Battle of Peregonovka (1919)

Battle of Peregonovka
Part of the Ukrainian War of Independence and the Russian Civil War
Date September 26th, 1919 Location Southeast of Uman, Ukraine Result Anarchist victory
Belligerents
Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army of Ukraine	Volunteer Army
Commanders and leaders
Nestor Makhno Fedir Shchus	Yakov Slashchev Nikolai Shilling
Strength
7,000-8,000[1]	6,000-7,000 rifles & sabres 27-40 artillery pieces
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Many hundreds killed. Hundreds surrendered, 23 artillery pieces and 100 machine guns captured[1]

In the Battle of Peregonovka (or Perehonivka) in September 1919, part of the Russian Civil War, the (Makhnovist) Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army of Ukraine routed elements of the (White) Volunteer Army. The battle involved several major engagements, near Pomoshna, Yelyzavethrad, Tashliche, Krutenke, Uman, Perehonovka, and Kryvyi Rih.

Background

In mid-August 1919, with the Ukrainian People's Army and the White Volunteer Army converging on Kiev, the Red Army around Odessa (including elements of the 12th and 14th RKKA) abandoned the city and retreated northwest. In early September Makhnovists linked up with other 12th Red Army forces west of Kiev.

Other formations, including most of the largely anarchist 7th Insurgent Rifle Division and one brigade of the 58th Rifle Division (the Crimean Rifle Division) left the Red army and reconstituted the Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army of Ukraine at Pomoshna.

Simultaneously, units of the Ukrainian People's Army conquered Uman and the surrounding area while units of the White Volunteer army after landing at Odessa and marching north occupied Yelyzavethrad and then marched west.

The Volunteer Army sought to destroy the Makhnovist forces and secure the rail line from Odessa to Yelyzavethrad. The Makhnovist forces sought to preserve their army and return to their home base (in Yekaterinoslav Governorate, behind the White lines).

The Battle

The Black Army had been retreating to the west across Ukraine. But on the evening of September 25, 1919, it suddenly turned east, attacking the main forces of the Volunteer Army. The first encounter took place late in the evening near the village of Kruten'koe, where the Black Army's First Infantry Brigade advanced towards White Army positions. the Volunteer Army retreated to take up better positions. At first, General Slashchev believed the move was a feint or reconnaissance-in-force, and did not follow up, concluding that most of the anarchist army was still retiring to the west. However, in the middle of the night, all of Makhno's troops began an offensive to the east. The White Army's principal forces in the area were concentrated near the village of Peregonovka; the village itself was occupied by anarchist units.

An intense battle broke out, and the occupying anarchist forces began to lose ground, pressured by White Army reinforcements, including infantry regiments composed largely of young and fanatically anti-communist officers. Makhno's headquarters staff, as well as everyone in the village who could handle a rifle, armed themselves and joined in the fighting. On the approach of Makhno's cavalry forces, White Army troops retreated from Peregonovka. A fierce battle took place outside the town, including instances of hand-to-hand combat. A White regiment was forced to retreat, at first slowly and in an orderly way, but as the fighting moved near the Synyukha River, it became a rout. The other regiments, seized by panic, followed them. Finally all of Slashchev's troops in the area were routed; most escaped by swimming across the Sinyukha River, but hundreds died in the river and on its banks.^[2]

Consequences

Area which fell under control of the Black Army in the wake of the Battle of Peregonovka

The Black Army relentlessly pursued the scattered enemy army. In ten days, the Makhnovist vanguards had covered the 600 km back to their home base around Huliaipole. Soon the Makhnovists were back in control of the whole of Eastern Ukraine, capturing Mariupol, Pologui, Melitopol and Berdiansk on the Black sea, where they took vital reserves of some sixty thousand shells, just as Denikin launched his final assault on Orel.^[1] On October 20, the Black Army took Ekaterinoslav and the Whites were forced to fall back on Taganrog, the base of Denikin's headquarters, causing considerable alarm.^[3]

The rather unknown battle of Peregonovka had a serious impact on the course of the Russian Civil War. It occurred with Denikin's troops within 200 km of Moscow, but now forced to send the best troops from his front to parry Makhno's Army, which was blocking his supply lines.

Composition of Forces

Timeline Debate

1. According to Arshinov, the armies met at Krutenke on September 25, Perehonovka one day after Krutenke, and Kryvyi Rih one day after Perehonovka.
2. According to Voline, the armies met at Krutenke on September 25 and Perehonovka on the 26th.
3. According to Belash, the armies met at Krutenke on September 25, Perehonovka on the 27th, and Kryvyi Rih on October 1.

References

Belash, Aleksandr & Belash, Viktor. Dorogi Nestora Makhno (Friends of Nestor Makhno). ISBN 5-7707-3814-6

Coordinates: 48°32′1.2732″N 30°23′0.2645″E / 48.533687000°N 30.383406806°E / 48.533687000; 30.383406806