Preparations of the Shipping Company “Żegluga Polska SA” for the Second World War
In the interwar period, „Żegluga Polska SA” was the largest Polish shipowner which was financially subsidised by the Polish government. The unique role played by the merchant fleet during the armed conflict (including transport of military materials and supplies) prompted Polish shipowners to pre...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | deu |
| Published: |
Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Studia Maritima |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://wnus.usz.edu.pl/sm/en/issue/1480/article/20952/ |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | In the interwar period, „Żegluga Polska SA” was the largest Polish shipowner which was financially
subsidised by the Polish government. The unique role played by the merchant fleet
during the armed conflict (including transport of military materials and supplies) prompted
Polish shipowners to prepare for war in 1939. The first steps in this regard were taken as late
as the second half of March 1939. The analysis and criticism of sources allowed us to draw
many interesting conclusions in the presented article. It quickly turned out that „Żegluga
Polska SA” suffered from shortages of basic equipment necessary in war conditions, especially
long-range radios. Moreover, the company entered into a conflict with the Ministry of
Industry and Trade regarding the mobilisation of seamen, ship handling and management
staff, which created a serious risk of immobilisation of the shipowner’s ships. Generally, the
preparations of „Żegluga Polska SA” to the war included communication (radio and optical),
coordination of ship traffic with units of other shipowners and the activities of the Navy, as
well as protection of ships against possible acts of sabotage. The steps taken were aimed at
preventing a situation in which the shipowner’s vessels would be destroyed or fall into the
enemy’s hands. Important preparations also included securing the port by state authorities. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0137-3587 |