The Secret Operational Order No. 10000

Piłsudski Institute of America has completed the digitization of the fonds “Chief of General Staff of Polish Army, General Tadeusz Rozwadowski Papers”. All documents in this archival collection are now available on the Internet. They constitute a very important material for historians and people interested in the course of fighting the Bolshevik invasion of Poland in 1920. Most of the documents speak about the happenings in July, August and September of 1920. Among them are reports on the dramatic situation of Polish troops retreating from the Red Army and the report retracing the course of the Battle of Warsaw on 15 and 16 August. There are also reports showing the successive phases of Polish counter-offensive and pursuit of the Bolsheviks. Among many invaluable documents is the Operational Order No. 8358 / III of the Chief of General Staff, showing the organization of the three anti-Bolshevik fronts and defining strategic goals for each army. There is also the famous Secret Operational Order No. 10000 of 10 August 1920 written personally by General Rozwadowski after discussion with Jozef Pilsudski, with situational sketches depicting two variants of encirclement of the Bolshevik forces advancing on Warsaw, signed by all the commanders of the individual sections of the anti-Bolshevik front. Of key importance it is also the Supreme Commander Operational Order released on August 15, in which he announces his acquisition of the army high command. The next day Marshal Pilsudski himself joined the battle, directing the Wieprz river thrust against the rear of the Bolshevik troops. Subsequent orders and handwritten correspondence between Pilsudski and Rozwadowski speak of an exemplary agreement and cooperation of both commanders. One can also notice great respect and loyalty of Rozwadowski to Commander-in-Chief Piłsudski. Pilsudski appreciated his contribution in the form of promotion to Lieutenant General and an official letter of commendation.