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Battle of Gdów
The Battle of Gdow (Polish: Bitwa pod Gdowem) took place on February 26, 1846, near Gdow, in the Free City of Krakow. It was the only significant battle of the Krakow Uprising. A rebel unit of 380 men, commanded by Jakub Suchorzewski, was defeated by a 480-strong Austrian Army detachment led by Ludwig von Benedek. The Austrians were supported by approximately 500 local peasants (see Galician slaughter). Rebel losses were estimated at 154 killed, while Austrian losses were minimal.  BackgroundAfter the Krakow Uprising began, an Austrian detachment under Colonel Ludwig von Benedek departed from Tarnów toward Krakow. Von Benedek's unit consisted of nearly 500 men, including 330 infantry and 150 cavalry. Along the way, his forces were reinforced by local peasants from villages such as Marszowice, Nieznanowice, and Pierzchów. The peasants were promised a hundredweight of salt and 5 zlotys for each captured rebel. BattleMeanwhile, a rebel unit of 380 men, mostly residents of Krakow and local szlachta, under Colonel Jakub Suchorzewski, gathered in Łazany, 8 km southeast of Wieliczka. On the morning of February 26, the insurgents reached Gdów and dispersed throughout the town in search of food. Bolesław Limanowski wrote that Suchorzewski did not expect the Austrians to find him so quickly, which is why he allowed his soldiers to rest. Suchorzewski himself went to a local manor for a meal and was reportedly not even in Gdów during the battle. The Austrian troops first encountered a few insurgents standing guard at the bridge over the Raba. After exchanging fire, the Poles quickly retreated to the center of Gdów, where they warned the rest of the insurgents about the approaching enemy. Many of the insurgents, drunk and disorganized, fled from the inn and houses, crowding in the town center. Meanwhile, von Benedek launched a flanking maneuver, surrounding a unit of kosynierzy near the cemetery wall. They were then attacked by enraged peasants, and only a few were saved by the Austrians, who intervened too late.[3] Suchorzewski fled to Dobczyce, taking with him the rebel funds. Altogether, the rebels suffered 154 casualties, all of whom were buried in three pits at the cemetery. The survivors fled to Krakow, and the next day, the Austrians entered Wieliczka. References
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