Battle of Kaniów Battle of Kaniów took place during World War I on the night of 10 – 11 May 1918 , near Kaniv , Ukraine ( Polish : Kaniów ) between Polish and German army troops . The fighting pitted the Polish II Corps in Russia ( including Brigade II of the Polish Legions ) , under general Józef Haller de Hallenburg , against the German Imperial Army ( including the 28th Landwehr Brigade ) , under general Zierhold . Ultimately the Germans were victorious with about half of the Polish forces surrendering and the rest retreating in disarray . Background . On 15 February , protesting against the Treaty of Brest - Litovsk which reduced the chances for the creation of an independent Poland , the II Brigade of the Polish Legions , formerly part of the Austro - Hungarian Army , broke through the frontline near Rarańcza and merged with the Polish units formerly in the Russian Army , joining the newly formed Polish II Corps in Russia . The Germans , however , saw the II Corps as troublesome , and decided to ensure it would be disarmed , or would otherwise be incapacitated . On 18 April the II Corps was ordered by the Regency Council to stop near Kaniv in Ukraine ; in a triangle between Potok , Kozin and Stepańce . Soon it begun to be surrounded by a nearby German units . On 6 May the commander of the 28th German Landwehr Brigade , General Zierhold , subordinate of Marshal Hermann von Eichhorn , issued an ultimatum to the II Corps , demanding it lay down its arms and surrender . II Corps readied for battle , and surprised Zierhold , who was unprepared for battle . Zierhold backed down saying that the ultimatum was a miscommunication . Soon however Zierhold received reinforcements , which convinced him he has enough strength to force the issue . Battle . On the night from 10 – 11 May 1918 , II Corps was surrounded and attacked by German units . Polish units , initially surprised , formed on the village of Jemczycha and took defensive positions . The II Corps resisted for about a day , and both sides sustained heavy losses . By the evening of 11 May the Germans , who did not expect the Poles to put such a stiff resistance , proposed a ceasefire and negotiations . With supplies running low the Poles accepted the offer to negotiate , and eventually agreed to an honorable capitulation . Aftermath . The battle resulted in heavy losses for the Germans , estimated at about 1 , 500 dead and 273 wounded . Polish losses are estimated to be much smaller , at about few dozen killed and about 150 wounded . Half of the Polish survivors were arrested and sent to prisoner of war camps ( number of prisoners is estimated at about 3 , 250 ; another estimate suggests 4 , 000 imprisoned , and 1 , 500 - 2 , 000 who escaped ) , but the others managed to escape . Those who escaped included the Polish commander Józef Haller de Hallenburg , who faked his death in the battle , and fled to France where he was later appointed commander of the new Polish unit , the Blue Army ( or Haller ' s Army ) . In the Second Polish Republic , several units would adopt the name " of Kaniów " in honor of that battle : the 28th , 29th , 30th and 31st Infantry Regiments ( of Kaniów Rifleman , Polish : " Pułki Strzelców Kaniowskich " ) and 6th Uhlan Kaniów Regiment ( " 6 Pułk Ułanów Kaniowskich " ) .