Little known "Thermopylae" - not Greek, but Polish
Co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund
History
Near Halych, 17 km from Bołszowce, where the Franciscans run the Center for Peace and Reconciliation at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Bołszowiec, and near the village of Dytiatyn, one of the most important battles took place, its consequences crucial for the entire defensive campaign against the Soviet forces. The soldiers heroically defended a small piece of their homeland – Hill 385. Nearly all the combatants there gave their lives. The battle took place on September 16, 1920. Sacrificing their most precious possessions, the soldiers of a small Polish Army detachment held off the enemy for many hours – a Red Cossack division supported by a Bolshevik infantry brigade, saving their 8th Infantry Division and the Ukrainian Cavalry Division from destruction. The battle was crucial for maintaining the offensive on the Eastern Lesser Poland front.
Marshal Józef Piłsudski posthumously awarded 17 artillerymen the Silver Cross of the Order of War Virtuti Militari, and 11 officers and 41 privates the Cross of Valor. At the same time, he granted the 4th Battery the right to bear the title of the Battery of Death. The remains of one of the soldiers who died there were chosen to be placed in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw. The date and place of this battle were crowned on its columns.
At the burial site of the soldiers, a chapel-monument of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus was built in honor of the fallen, consecrated on September 21, 1930. The commanders of the nearby garrisons and invited guests regularly took part in the anniversary ceremonies. The most important ceremonies took place on May 3 and September 16. The chapel, systematically devastated after 1945, was finally dismantled by the Soviet authorities in 1947.
In 2009, Mass was celebrated there for the first time after the war for the deceased soldiers. These prayer meetings were initiated by Szymon Hatłas, a descendant of Dytiatyn residents and organizer of the Dytiatyn 1920 – Polish Thermopylae project, and Father Grzegorz Cymbała, then pastor of the Franciscan parish in Bołszowce.
Father Bronislaw Staworowski
Articles
105th Anniversary of the Battle near Dytiatyn
105 years after one of the most important battles of the Polish-Bolshevik War, words of prayer and remembrance once again echoed in the hills near Dytiatyn in western Ukraine. On September 20, 2025, Poles and Ukrainians met to honor the heroes who gave their lives in defense of their homeland in 1920.
103rd Anniversary battles
On September 16, 2023, another anniversary commemoration of the heroes of the 1920 battle took place at the Dytiatyn War Cemetery. In an atmosphere of reflection, prayer, and thought, flowers and candles were laid, reminding us of the values of patriotism, courage, and sacrifice for the homeland, which remain relevant today.
102nd Anniversary battles
The 102nd anniversary of the Battle of Dytiatyn has become a symbol of remembrance and patriotism, overshadowed by contemporary events in Ukraine. Despite the difficult times, commemorative ceremonies were held to commemorate the "Polish Thermopylae," highlighting the soldiers' heroism and the importance of historical heritage for future generations.
You Petro Hrudzewycz
On July 22nd, Mr. Petro Hrudzewycz passed away – a courageous defender of the cross from the grave of Polish soldiers in Dytiatyn, a guardian of memory and a symbol of courage. His deed will forever remain a part of the history of this place.
101st Anniversary battles
Dytiatyn – the site of the Polish Thermopylae. Every year, Poles, Ukrainians, and government officials pay tribute to the heroes of the 1920 battle who faced a much stronger enemy. The anniversary ceremonies combine remembrance, prayer, and reflection on values that endure.
There aren't greater love
The Battle of Dytiatyn on September 16, 1920, known as the Polish Thermopylae, is a story of heroism, sacrifice, and fighting to the last man. In the shadow of the victories of the Battle of Warsaw and the Niemen, a handful of Polish artillerymen and infantrymen stood against a much stronger enemy, covering the southern flank of the front and forever etching themselves into the history of Polish arms.
100th anniversary of the battle near Dytiatyn
On September 19, 2020, ceremonies commemorating the centennial of the battle with the Bolsheviks were held at the Polish War Cemetery near Dytiatyn. Poles and Ukrainians, representatives of the authorities, and the clergy participated in prayer and reflection, paying tribute to the heroes of the "Polish Thermopylae" and emphasizing the importance of shared historical memory.
Memory and acts of reconciliation in Dytiatyn
Every year, Poles and Ukrainians gather on Dytiatyn Hill to pay tribute to the heroes of one of the most heroic, yet least known, battles of the Polish-Bolshevik War. This place, a symbol of Polish-Ukrainian brotherhood in arms, combines historical memory with reflection on the present and values that remain relevant.
The road to Dytiatin
A journey to Dytiatyn is a journey through a landscape rich in traces of Polish history – from sanctuaries and forgotten churches to small villages and dilapidated roads. The route leads to the Polish War Cemetery in Dytiatyn – a place of remembrance and symbol of the heroism of the soldiers of 1920.
