Passengers during the Maiden Voyage to New York; a part of
the film Pictorial Story of the Historical Maiden Voyage of the MS PIŁSUDSKI;
from the collection of the National Film Archive—Audiovisual Institute of Poland
Passengers of the MS Piłsudski during the crossing of the Atlantic;
from the private collection of the Wójcikiewicz family.
The New Passenger
The Great Depression limited migration to North America, and although large numbers of the indigent were still seeking better life across the ocean, a new type of passenger emerged – the sophisticated traveler driven by curiosity and the call of adventure.
The ocean liners, MS Piłsudski and MS Batory, in the Port of Gdynia, May 26, 1935;
from the collections of the National Maritime Museum of Poland in Gdańsk
MS Piłsudski
is to be built
The Polish steamship fleet in the 1930s: SS Polonia, SS Kościuszko and SS Pułaski, was aging and lacked competitiveness. In response to the growing expectations of the new international traveler, the Polish government made the decision to build two twin modern motor ships: MS Piłsudski and MS Batory.
The Beginnings
Of MS Piłsudski
The independent Poland saw the emergence of a new kind of passenger, the sophisticated tourist with new expectations of seafaring standards. This prompted a decision to build two modern ocean liners: MS Piłsudski oraz MS Batory.
MS Piłsudski under construction in the CRDA Monfalcone shipyard;
from the collections of the National Maritime Museum of Poland in Gdańsk
The Contract with Italy
Contract Details
In 1932 The Supervisory Board of the Polish Transatlantic Shipping Society (PTTO) began working on building the ships and choosing their builder. Within a year a decision to place the order was made based on a thorough analysis of 18 modern transatlantic liners in service and bids from 5 shipbuilders.
On November 29, 1933, the contract to build two Polish passenger motor ships was signed. The Monfalcone shipyard had offered a winning bid and the fact that CRDA had built a beautiful, technologically advanced ship Victoria, in service at the time, made it still more attractive.
The contract stipulated building two identical two-screw passenger/cargo ships measuring 531 feet in length and 70.9 feet in beam, with the draft of about 25 feet, and the tonnage of 14,287 GRT. Nicolo Constanzi became the Designer in Chief.
The building of the new liners was to be supervised by Lloyd’s Register of Shipping in accordance with the highest safety class which included ice reinforcements. The liners were to achieve the speed of 20 knots, and the first one was to be completed within 20 months.
Coal for Ships
The Polish Government negotiated a barter form of payment. Poland was to supply coal for the Italian Railroad System. Both ships were valued at 69 million Italian Liras, the equivalent of 1,6 million tons of coal.
69 mln lirów
1,6 mln ton węgla
transatlantyki MS Piłsudski i MS Batory
Coal for Ships
This barter transaction turned out to be unfavorable for Poland. The Contract included the so called ‘gold clause’ which defined the value of 100 Italian Liras as equivalent to ca 5 grams of gold.
This stipulation guaranteed the Italians a fixed price for the ships. However, due to the currency rate fluctuations the final price for the ships increased by almost 19 million Liras, which Poland had to pay with additional coal shipments.
69 million Liras
the currency exchange rate fluctuation:
18 899 563 Liras
Laying of the keel for MS Piłsudski, March 17, 1934;
from the collection of The National Digital Archive of Poland
The Beginning of the Construction
On March 1, 1934, the keel of the first of the twin ships was laid. This marked the beginning of the transatlantic liner MS Piłsudski’s history.
MS Piłsudski on May 25, 1934;
from the private collection of Jerzy Drzemczewski
An International Enterprise
Besides the Monfalcone Shipyard, many other subcontractors were engaged in building MS Piłsudski, including Sulzer of Switzerland which provided the parts for the main engines.
Siemens of Germany supplied distribution boardrooms and various electrical components; Great Britain delivered the steering engine, screw propellers, pumps and auxiliary machinery; the US supplied navigational instruments (gyrocompass), firefighting equipment, and kitchen equipment. The sheet metal for the shell plating and most of the structural elements came from Austria and Czechoslovakia.
