Battle of Ust-Padenga
| Battle of Ust-Padenga | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of North Russia intervention in the Russian Civil War | |||||||||
.svg) Location of Arkhangelsk Governorate in Russia | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 United States |
.svg){kind=small} Russian SFSR | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Lieutenant Harry Mead | Unknown | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
American Expeditionary Force, North Russia or the 339th Infantry Regiment "Polar Bears" | Unknown | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 47 soldiers | ~800 Bolshevik infantrymen[2] | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 25 killed, 15 injured[3] | Unknown | ||||||||
The Battle of Ust-Padenga, also known as the Defense of Ust-Padenga was a minor battle during the Russian Civil War, fought in Ust-Padenga, located in Arkhangelsk Governorate, 500 miles away from Moscow. It was a part of a larger retreat which occurred in January 1919 during the larger-scale Battle of Shenkursk.
Background
[edit]Nizhnyaya Gora, Battle of Shenkursk
[edit]During the Battle of Ust-Padenga, a larger-scale battle had also been occurring at the same time. This was the Battle of Shenkursk, which began on January 19, 1919, and ended on January 25th, 1919 and was a major battle of the Russian Civil War. Following the Bolshevik loss at the Battle of Tulgas, the Red Army's next offensive action was against the Allied garrison of Shenkursk; located on the Vaga River. Allied forces in Shenkursk and the surrounding villages included men primarily from the United States and the United Kingdom with support from the White Russians. The battle ended with an Allied retreat from Shenkursk ahead of a superior Bolshevik army.[4]
The battle
[edit]Bolshevik bombardment
[edit]Just before dawn on January 19, Red Army soldiers moved through the tiny houses in the village of Ust-Padenga, hoping to push the Americans 200 miles away from their position, all the way to the White Sea.[5] Bolshevik soldiers began firing artillery shells at the American positions, awaking Lieutenant Harry Mead from his sleep.[5] The artillery shells fell for an hour until Bolshevik soldiers dressed in all-white uniforms rose up and began advancing on the American position, firing automatic rifles and muskets at the outnumbered Americans.[6] Lieutenant Mead is quoted as saying:
"I at once realized that our position was hopeless. We were sweeping the enemy line with machine gun and rifle fire. As soon as one wave of the enemy was halted on one flank another was pressing in on us from the other side."[7]
Attack and retreat
[edit]
When the shelling stopped, around 800 Bolshevik infantrymen,[8] supported by heavy machine guns advanced on the American positions wielding bayonets, automatic rifles and muskets.[9] American troops began firing at the Bolsheviks, but they were severely outgunned and outnumbered by the Red Army. They were in danger of encirclement, and were ordered to fall back to Vysokaya Gora. The American troops conducted a fighting withdrawal, pulling back their forces while maintaining contact with the enemy.[9] The allied position around Shenkursk, including Ust-Padenga was being attacked from three sides,[10] meaning the outnumbered American force had less of an advantage against the more prepared, larger Russian force.[11] As the Red Army neared, with bayonets fixed on their guns, Mead and his soldiers retreated. They ran through the village, from house to house. At last, Mead made it to the next village, filled with American soldiers.[5]
Aftermath
[edit]Of Mead's 47-man platoon, 25 died that day, and another 15 were injured. The evacuation of Ust Padenga was necessary and the Allied troops to the west and east of Shenkursk fell back.[10] It was a crushing defeat for the Americans, and a pivotal point in the North Russia intervention. The Bolshevik victory at Ust Padenga and the subsequent American retreat from Shenkursk was a significant defeat for the Allied forces.[12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Polar Bear Expedition History | Bentley Historical Library".
- ^ Arkins, Edwin L. Article in American Legion Weekly, Oct. 20, 1922 issue, "The Defense of Ust Padenga" by Dan Steele from the Edwin L. Arkins diary, 1918-1919 [Folder 1, Item 16].
- ^ "The Forgotten Story of the American Troops Who Got Caught up in the Russian Civil War".
- ^ Boot, Max (2002). "The savage wars of peace : small wars and the rise of American power".
- ^ a b c Magazine, Smithsonian; Trickey, Erick. "The Forgotten Story of the American Troops Who Got Caught Up in the Russian Civil War". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ Arkins, Edwin L. Article in American Legion Weekly, Oct. 20, 1922 issue, "The Defense of Ust Padenga" by Dan Steele from the Edwin L. Arkins diary, 1918-1919 [Folder 1, Item 16].
- ^ Barnes, Alexander F. (2012). "The Polar Bear Expedition: The U.S. Intervention in Northern Russia, 1918–1919" (PDF).
- ^ Arkins, Edwin L. Article in American Legion Weekly, Oct. 20, 1922 issue, "The Defense of Ust Padenga" by Dan Steele from the Edwin L. Arkins diary, 1918-1919 [Folder 1, Item 16].
- ^ a b Looney, Dallas (2023-02-02). "THE AMERICAN INTERVENTION IN NORTH RUSSIA, 1918-1919". The Army Historical Foundation. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
- ^ a b Poole, DeWitt C. (1919). "The Chargé in Russia (Poole) to the Acting Secretary of State".
- ^ Halliday, E.M (1960). "The Ignorant Armies".
- ^ "Polar Bear Expedition History | Bentley Historical Library". Retrieved 2024-09-14.