated the Lithuanian Army, and thus ended the Lithuanian-Bolshevik trench warfare on the banks of the Daugava. Key words: positional war, Daugava, Daugavpils, Lithuanians, Red Army soldiers.