Data by: Grzegorz Rogowski,
„Pod polską banderą” (Under the Polish Flag),
MUZA S.A., Warszawa, 2015
Construction by Numbers
The hull of MS Piłsudski:
5200 tons
200 tons
electrical
installations
200 tons
spare
parts
230 tons
timber/wood
270 tons
paints,
cement
and insulation
materials
300 tons
piping
700 tons
equipment
1100 tons
passenger
equipment
1800 ton
propulsion
engines
Building the ship
The shipbuilding industry in the reborn Poland was still in infancy and so the construction of the new twin ships was entrusted to the Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico (CRDA) Monfalcone Shipyard in Trieste, Italy. The contract to build the ships was signed on November 29, 1933.
The Launching of MS Piłsudski, December 19, 1934;
from the collections of the National Maritime Museum of Poland in Gdańsk
MS Piłsudski in full ceremonial colors during the launch
in the Port of Monfalcone, December 19, 1934; from the collection
of the National Digital Archive of Poland
She will be
called Piłsudski
The Launching ceremony began at 8 AM, on December 19, 1934. Thousands watched the ceremony of naming the ship celebrated by Wanda Pełczyńska. MS Piłsudski sailed into the fitting basin and was boarded by architects and the finishing crews.
Maria Pełczyńska, the Godmother of MS Piłsudski, the Courier of the First Brigade of the Polish Legions, member of Józef Piłsudski’s Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government (BBWR), Member of the Polish Parliament in 1935-1938.
MS Piłsudski Launching Ceremony, December 19, 1934;
a photograph from the collection of the National Digital Archive of Poland
The Formal Reception
Following the launching, the guests were invited to an official reception given by the Management of the Monfalcone Shipyard.
A Commemorative Medal of MS Pilsudski Launching Ceremony.
‘Across the sea and into the heyday of Poland. MS Piłsudski’;
an exhibit from the collections of the National Maritime Museum of Poland in Gdańsk
The Commemorative Medallion
Gdynia Ameryka Linie Żeglugowe (GAL), the Polish shipowner, issued a special commemorative medallion celebrating the launching of MS Piłsudski which was presented to all the participants of this joyful event. The medallion was designed by two Polish artists: Wojciech Jastrzębowski and Antoni Kenar.
An elevator operator by the portrait of Józef Piłsudski;
from the private collection of the Wójcikiewicz family.
Patron of the Ship
The ship was named after a truly unique man in Poland’s history, a statesman and an icon of the fight for independence. Józef Piłsudski (1867-1935) was the First Marshal of the reborn Republic of Poland, the Supreme Commander of the victorious armed forces defending Western Europe against the Bolsheviks in 1920, and the builder of a modern state.
The Piłsudski brothers as members of the covert self-education
circle „Spójnia” (The Bond). Piłsudski (the second from the right) and his
olderbrother Bronisław (third from the right); the photograph from the collections
of the National Digital Archive of Poland.
Ziuk
Ziuk, as the little Piłsudski was called, grew up under the Russian rule in a patriotic atmosphere of his family home. His father, Józef Wincenty, was the Commissioner of the National Government for the Żmudź region. His mother, Maria nee Billewicz, instilled in her children the love for Polish literature and history, and strong resistance against Russification. She was the greatest influence on Ziuk.
The Russian arrest warrant for the 19-year old Józef Piłsudski;
the photograph from the Wikimedia collections
Exile to Siberia
At the age of 20, Piłsudski got involved in the clandestine work by his brother Bronisław. This led to his arrest and exile to Siberia for 5 years for his help to the conspirators plotting a coup against the Tsar. During his exile in Siberia, Piłsudski met many veterans of the January Insurgency, activists of the independence movement, and socialists, which influenced his political views.
Józef Piłsudski as an activist of the Polish Socialist Party (PPS);
the photograph from the collections of Wikimedia
Wiktor, the Conspirator
Following his 5 years in exile, Piłsudski started working for the Polish Socialist Party (PPS). He quickly became a leading party activist and, as Wiktor, he headed the Combat Department of the PPS. He continued his conspiratorial work for a modern independent Poland. He planned to create an armed force that would make the fight for an independent Poland a success.
