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WarChron - Kerensky Offensive |
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The Year 1917
During the early summer, the Provisional Government federalized the former empire in a move calculated to underline the sincerity of their ideas about Polish independence in the eyes of the Poles in Russia.
During the summer, on the Romanian Front, representatives of 252,000 Ukrainian troops held a Congress at Botosani. The move brought into being officers schools in Kiev and the appointment of a Ukrainian General Staff.
On 1 July, on the Southwest Front, General Brusilov opened an offensive against Bothmer's Südarmee on either side of Brzezany in Galicia. The Russian 11th Army, headed by General I.G. Erdeli, and the 7th Army, led by General L.N. Belkovitch, struck the Austro-German lines between Stanislau and Brody. The Russian 8th Army, led by General L.G. Kornilov, delivered a secondary attack in the Halicz - Stanislau sector toward Kalusz and Bolechow.
The 8th Army captured Halicz and Kalusz, and reached the Lomnitsa River on 13 July, but despite a superiority of men and material the offensive quickly bogged down. The Russians took some 12,000 prisoners, but suffered heavy losses. Between Zborow and Brzezany, the Russians had 120 spotter aircraft, a number of which were flown by French and British pilots. The Provisional Government ordered the offensive as it needed to consolidate its position and to appease the Allied demands for more rigorous action by the Russian Army.
On the Romanian Front, Russian troops were ordered to go on the defensive even before the Southwest offensive was to begin.
At Petrograd, over 400,000 soldiers and workers held a peaceful demonstration, while another 50,000 demonstrated in Helsingfors.
On 2 July, on the Southwest Front, the Russian offensive slowly made progress in the region of Zborow, east of Lemberg, taking 6,300 prisoners. The Belgian Armored Car Division took part in heavy fighting at Konyuki. The Czechoslovak Druzhina, attached to the XLIX Corps, led by General Selivachev, distinguished itself during these actions.
On 3 July, on the Western Front, a Russian advance in the Vilna sector quickly stalled and the front became static.
On 4 July, at Paris, the French Cabinet issued a decree dealing with formation of a Polish Army on French soil.
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On 5 July, on the Southwest Front, the second phase of the Russian offensive hit the Austro-Hungarian 3rd Army near Stanislaus, driving them back 32 km before being halted near Halicz. The Southwest Front was then headed by General A.E. Gutor.
The 8th Army was led by General Kaledin, who served until the 23rd when he was relieved by General L.G. Kornilov. These rapid changes in command did little to bring peace of mind to their staffs and those serving at the front.
The Germans concentrated their forces against the Russian 11th Army, which was quickly forced back, and was soon in headlong retreat. This left the flanks of the Russian 7th and 8th Armies exposed, and they were also forced to retreat. On 6 July, in the Baltic Sea, Russian submarine AG.14 was lost with all hands while on patrol off Libau.
In Germany, there was a crisis in Berlin due to demands in the Reichstag for reforms in domestic and foreign policy, and calls for a peace without annexations or indemnities. There was open opposition to the German Chancellor by the Socialists.
On 6 July, in Germany, sailors at Kiel began refusing to obey orders. They carried out hunger strikes and desertions, in moves prompted by socialist agitation. The disorders were quickly put down by force.
On 7 July, General A.M. Kaledin was elected Ataman by the Don Krug (Parliament).
In Berlin, arrival of Hindenburg and Ludendorff, who informed the Kaiser that unless he would dismiss his Chancellor they would resign.
On 8 July, on the Southwest Front, the Russian 8th Army broke through the Austro-Hungarian 3rd Army front west of Stanislau, taking 7,000 prisoners, but the Germans brought in reserves to stem a possible rout.
At Stavka, weekly summary reports stated that the “mood in the army on the Romanian Front continues to remain unsteady and uncertain.”
On 9 July, on the Northern Front, German giant four engine aircraft R.IV bombed Russian batteries, ammunition dumps and barracks, dropping 1,500 kg bombs on Arensburg and Tserel on Oesel Island in the Gulf of Riga.
On the Southwest Front, the Russian 7th Army drive made small progress southwest of Halicz, taking 1,000 prisoners.
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During fighting in the Brzezany sector, British journalist Robert Wilton reported that “Splendid work was done by the Russian airmen, they were exceedingly well supplemented by balloon observers in large numbers, who ran hourly risk of death from the constant onslaughts of enemy aircraft. Positions of hostile batteries were almost invariably detected and counter-battery work organized in approved style. But, however well they handled their guns, the Russian artillery could do little with the enemies strong points in the wooded areas.”
At Kiev, the Ukrainian Rada adopted a General Secretariat declaration regarding itself as the “supreme executive and legislative organ” of the whole Ukrainian people.
In Poland, troops of the Polish Legion held a meeting, 164 of 275 officers and 4,019 of 6,500 men refused to take the oath of allegiance, and followed Polkovnik Stawek into German internment camps.
In North Persia, the Russians were forced to evacuate several towns because of Turkish pressure.
On 10 July, on the Southwest Front, the Russian 7th Army captured Halicz, taking 2,000 prisoners.
On 11 July, on the Southwest Front, the Russian 7th Army captured Kalusz, west of Stanislau in Galicia.
In Berlin, the Kaiser promised an equal franchise in the next elections to the Prussian Diet. National Liberals attacked the Chancellor.
On 12 July, on the Southwest Front, Russian troops made some progress towards Dolina. Kornilov's Russian forces crossed the Lomnica River.
At Kiev, arrival of Aleksandr Kerensky and his party for the purpose of negotiating with the Ukrainian Rada's General Secretariat and with the local Soviet.
On 13 July, on the Southwest Front, the Russians made further progress around Kalusz in Galicia, taking 1,600 prisoners. Heavy rains necessitated the halt of the Russian advance, floods destroyed all bridges across the Lomnica River.
In America, by this date only 10% of the credit the U.S. had extended to her Allies went to Russia, another 56% went to Britain and 20% went to France.
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© WARCHRON 2007
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