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25 February in military history: Battle of Olszynka Grochowska, 1831

Military history · 25 February · November UprisingFull calendar

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Wide painting of a cavalry regiment galloping across a sandy, scrubby plain under a gray, cloudy sky: a dense mass of riders with lances and small pennants fills the left, an officer on a white horse rides in front of them, a few horsemen on chestnut horses race ahead on the right, and tall pines and a dark wood line the background.
Pobudka (Olszynka Grochowska), a painting of cavalry at the battle by Jan Rosen, 1883. Public domain. Jan Rosen, 1883, Muzeum Ziemi Kujawskiej i Dobrzyńskiej, Włocławek, via Wikimedia Commons.
Quick answer

On 25 February 1831, during the November Uprising, the Polish army fought the larger Russian army of Field Marshal Hans Karl von Diebitsch at Olszynka Grochowska, east of Warsaw. The bloodiest battle of the uprising ended without a clear winner, but the Russians, who had suffered heavy losses, gave up their assault on the capital.

The Battle of Olszynka Grochowska, 1831: the fight for the alder wood

25 February 1831 · 195 years ago

On 29 November 1830 young Polish officers in Warsaw rose against Russian rule over the Kingdom of Poland. In January 1831 the Polish parliament dethroned Tsar Nicholas I as king of Poland, and Russia sent a large army to crush the revolt.

Read the full story of The Battle of Olszynka Grochowska, 1831: the fight for the alder wood ›

Also on this day

Battle of Los Angeles

25 February 1942 · 84 years ago

Fearing a Japanese air raid less than three months after Pearl Harbor, anti-aircraft guns around Los Angeles fired a heavy barrage at unidentified objects in the night sky. No enemy aircraft were found, and the Navy Secretary called it a false alarm, though five civilians died.

Frequently asked questions

What happened at Olszynka Grochowska on 25 February 1831?

The Polish army of the November Uprising fought the larger Russian army of Field Marshal Diebitsch at Grochów, east of Warsaw, with the fiercest fighting for a small alder wood. The Poles withdrew, but the Russians gave up their assault on Warsaw.

Who commanded the Polish army at Grochów?

Formally Prince Michał Radziwiłł, but in practice General Józef Chłopicki. After Chłopicki was badly wounded, command passed to General Jan Skrzynecki.

Who won the Battle of Olszynka Grochowska?

Neither side won in the field. The Poles withdrew, but the Russians lost heavily and gave up their assault on Warsaw, so Polish historians give the tactical advantage to the Poles.

How many soldiers died at Olszynka Grochowska?

Polish sources put the Polish losses at about 7,000 to 7,300 men and the Russian at about 9,500 to 10,000.

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