Józef Piłsudski, The Commandant, with the Polish Legions on
the Banks of the Styr River on the Eastern Front;from the collections of
the National Digital Archive of Poland.
The Commandant
Piłsudski had co-founded The Union of Active Struggle and its legal front organizations: The Riflemen’s Association in Lwów, more commonly known in a plural form as The Riflemen’s Associations, of which Strzelec (The Rifleman) in Kraków was among the most renowned. This was a paramilitary educational unit that trained the future Polish military cadres. Piłsudski also founded the Polski Skarb Wojskowy (Polish Military Treasury), a pro-independence organization tasked with raising funds to support paramilitary organizations active in Galicia.
In 1912, The Temporary Coordinating Commission of The Confederated Independence Parties nominated Piłsudski The Chief Commandant of The Polish Armed Forces. The title stuck to him for a long time.
Brygadier Piłsudski (sitting in the middle) in the company
of the officers of the First Brigade of the Polish Legions, Volhynia, 1916;
from the collections of the National Digital Archive of Poland
The Polish Legions
On August 6, 1914, Józef Piłsudski lead his Polish military formation, the First Cadre Company out of Cracow to start a military uprising in the Kingdom of Poland occupied by Russia.
These plans have failed and Piłsudski merged his units with the Polish Legions and became the commander of the legendary First Brigade. While leading the Legions in the fights, he gained a great authority among his soldiers and faithful supporters. The legend kept growing around him.
Józef Piłsudski, Kazimierz Sosnkowski and an officer
of the German Army, Schlossmann, walking at the grounds
of the Magedburg Fortress, 1918; from the collection
of the National Digital Archive of Poland.
Internment in Magdeburg
In 1917, Piłsudski made an important political choice: he severed his ties with Germany and Austria-Hungary, creating the so called Oath Crisis. He forbade his Legionnaires to swear a loyalty oath to foreign powers. This led to the internment of many members of the Polish Legions and the imprisonment of Piłsudski and his Chief of Staff, Kazimierz Sosnkowski, by the Germans at the Magdeburg Fortress.
Józef Piłsudski, The Head of State, reviewing troops
of Greater Poland in the courtyard of the Imperial Castle in Poznań, 1919;
from the collections of the National Digital Archive of Poland.
The Commander-In-Chief
of the Polish Armed Forces
Józef Piłsudski returned to Warsaw on November 10, 1918, as the legendary Commandant of the First Brigade who defied the Austrians and was imprisoned by the Germans.
On November 11, 1918, the Regency Council appointed Piłsudski Commander-In-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces, and a few days later entrusted him with creating the national government head of civil government. On November 16, Piłsudski sent from the Warsaw Citadel a wire to the governments of the USA, UK, France, Italy, Japan, Germany, and all waring and neutral countries, proclaiming the creation of the State of Poland.
Józef Piłsudski, The Chief of State – a photo
portrait 1918-1922; from the collection
of the National Digital Archive of Poland.
The Head of State
On November 18, 1918, Piłsudski appointed the government of Jędrzej Moraczewski. On November 22, he took the title of the Provisional Chief of State, maintaining the Supreme Command of the Polish Armed Forces. Piłsudski ordered elections to the Sejm which took place in January 1919. The deputies of the Legislative Sejm appointed Piłsudski The Chief of State.
Józef Piłsudski and Edward Rydz-Śmigły
during the Polish-Soviet War; from the collection of
the National Digital Archive of Poland.
Vanquisher of the Bolsheviks
Since February of 1919, The Second Polish Republic was at war with the Bolshevik Russia and the Soviet Ukraine. In 1920, the Polish Army counteroffensive from the Wieprz River, under the command of Piłsudski, caused the Red Army to retreat from Warsaw. In 1921, the delegates of Poland, the Bolshevik Russia, and the Soviet Ukraine signed the Peace Treaty in Riga. The Treaty established the Polish Soviet borders but at the same time erased the idea of a federation and the chance for the creation of an independent Ukraine allied with Poland.
Marshal Józef Piłsudski at Plac Zamkowy (The Castle Square) after
he was given the marshal’s baton; Warsaw, 1920; from the collection
of the National Digital Archive of Poland.
