On 23–24 September Poland gave an order to the so-called "battle units" of the "Zaolzie Legion", made up of volunteers from all over Poland, to cross the border to Czechoslovakia and attack Czechoslovak units. This followed official Polish request of 21 September for a direct transfer of the Zaolzie area to its own control. and placing some 60.000 Polish soldiers along the border on 22 September. By this time, however, Czechoslovak border fortifications in the area were already manned and in full combat readiness. Polish charge was repulsed and attacking units retreated to Poland without gaining any ground.