In June and early July 1920, during the offensive of the South-Western Front, battles between the Polish army and Semyon Budyonny's Soviet 1st Horse Army were fought at Kortec. On the Polish side the battles were fought by: 1st Legion Infantry Division of Colonel Juliusz Rommel, 3rd Legion Infantry Division of General Leon Berbecki and 6th Infantry Division of Colonel Ottokar Brzoza-Brzezina. The aim of the battles was to beat Semyon Budyonny's army at Kortse, but poor co-ordination of operations and a lack of communication between the divisions led to the fact that the Polish side's armed actions were limited to many minor clashes with the enemy's troops. In view of such a development of the situation on the front, the Polish side abandoned offensive actions in the area of Kortec.

The next battles near Kortec took place in September 1920 during the autumn offensive of the Polish army in Ukraine. The battles were fought by the 2nd Cavalry Division of Colonel Gustaw Orlicz-Dreszer with the Soviet 44th Rifle Division under the command of Commander Ivan Dubovoy. These battles ended with the partial success of the Polish troops, i.e. the recapture of the occupied territories, but the goal of destroying the headquarters of the 1st Cavalry Army and its units was not achieved.

The 32 Polish soldiers killed in these battles were buried in the local cemetery. Their names are unknown.

On the mass grave of the Polish soldiers, a low cubic pedestal was erected, on which a concrete cross was set. A plaque with the inscription was placed on the pedestal: "32 Fallen for the Homeland".