The Marshal
For the victory in the war with the Bolshevik Russia, Piłsudski was honored with the military rank of Marshal of Poland. He received the marshal’s baton on November 14, 1920.
Józef Piłsudski’s Name Day celebration in Sulejówek:
Józef Piłsudski sitting (second from the right) in front of
the house, surrounded by guests and his daughters; from the collection
of the National Digital Archive of Poland.
The Sulejówek Period
In 1923 Piłsudski withdrew from political life and moved with his wife and their two daughters to his country estate house Milusin in Sulejówek, gifted to him by his soldiers. There, Piłsudski was frequently meeting with his fellow legionnaires and former colleagues who wanted to show him their devotion. When not writing or traveling with his lectures, Piłsudski devoted all his time to his family, while continuously watching closely the political situation in Poland and internationally.
Marshal Józef Piłsudski (4th from the left), surrounded by officers
on the Poniatowski Bridge, heading to a meeting with
the Mayor of Warsaw, Stanisław Wojciechowski; Warsaw, 1926;
from the collections of the National Digital Archive of Poland.
The May Coup
A series of government crises in 1925-26, with the increasing political instability and worsening economic condition of the country, prompted Piłsudski to return to power in a coup d’etat of May 12-14 that took 379 lives and left more than 900 injured.
On May 15, 1926, Piłsudski became the Minister of Military Affairs. On August 27, he was appointed the General Inspector of the Armed Forces.
The indicted, from the right, standing: Kazimierz Bagiński,
Wincenty Witos (the former Prime Minister), and Herman Lieberman,
on a break during the Brest Trial, 1931-1932; from the collections of
the National Digital Archive of Poland.
Controversial Decisions
Piłsudski headed the Polish government twice: from October 2, 1926, to June 25, 1928, and again, from August 25 to December 4, 1930. Still, his internal opponents were many. The deepening conflict between the ruling Piłsudski block and the coalition of the centrist and left-wing parties, Centrolew, directed against Piłsudski and aiming at overthrowing the authoritarian Sanation government he personified, made Piłsudski order arrests of some of the opposition leaders. They were imprisoned in the Brest Fortress and later tried for treason. Some were convicted.
Józef Piłsudski, Marshal of Poland, in his study at work;
from the collection of the National Digital Archive of Poland.
The April
Constitution
The Marshal insisted on a political reform that would fundamentally enhance presidential powers while limiting the role of the Parliament. The new Constitution was adopted in April of 1935.
Józef Piłsudski’s funeral ceremony; the coffin on the train platform
at the Warsaw Pole Mokotowskie Common, Warsaw, 1935;
from the collections of the National Digital Archive of Poland.
The Funeral
Józef Piłsudski died on May 12, 1935 at the Belweder Palace in Warsaw. The funeral ceremony turned into a great celebration of Piłsudski’s life and became a building block of his legend. He was buried in the crypt of St. Leonard and his heart was enshrined in his mother’s grave in the Cmentarz na Rossie (Rasos Cemetery) in Wilno (Vilnius).
Marshal Piłsudski in conversation with the generals during
the Cavalry Day celebrations in Kraków, 1933; from the collections
of the National Digital Archive of Poland.
The Legend
The legacy of Marshal Piłsudski places him in the pantheon of the all-time greats of Poland. His political dexterity and vision was instrumental in Poland’s regaining independence and in successful social and economic policies during the Second Polish Republic. Even though the difficult decisions since 1926 subjected Piłsudski to criticism, harsh judgment, and hostile attitudes, he is continuously regarded as a great patriot and has a lasting place in history among the most recognized Poles in Polish history.
days later, the scaffolding was removed and the freshly painted hull of the MS Piłsudski was festively decorated.
The Launch
The ship was ready for launching on December 19, 1934. During the official ceremony, the godmother of the ship, Wanda Pełczyńska, named it after Józef Piłsudski, the First Marshall of Poland. Thousands of Poles participated in the celebrations through a direct Polish Radio broadcast.
