Opertaion Pekin Flight of the Polish Destroyers

[Andy H]

The plan was created in order to remove the Destroyer Division (Dywizjon Kontrtorpedowców) of the Polish Navy from the Baltic Sea operation theatre. The Kriegsmarine had a significant numerical advantage over the Polish Navy, and in the event of a war the Polish High Command realized that the ships which remained in the small and mostly landlocked Baltic were likely to be quickly sunk by the Germans. Also, the Danish straits were well within operation range of the Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe, so there was little chance for the plan to succeed if implemented after hostilities began.

The British government on 24 August 1939, through Lieutenant-General Sir Adrian Carton De Wiart, head of the British Military Mission made strong representations to Marshal Edward Śmigły-Rydz, Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Forces, to evacuate the most modern elements of the fleet from the Baltic. Although Śmigły-Rydz resisted the idea at first, he finally agreed.

Part of Śmigły-Rydz's reason for doing so was the idea of a Romanian Bridgehead. It was hoped the Polish forces could hold out in the southeast of the country, near the common border with Romania, until relieved by a Franco-British offensive. Munitions and arms could be delivered from the west via Romanian ports and railways. The Polish Navy would then be able to escort the ships delivering the supplies to Romanian ports.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peking_Plan

As the tensions between Poland and Germany were increasing, the Commander of the Polish Fleet, Admiral Józef Unrug signed the order for the operation on 26 August 1939, a day after the signing of the Polish-British Common Defence Pact; the order was delivered in sealed envelopes to the ships. On 29 August the fleet received the signal "Peking, Peking, Peking" from Polish Commander-in-Chief, Marshall Edward Rydz-Śmigły: "Execute Peking". At 1255 the ships received the signal via signal flags or radio from the signal tower at Oksywie, the respective captains of the ships opened the envelopes, and departed at 1415 under the command of Lieutenant Commander Roman Stankiewicz. Błyskawica was commanded by Lieutenant Commander Włodzimierz Kodrębski, Burza by Sublieutenant Commander Stanisław Nahorski and Grom by Lieutenant Commander Włodzimierz Hulewicz

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.c ... tion+Pekin

The escape of the Polish destroyers prior to the start of the war is well known, and it is well noted on the internet.

I'm interested why Marshal Edward Śmigły-Rydz was against the idea in part, when it seems he wanted the vessels to escort Anglo-French supplies arriving in Romania to help support a possible Polish B/H near the Romanian border. The vessels obviously couldn't escort anything from the Baltic.

Any other information concerning this operation is appreciated

Regards

Andy H

[Glyndower]

The Polish navy had been created in case of war with the Soviet Union as part of Plan W. In case of war with Germany the base at Gdynia was clearly likely to be overrun or rendered useless by air attack so Rydz-Smiglys opposition makes no sense from a military point of view. I would guess there is a misunderstanding here and he may have been against to early a departure of the ships as this could appear defeatist or provocative. Also the Poles thought that the Germans could just launch an attack to capture Danzig and the corridor then ask for a cease fire hence the positioning of large Polish forces in the corridor so he may have wanted the navy to stay expecting a localised conflict.

The supply of Poland through Rumania was never on the cards as Rumania declared itself neutral and would certainly not annoy Germany to much though the Poles had hopes of aid by this route. The British and French though they may have discussed aid through Rumania did not make any approaches to Rumania about this. As they had written Poland of before the start of the war they had no plans for large scale aid through Rumania.

[TPMM]

In most of Polish books about these operation it is said, that the 3 most modern DDs were sent to UK to prevent them from being bombed or shelled by overwhelming German forces near Polish coast. 3 DDs wouldn't have saved Polish coast, but they might have been a significant support to RN. Moreover, even though the predictable fall of Motherland, DDs would have continued their fight, announcing the whole world that Poland keeps fighting against the III Reich.
ALL ideas connected with UK forces landing in Romania to save Polish army were only wishes of Polish HQ (widely criticized, now and then).

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