The defense of the Polish Post Office in Gdańsk

[BONKERS 5,751]

After the end of the World War I on the 11^th of November 1918, the Polish state was finally resurrected after nearly 123 years of patritions between Prussia, Russia and Austro-Hungary. The geopolitical situation was drastically changing – the German Empire was defeated, the Tzar was abolished by the communist revolutionaries that proclaimed the creation of the Soviet Union, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed. In the middle of all those changes stood the Poles, finally able to govern themselves in a soverign state.

 

The 104^th Paragraph of the Treaty of Versallies proclaimed the creation of the Free City of Danzig, that was to be detached from the German Reich and be governed under protection of the League of Nations. At the same time, Poland signed a customs treaty with the city, and was given the right to develop their own port infrastructure. Aslo, the Polish Post Office was created as a exterritorial set of buildings belonging to Poland. These comprised of:

 

• Post Office Gdańsk 1 on the Jan Heweliusz Plaza near the Old Town

• Post Office Gdańsk 2 located in the Main Train Station

• Post Office Gdańsk 3 in the Port

 

 

The Post Office building with the job center building adjacent to it, photo from 2010

 

Since 1930, the Gdańsk 1 office became the main office of the Polish Post in the Free City. It also housed a telephone exchange that allowed contact with Poland. Also, since 1926, a Polish military outpost was established on the Westerplatte Peninsula. Both these enclaves in the city would later become scenes for firece battles between the German war machine and the Polish Army.

 

After the Nazi Party established itself as a gorverning party in Germany and Adolf Hitler became the Reichskanzler, the Germans in the Free City could also feel it. In 1933, the Nazi party managed to take over the government of the city, suppressing the opposition. The Jews and Poles were being discriminated and the tensions rose. Finally, in 1939, Hitler, via the Minister of Foreign Affairs Joachim von Ribbentrop, delivered an ultimatum to the Polish government. In it, he demanded the right to construct an exteritorial highway and a railway line that would connect the IIIrd Reich with East Prussia. If it was construted, it would basically cut off mainland Poland from Pomerania, which could have resulted in the annexation of Gdańsk. Fearing the worst, the Poles declined.

 

Even before that, the Poles took measures to prepare the postal workers for the worst. A secret self-defense cell was created, led by Alfons Flisykowski, which conducted secret training in case of an attack. In April 1939, the General Staff of the Polish Army sent 2^nd Lieutenant Konrad Guderski to Gdańsk, so that he could assume command and prepare the defense. Overall, just before the outbreak of the new war, there were 55 postal workers in the main building.

 

At 4:45 hours on the 1^st of September 1939, battleship Schleswig-Holstein opened fire on the Polish outpost at Westerplatte. The German invasion of Poland has begun. The postal workers already knew, that something was wrong even before the shelling started – at 4:00 hours, telephone and electric lines were cut. The Poles, however, were not going to simply surrender. They were ready to fight. The armament, that the Poles could use consisted of one "Ur" antitank rifle, three Browning wz. 28 machine guns (licensed copies of the Browning Automatic Rifle), 40 pistols, three rifles and a handful of hand greandes.

 

On the opposite side, the Germans were expecting a quick victory. The attack on the Post office would be exectued by the special detachment of the Danzig Schutzpolizei, as well as SS units from SS Wachsturmbann E and SS-Heimwehr Danzig. The attackers were also equipped with 3 ADGZ armored cars. The overall command of the operation was given to German Police Colonel Will Bethke, with SS-Oberführer Johannes Schäfer supervising the SS.

 

 

 

 

German soldiers hide behind the ADGZ armored car during the assault

 

The German plan was fairly straightforward – the troops would attack the office from two sides – the main entrance and through a hole in the wall that connected the building with a local job centre. The frontal assault would be reinfored by the armored cars. The Polish workers were supposed to defend themselves for 6 hours – then, the units from the "Pomorze" Army would arrive to relieve them.