A fragment of the film Fiesta Cruises to the Caribbean;
from the collections of the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute of Poland
Finishing work on MS Piłsudski: The Grand Parlor;
from the collections of the Archive of the Polish Academy of Sciences,
collection of Lech Niemojewski
Finishing Works
After the naming ceremony, the ship was towed to the shipyard’s wharf, where the equipping and decorating work continued.
A fragment of the film Fiesta Cruises to the Caribbean;
from the collections of the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute of Poland
First Trials
The sea trials began on August 4, 1935. They were conducted in the Gulf of Trieste, along the Island of Cherso and continued for 14 days. They included testing the speed at various levels of load and the use of fuel at various speeds, and yielded very good results. The ship reached the speed of above 21 knots, exceeding the contractual 20 knots. Steering and maneuverability also turned out satisfactory.
A fragment of the film Fiesta Cruises to the Caribbean;
from the collections of the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute of Poland
kpt. Mamert Stankiewicz
GAL Takes Possession
of the Ship
On behalf of GAL, the sea trials of MS Piłsudski were supervised by the Special Commission headed by Bolesław Bagniewski, Ministerial Counsel, with Martin Petersen, GAL’s inspector, T. Graham, the English Advisor, Mamert Stankiewicz, Captain of the Ship, and Władysław Milewski, the First Mechanic, who got involved in the construction process as early as April, 1934. The Commission certified positive results of the sea trials.
The Officer in the MS Piłsudski engine room; an excerpt of
the film The Piłsudski Ocean Ship; from the collections of
the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute of Poland
The Crew
Onboard
Stepping onboard of MS Piłsudski for the first time was a long-awaited, thrilling moment for her entire crew eager to get acquainted with the state-of-the-art equipment of their new ship.
Sea Trials
Seven months later, fully equipped, MS Piłsudski started her 14-day sea trials which came out entirely satisfactory. Then, her Polish owner, Gdynia-America Line (GAL) began preparations for her maiden voyage.
The Engine Room; an excerpt of the film Fiesta Cruises to the Caribbean;
from the collections of the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute of Poland
The Bridge; The photo from the private
collection of Jerzy Drzemczewski
A Masterpiece of Technology
The Italian shipbuilders were also delighting in their creation in the brochures describing technological innovations of the ship.
The ship was equipped with the state-of-the-art navigational and steering devices, including the Sperry gyroscope-guided autopilot steering system and the underwater obstacles finding apparatus.
MS Piłsudski during her voyage;
from the private collection of Grzegorz Rogowski
General Characteristics of the Ship
| tonnage |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
|
14,294 GRT / 8,168 RT |
| deadweight |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
|
5 560 t |
| length |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
|
162 m (531 ft) |
| beam |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
|
21.6 m (71 ft) |
| draft |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
|
7.5 m (24.6 ft) |
| propulsion |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
|
two 9-cylinder diesel engines driving two screws |
| total output |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
|
12,680 HP |
| cruising speed |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
|
18 knots |
| class |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
|
100A1 (1935) |
| crew |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
|
about 300 |
| passengers |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
|
773 |
| passenger cabins |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
|
318 |
| decks |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
|
7 |
| holds (partly refrigerated) |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
|
4 (5600 m³) |
| garages |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
|
1818 |
* Derived from: Jerzy Drzemczewski, M/s Piłsudski, the Pride of the Polish Republic, Porta Mare, Gdynia, 2015
Inside the engine room; from the private
collection of Jerzy Drzemczewski
The Heart of the Ship
The ship was powered by two 9-cylinder diesel engines type 9 SD 72 with total output of 12,500 HP. They were built by Fabrica Machina St. Andrea in Trieste under license by Sulzer. They allowed Piłsudski to cruise at 18 knots.
Closing the water-tight bulkheads on MS Piłsudski;
an excerpt from the film The Piłsudski Ocean Ship; from the collections
of the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute of Poland
Safety and
Spaciousness
MS Piłsudski had 7 decks. The four on the lower level were separated by 11 water-tight bulkheads. They housed four partially refrigerated cargo holds and a garage for 18 automobiles. Passengers safety was guarded by 9 water-tight bulkheads and 14 lifeboats, two of which were powered and equipped with radio stations.
