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4 April in military history: Battle of Racławice, 1794

Military history · 4 April · Kościuszko UprisingFull calendar

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Detail of a huge painted panorama: a line of infantry in dark coats and white trousers advances across rough heath beside tall pines, while cavalry in red and blue gallops across the open field behind them under a pale sky.
Infantry and cavalry in the fighting at Racławice, a detail of the Racławice Panorama by Jan Styka and Wojciech Kossak, opened in Lwów in 1894 and now in Wrocław. Photograph by Ptjackyll, 2019, CC0 (public domain dedication).
Quick answer

On 4 April 1794, at Racławice near Kraków, Tadeusz Kościuszko's insurgent army defeated Russian troops under General Alexander Tormasov. The decisive blow was a charge by peasant scythemen, led by Kościuszko himself, that captured the Russian guns. In 1944 the Battle of Kohima began, and in 1949 NATO was founded.

The Battle of Racławice, 1794: Kościuszko and the scythemen

4 April 1794 · 232 years ago

Tadeusz Kościuszko won the Battle of Racławice on 4 April 1794, defeating a Russian force under General Alexander Tormasov near Kraków. The decisive moment came when peasant scythemen charged and captured the Russian guns.

Read the full story of The Battle of Racławice, 1794: Kościuszko and the scythemen ›

The Battle of Kohima, 1944: the stand that saved India

4 April 1944 · 82 years ago

British and Indian forces won the Battle of Kohima, fought from 4 April to 22 June 1944 in northeast India. A small garrison held Kohima ridge against the Japanese 31st Division for about two weeks until relieved, and the Allies then fought to clear the Japanese from the area.

Read the full story of The Battle of Kohima, 1944: the stand that saved India ›

Also on this day

Action of 4 April 1941

4 April 1941 · 85 years ago

At sea, the German auxiliary cruiser Thor met HMS Voltaire, a British armed merchant cruiser, during the Battle of the Atlantic. The raider sank Voltaire after a short fight and rescued her survivors, showing that converted liners with old guns were no match for such raiders.

Frequently asked questions

Who fought at Racławice on 4 April 1794?

Tadeusz Kościuszko's insurgent army, regular troops and peasant recruits, against Russian troops under Generals Tormasov and Denisov.

How many guns did the Poles capture?

Twelve, according to the historian Tadeusz Korzon and the Polish Ministry of Education's history platform.

What did Wojciech Bartos do?

He was first onto the Russian battery and used his cap to stop a gun from firing. Kościuszko made him an ensign and gave him the surname Głowacki.

Why did Kościuszko not pursue the Russians?

His ranks had fallen into disorder after the attack, and around midnight he withdrew toward Słomniki.

What happened on 4 April 1949?

Twelve countries signed the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, agreeing that an armed attack against one of them in Europe or North America would be considered an attack against them all.

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The turning points of history

Marathon, Gaugamela, Cannae, Constantinople, Waterloo, Stalingrad: the days the world changed course.

The Battle of Marathon, 490 BCThe Battle of Gaugamela, 331 BCThe Battle of Cannae, 216 BCThe Fall of Constantinople, 1453The Battle of Waterloo, 1815The Battle of Stalingrad, 1942-1943

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