 

The assault began at the same time, as the shelling of Westerplatte started. It was, however, repulsed by the defenders, even though the attackers were able to enter the building. The attack through the walls of the job centre also failed, however 2^nd Lieutenant Guderski was killed by his own grenade while trying to stop the German advance.

 

The Polish defiance shocked and infuriated the Germans, that quickly requested reinforcements. At 11:00 hours, a second assault was launched, this time supported by 75 mm howitzers supplied by the Wehrmacht troops in the area. Even with artillery support, however, the Poles defended themselves again, pushing the Germans back. 4 hours later, Germans ordered a ceasefire and demanded the Poles to surrender. The offer was declined. The German troops were again reinforced – by a 105 mm howitzer and a platoon of sappers, that planted a 700 kg explosive near the wall. At 17:00 hours, the bomb was detonated, collapsing a part of the wall. With artillery support, the Germans managed to enter and secure most of the building, save from the basement.

 

This was not, however, going to stop them. The Germans pumped buring gasoline into the basment, as well as used flamethrowers – the fire killed five defenders that burned alive. It was then that the Poles decided that resistance was futile. After preparing a white flag, the defenders sent two emmisaries – dr Jan Michoń, the director of the Post Office and Józef Wąsik, the commandant of the Post Office. The Germans, however, did not respect the white flag. Dr Michoń was shot dead, while commandant Wąsik was burned alive with a flamethrower. After their deaths, the Germans allowed the workers to surrender. Six of them, however managed to escape the building – while two were captured later, the remaning four would survive to the end of the war.

 

 

 

Captured postal workers escorted by the SS

 

 

Overall, six postal workers were killed in the battle, while 14 others were wounded (4 would later die from their wounds, including 10- year old Eriwna Warzychowska). German losses totalled at around 10 killed and 25 wounded, as well as one armored car knocked out. The remaining 38 postal workers were captured and later sentenced to death as partisans (this verdict was invalidated in 1995, with the defenders being absolved). They were mostly executed by a firing squad under the command of SS-Sturmbannführer Max Pauly, who was later to become the commandant of the Neuengamme concentration camp.

 

While the Post was captured, the Westerplatte outpost was still in Polish hands, waiting for help that would never come. After 7 days of resistance, the Poles surrendered on the 7^th of September. Gdańsk was now in German hands.

 

 

The monument of the Defenders of the Polish Post Office in Gdańsk

Edited September 1, 2014 by BONKERS

[ColorCopycat 7,171]

Germany really wanted that Danzig Corridor.

[OBERSTGRAF 2,243]

I'm wondering why Gaijin is not making any statements, articles about the start of the Second World War. 

[Linx6 6,385]

I'm wondering why Gaijin is not making any statements, articles about the start of the Second World War. 

Wait 2-3 hours they usually announce events at around 10-11 AM GMT.

[EPSNtheGATOR 4,944]

that's weird looking monument tbh

 

and good job with the article, first to fight o7

[BradArmstrong 689]

great read :salute:

[Linx6 6,385]

Great Read, do you have any more material on Polish resistance in 1939 or know some good books about it?

[Hiromachi 8,004]

Great Read, do you have any more material on Polish resistance in 1939 or know some good books about it?

Depends on what you are looking for, but unfortunately better and based on larger material are only in polish language. 

 

I have a few nice books about pilots and air battles around Warsaw, but till 5th September I'll be rather busy. Later I hope I will find time to write one or two articles about that :)

[Linx6 6,385]

Depends on what you are looking for, but unfortunately better and based on larger material are only in polish language. 

 

I have a few nice books about pilots and air battles around Warsaw, but till 5th September I'll be rather busy. Later I hope I will find time to write one or two articles about that :)

Anything on the subject would be nice, I find it quite interesting subject.

[Hiromachi 8,004]

Anything on the subject would be nice, I find it quite interesting subject.

I will try to find few things.