MS Piłsudski Deck Plans Brochure, West Indies Cruises;
from the private collection of Grzegorz Rogowski
- Sun Deck
- Lifeboat Deck
- Promenade Deck
- Deck A
- Deck B
- Deck C
- Deck D
At the top of the ship was a Sun Deck and the Bridge, Captain’s cabin and other officers’ cabins, accommodations for passengers’ pets, and a separate space for sporting games.
On the lower Lifeboat Deck, apart from 12 lifeboats, the most luxurious cabins for the tourist class passengers were located. There was a radio-telephone booth, a veranda with a tourist class smoking room and a bar, plus a space for deck games furnished with deck chairs.
The Promenade Deck contained the tourist class Grand Parlor, the library, the women’s drawing room, a veranda, a playroom for the tourist class passengers’ children, a smoking room for the third class passengers, and, most importantly, the Promenade Deck, partly shaded, with two motor boats at its end. A separate space with deck chairs was assigned for enthusiasts of sun bathing.
Deck A housed both dining rooms: for the tourist class and the third class; the main foyer, offices of the manager and the senior steward, a store, a spa and a hairdresser salon, the third class passengers’ parlor, the playground for children of the third class passengers as well as an assembly of kitchens and pantries.
Deck B included a ship-long crew corridor, referred to by the crew members as Port Street: the crew’s busiest area. Apart from passenger cabins located mostly on the port side of the ship, it housed a crew kitchen, an officers and the crew dining room, a bakery, a pastry shop, a clinic with a hospital, a printing press room, the laundry room, the crew’s office, and the fire station.
More passenger cabins were located on Deck C, along with the crew cabins, a storage room and a freezer for provisions.
Deck D featured a swimming pool and a well-equipped passengers’ gym. There were a few crew cabins there, too. The remainder of Deck D was taken by tech rooms, a garage, and cargo holds.
A Structural
Marvel
The Piłsudski crew, most of whom had worked on steam ships Polonia, Kościuszko, and Pułaski, were delighted and impressed with the structural innovations and working conditions of the new motor ship. GAL, the owner, had words of recognition and appreciation for the Italian shipbuilders. Italian press called the ship a masterpiece of technology and engineering!
An excerpt from the film Pictorial Story of the Maiden Voyage of the MS Piłsudski;
from the collections of the National Film Archive—Audiovisual Institute of Poland
Derived from: Grzegorz Rogowski; Under the Polish Flag;
publisher: MUZA S.A., Warsaw, 2015
Preparations For the Voyage
As soon as the MS Piłsudski crew boarded the ship, they started preparations for the maiden voyage. The train from Poland brought carloads of accessories and fittings: bedding, furniture, carpets, dishes, platters, silverware, kitchen equipment, all of which were distributed throughout the ship and arranged before the inaugural sea adventure.
Welcome to Venice
Venice was the first port of entry for the MS Piłsudski, followed by Palermo, Algier, Lisbon, and Antwerp, before Piłsudski finally reached her destination of the Port of Gdynia.
The Route of Piłsudski’s Maiden Voyage
Derived from: Jerzy Drzemczewski, MS Piłsudski,
the Pride of the Polish Republic, Porta Mare, Gdynia, 2015
Derived from: Jerzy Drzemczewski, MS Piłsudski,
the Pride of the Polish Republic, Porta Mare, Gdynia, 2015
The Lucky Ones
Onboard
The Polish passengers, who wanted to take part in Piłsudski’s maiden voyage, arrived in Italy by a special train from Katowice, Poland. The lucky travelers were mostly members of the financial and industrial elites, cultural celebrities, and officials involved in the construction of the most advanced and largest Polish ship.
5
102
10
66
13
43
15
49
25
2
410
The Orchestra Greeting MS Piłsudski Entering the Port of Gdynia;
an excerpt from a newsreel from the collections of the National
Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute of Poland
The Welcoming
Crowds in Gdynia
The colorful and entertaining maiden voyage of MS Piłsudski ended in Gdynia at 11 AM, September 12, 1935. The ship was cheered by a crowd of about 30 thousand enthusiasts coming from all over Poland to see and greet the magnificent Polish motor ship. An orchestra performed the national anthem and the battle hymn of the First Brigade of the Polish Legions.
