Although a tactical and strategic failure , the battle was presented as a success by Soviet propaganda , as it was the first battle of the Soviet-backed Polish forces . In fact , the battle , while bloody , proved a political victory to the Soviet-created '' Union of Polish Patriots '' ( ZPP ) whose aim was to present itself as a true authority of a future Poland , an alternative to the legitimate Polish government in exile . The ZPP leaders wanted to prove before the Tehran conference took place that Polish units in the USSR could take an active role in the fight against the Germans . In this light , the use of a barely trained division in fruitless assaults was often described as a '' political demonstration '' rather than a military operation . The battle was depicted as a victory , a " great and meaningful event in Polish history " , a " milestone in the Polish struggle against fascism " and a " seal on the Polish-Soviet brotherhood of arms " by Soviet propaganda . Owing to the heavy casualties of the Polish forces , many authors described it as " carnage " or a " senseless bloodbath " or using the Polish soldiers as cannon fodder , questioning the true reasons behind sending the barely trained 1st Division into battle without proper support and with no clear objectives . Some authors go as far as to suggest that the decision was a deliberate attempt to further exterminate Poles in the Soviet Union , akin to the Katyn massacre , but this time by German hands
Katyn massacre
Katyn massacre
Battle of Lenino