 

Tell me if in any of these you would be interested, I got links for 2, others you have to google and check what you think:
[spoiler]

- http://sklep.kagero.pl/13-messerschmitt-bf-109-c-d-in-the-polish-campaign-1939.html

 

- http://sklep.kagero.pl/11-luftflotte-i-1939.html

 

- Osprey Aircraft of the Aces  021 Polish Aces of World War 2

 

- No Greater Ally: The Untold Story of Poland’s Forces in World War II by Kenneth K. Koskodan, Osprey publishing

 

- White Eagles: The Aircraft, Men and Operations of the Polish Air Force 1918-1939 by Bartlomiej Belcarz and Robert Peczkowski

 

- The Forgotten Few: The Polish Air Force in World War II by Adam Zamoyski

 

- The Polish Air Force at War: The Official History Vol.1 1939-1943 by Jerzy B. Cynk

 

[/spoiler]

 

Check those titles Linx, I tried to find as much as I could but as I said, amount of publications covering this topic in foreign languages is limited.

[Botan 7,952]

Next year in September Osprey is going to publish some books about, like "duel" Panzer II vs 7TP or book about Polish armour.

 

Also there is book

"Invincible Black Brigade Polish 10th Cavalry Brigade 1939" http://mmpbooks.biz/mmp/books.php?book_id=138

[Linx6 6,385]

I will try to find few things.

 

Tell me if in any of these you would be interested, I got links for 2, others you have to google and check what you think:
[spoiler]

- http://sklep.kagero.pl/13-messerschmitt-bf-109-c-d-in-the-polish-campaign-1939.html

 

- http://sklep.kagero.pl/11-luftflotte-i-1939.html

 

- Osprey Aircraft of the Aces  021 Polish Aces of World War 2

 

- No Greater Ally: The Untold Story of Poland’s Forces in World War II by Kenneth K. Koskodan, Osprey publishing

 

- White Eagles: The Aircraft, Men and Operations of the Polish Air Force 1918-1939 by Bartlomiej Belcarz and Robert Peczkowski

 

- The Forgotten Few: The Polish Air Force in World War II by Adam Zamoyski

 

- The Polish Air Force at War: The Official History Vol.1 1939-1943 by Jerzy B. Cynk

 

[/spoiler]

 

Check those titles Linx, I tried to find as much as I could but as I said, amount of publications covering this topic in foreign languages is limited.

Thank you, I will note it down and try to find the books.

[Wolf_XIII 126]

@Bonkers Good article, interesting read. 

Brave people those postal workers, my respect. 

 

And how typical of the SS to first fuck things royally up and then indulging in  Brutality.

The history of the Waffen-SS is a lot of myths and not a lot of truth.

The Wehrmacht was annoyed by them, because they often took up to one-third of unit strength in casualities and rarely achieved their goals.

Aside from causing trouble with their violence. 

 

On a side note about the overturning of the german, a link to the man whose work made it possible:

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

 

It's a shame that next to none of his work is mentioned on the german wikipedia, which is normally a bit more thorough than the English one. 

 

Time to kick some arses!!!

I will try to find few things.

 

Tell me if in any of these you would be interested, I got links for 2, others you have to google and check what you think:
[spoiler]

- http://sklep.kagero.pl/13-messerschmitt-bf-109-c-d-in-the-polish-campaign-1939.html

 

- http://sklep.kagero.pl/11-luftflotte-i-1939.html

 

- Osprey Aircraft of the Aces  021 Polish Aces of World War 2

 

- No Greater Ally: The Untold Story of Poland’s Forces in World War II by Kenneth K. Koskodan, Osprey publishing

 

- White Eagles: The Aircraft, Men and Operations of the Polish Air Force 1918-1939 by Bartlomiej Belcarz and Robert Peczkowski

 

- The Forgotten Few: The Polish Air Force in World War II by Adam Zamoyski

 

- The Polish Air Force at War: The Official History Vol.1 1939-1943 by Jerzy B. Cynk

 

[/spoiler]

 

Check those titles Linx, I tried to find as much as I could but as I said, amount of publications covering this topic in foreign languages is limited.

Osprey usually has some great material and interestingly their books can stand up to a careful examination of the matter at hand. 

I can only recommend most Osprey books that I've read. 

We all know answer to this question, but we are not allowed to say it.

