First Army commander Viktor Dankl planned to inflict a second defeat on the opposing Russian Fourth Army by turning its right flank north-west of Lublin and capturing the city. That put the weight of the attack on his I Corps, specifically FML Paul Kestranek’s 12th Infantry Division. Kestranek had been reinforced by the Hungarian 101st Landsturm Brigade, a hastily-assembled formation of middle-aged reservists, and the 1st March Brigade, replacements intended to replenish losses in their parent regiments but instead flung into battle in similarly ad hoc battalions.

Rather than mix them amid his regular battalions, Kestranek slotted the Landsturm brigade on the left flank of his division, the key position in First Army’s renewed offensive. Apparently Kestranek reasoned that the fresh Landsturm men might have more success than his tired regulars, and the reservists certainly appeared willing enough. They attacked the town of Chodel with considerable spirit, and fell back with considerable losses. Dankl’s grand plan would have to wait at least another day.