The Warsaw-Vienna Railway during Battles on the Russian Front (Summer — Autumn 1914)

Abstract

One of the oldest and most profitable railways of the Russian Empire, the Warsaw-Vienna Railway, connected Warsaw with Germany and Austria-Hungary and had a European gauge (except the Kalisz line). In 1912 the railroad was bought by the government to become state-owned. Due to its geographical location, it almost immediately appeared in the area of hostilities once World War I broke out and was forced to adapt to new conditions. In the first month of the war, the main battles took place on the flanks of Russian Poland (in East Prussia and Galicia), but by September with the beginning of the Battle of the Vistula, the Warsaw-Vienna line was in the very center of the confrontation between the Russian and the German/Austro-Hungarian armies. Approaching the suburbs of Warsaw, the Germans were forced to withdraw to their original positions. When retreating, the German army completely destroyed not only the track and bridges, but also the water supply, station buildings, etc. The military situation required the speedy restoration of the railway for the needs of the Russian army, which was difficult given the European gauge of the Warsaw-Vienna line. However, the skillful actions of military transport commanders, as well as the civilian administration, allowed the restoration of traffic. By early November, traffic from Warsaw to the front line was restored.