 

But here is hint: Soviet military action on Polish frontier in 1939 is inconvenient truth.

And would lead the reader's eye to such things as the Annexation of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, as well as the attack on Finnland.

Other such inconvenient truths. 

[Botan 7,952]

And would lead the reader's eye to such things as the Annexation of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, as well as the attack on Finnland.

And Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina.

[YorrickBrown 262]

Thanks for excellent article. I heard the story about polish post in Danzig but now I know a lot more.

And Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina.

And that could led the discussion into the similarities of nowadays military-political situation in eastern Ukraine which would unacceptable of course.

Y.

[PolishFactor1 150]

After the end of the World War I on the 11^th of November 1918

 

                                                                   We made full reconstruction of this heroic 14h battle.

 

                                            [video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZQzjTuOKfk[/video]

 

 

 

Eimann SS gentelmens shoot and burn first 4 defenders surrendered with wite flag.  His second commander Max Pauly personly controled 28 post workers illegal execution and personaly pointed gold teeth to extract from bodies. Eimann was a specialisy in mass killing mental and phisical disordered hospital patients and he spent only 2 years in German prison form 6y sentenced for thousands killed peoples . German court wait till 1979y to invalidate the 1939 Nazi illegal post workers (officialy soldiers) death sentence. They never allowed to punish criminal nazi jury and cooperating illegal lawyers till their death too.  Only Max Pauly was hanged by Britsh, but  he was never tried for the crimes committed at Stutthof concentration camp and for other total cirmes he made on Polish territory.  This was German and British court shame...

Edited August 19, 2015 by PolishFactor1

[graisseu 504]

Sad story . :/ Respect to them .

The history of Poland is full of tragedy . Edited August 31, 2015 by graisseu

[Scarper 45,517]

Great article/ o7

[garble 15,977]

To be clear, these were regular postal workers right? Like clerks?

[bakters 236]

To be clear, these were regular postal workers right? Like clerks?

Yes.  They were lead by (let me check) one soldier only, it seems.  He died during the first attack, though.  So a bunch of clerks, one woman and one 10 year old girl.  

[Guest JoannaK]

History of Poland is full of fighting, death and pain. But also heroism, pride and honor.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kępa_Oksywska

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Westerplatte

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Wizna

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Wieluń

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bzura

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mokra

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Warsaw_(1939)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Warsaw_in_World_War_II

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefan_Starzyński:

Quotes of S.Starzyński -  Warsaw, September 1939:

during Siege of Warsaw and Bombing of Warsaw he said: "A day will come when Berlin will be set on flames, when German women and children will die just like ours are dying. I hope all of you will understand then that there is God's justice."

"I wanted Warsaw to be great. Both my colleagues and I were making plans of a great Warsaw of the future. And Warsaw is great. It happened sooner than we thought. And although where we wanted parks are baricades, although our libraries are burning, although the hospitals are burning the city of Warsaw, defending the honour of Poland, is today at the highest point of its greatness."

— Stefan Starzyński

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kock_(1939)

Please remember that since 17th of September 1939 Polish Army fought both with Germans (Wehrmacht) AND Russians (Red Army):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_invasion_of_Poland

Greetings from Poland

 

[Josephs_Piano 7,044]

On 9/1/2015 at 11:30 AM, garble said:

To be clear, these were regular postal workers right? Like clerks?

 

According to the wiki article the staff had received some training,some reserve NCO's were present, and the building was partly fortified - 

 

Quote

As tensions between Poland and Germany grew, in April 1939 the Polish High Command detached combat engineer and Army Reserve Sublieutenant (or 2LT) Konrad Guderski to the Baltic Sea coast. With Alfons Flisykowski and others, he helped organise the official and volunteer security staff at the Polish Post Office in Danzig, and prepared them for possible hostilities. In addition to training the staff, he prepared the defences in and around the building: nearby trees were removed and the entrance was fortified. In mid-August, ten additional employees were sent to the post office from Polish Post offices in Gdynia and Bydgoszcz (mostly reserve non-commissioned officers).