Polish Forces

Atlantic Eagle

Government of the Republic of Poland

ORP Burza, "Wicher" Class destroyer, French-built for the Polish Navy, in Atlantic camouflage, England, 1940. The "Burza" was one of the three Polish destroyers successful in evacuating to England on the eve of the German invasion of Poland as part of the "Peking Plan". One could criticise the decision of the Polish authorities, despite pressure from Britain, not to evacuate more of their Navy at this time; a few other units did make it to Britain, but most (including the Burza's Class-leader, ORP Wicher) were sunk by the Kriegsmarine in the Baltic and the Gulf of Gdansk in the first days of the war. The criticism seems harsh. The Poles had their own perception (however unrealistic in the event) of their prospects for resisting German attack, not excluding calculations as to likely Allied support that were grievously disappointed. Perhaps, faced with British pressure for the evacuation of their most effective ships, they should have read the tea-leaves. In any event, ORP Burza (meaning, I think, "Storm") - in spite of the deficiencies of the "Wicher" Class (slow, high profile, undergunned etc.) served with distinction on Atlantic convoy work between 1940 and 1944, at which time it became a training ship and resupply ship for Polish submarines. It was subsequently returned to Poland, where it became a museum ship, eventually being replaced and scrapped in 1977. Best regards, JR.