Kazimierz Sadowski

Polish Navy

On 1 September there were 5 Polish submarines: ORP Sep, Zbik, Rys, Wilk, and Orzel. On the 16th day of hostilities, the very badly damaged Sep made it to Stockholm where she was interned. The Rys also went to Sweden, while the Zbik continued in action for 25 days.

On 24 August 1939, in anticipation of a German invasion, Polish Navy submarine ORP Zbik was mobilized. Sub-Lieutenant Sądowski was assigned as Torpedo Officer, and the Captain was Commander Michal Zebrowski. ORP Zbik took 6 torpedoes (plus 4 extra), 22 mines and 114 shells for 100 mm gun.

On 1 September 1939 when war broke out, according to “Operation Worek”, Zbik was patrolling the area to North-East of Jastamia. In accordance with plans, the Polish submarine did not attack small ships (under destroyer size) or unarmed ships.

On 2 September Zbik was attacked by German U-Boat U-23 (Lt. Commander Werner Winter). Enemy submarine fired one magnetic torpedo which exploded too soon (about 200 m from Zbik’s board). ORP Zbik submerged without any damage.

The next day, Lt. Commander Werner wrongly reported the sinking of the Polish submarine. On 9 September Zbik placed a mine pole from 20 mines near the Hela Peninsula. On that mine pole the German minesweeper M85 was sunk, with the loss of 24 hands.

On 12 September 1939, Zbik was ordered north towards the coast of Sweden. On 14 September Zbik received permission from the Polish Naval Command to break through to England, but the submarine sustained damages during heavy storms. Most importantly, the main hatch started to leak. On 17 September water started to leak into batteries and chlorine was emitted. Submerging was not possible at that point.

On 18 September Lt. Commander Zebrowski decided to sail to England, but because of the condition of the submarine (the leaks limited the dive to only a few meters for a short time) this idea was rejected. On 25 September, Zbik arrived at Starvans where she was interned with 5 officers and 49 crew.

In April 1940, assisted by Swedish Naval units, the Polish submarines ORP Zbik, Rys, and Sep proceeded under their own power to the naval fortress of Vaxholm near Stockholm. Within 24 hours and under international maritime law, the submarines were stripped of armaments, the radio equipment was sealed, torpedoes 3were disarmed, and armed guards were posted aboard. The crew was quartered in a guarded camp surrounded by a three-meter-high fence.