The Train Leaving the Seaport Station;
from the collections of the National Library of Poland
Trains for the Piłsudski Passengers
For the convenience of passengers of the maiden voyage, and to avoid the squeeze of the cheering crowds, special trains were awaiting passengers at the Seaport Station. GAL presented every passenger with a maiden voyage medal.
People greeting MS Piłsudski from the roof of the Gdynia Seaport Station;
from the collections of the National Library of Poland
Festival of Joy
Up until the Pride of Poland, as the ship was called by the press, embarked on her voyage to New York, a three-day festivities continued in Gdynia with thousands participating in this display of joy. The Polish State Railways offered discounted fares to thousands-strong members of Maritime and Colonial League from all over the country who wished to celebrate MS Piłsudski’s arrival and see this largest and fastest ship on the Baltic.
Maiden Voyage
MS Piłsudski started her maritime adventure on August 27, 1935 with a cruise from the Italian port of Trieste to Gdynia, Poland, with 738 passengers onboard. On September 12 at 11 AM, the ocean liner was greeted in Gdynia by a crowd of thirty thousand people who traveled from all over Poland to see and celebrate the magnificent Polish motor ship.
Flag consecration ceremony on MS Piłsudski; an excerpt from
the film Pictorial Story of the Maiden Voyage of the MS Piłsudski; from the
collections of the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute of Poland
The Crowd At the Gdynia Seaport Station Awaitng the Arrival
of MS Piłsudski In the Port of Gdynia; from the collections
of the National Maritime Museum of Poland
The Re-Entry
MS Piłsudski’s entry to the Port of Gdynia was greeted with fervor and joy. The official welcoming of the ship, however, was celebrated only 3 days later. This was caused by the concurrent elections. During that time the ship was cleaned, provisioned, and her interior was adapted for receiving delegations arriving from different parts of Poland. Parlors and bars were fitted with arrows, lines and plates outlining the direction of the sightseeing visit.
MS Piłsudski in full ceremonial colors piloted by
the tug boat Bizon entering the Port of Gdynia; from the collections
of the National Digital Archive of Poland
The Re-Entry
In the Morning of September 14, 1935, the Ocean Liner, berthing already for 3 days, had to leave the Port only to reenter it in full ceremonial colors just a few hours later, cheered by the horns of the ships moored in the port, and this time – to officially moor in the port.
MS Piłsudski entering the Port of Gdynia;
from the collections of the National Library of Poland
A narrowly avoided disaster
Had it not been for the ship’s captain, Mamert Stankiewicz’s vigilance, the ceremony might have ended in a disaster. The account of the 2nd Officer on the watch duty at the time, Olgierd Borchardt: the main engine malfunctioned and remained irresponsive to the engine control command “full speed astern” during the mooring maneuver. The ship was saved from collision by the captain’s swift command to drop both anchors, masterfully executed. Half an hour later, most of the embarking guests were unaware of how grave the situation had been.
An official delivery of the urn with the soil of Madeira,
where Józef Piłsudski had spent a few months in 1930-31;
from the private collection of the Wójcikiewicz family.
Solemn
welcome
The official guests took part in the mass celebrated on the Sun Deck. The ceremony included an official delivery of the urn containing the soil of the Island of Madeira where Józef Piłsudski had spent time recovering from his illness. The consecrated flag was raised to the sounds of the national anthem of Poland. After a celebratory breakfast, other guests were invited onboard.
Kurjer Morski, Nr 7 of 09.24.1935; from the collections
of the National Maritime Museum of Poland in Gdańsk
The Fastest
On the Baltic
On the following day, September 15, 1935, the ship embarked on her voyage to New York, and the Marshal’s name was to pay tribute to Poland at sea. The shipowner hailed MS Piłsudski as the largest and technologically most advanced ship ever to fly the Polish flag, and the fastest tourist class ship on the Baltic and the latest in modern shipbuilding technology.
Raising of
the Flag
The ceremony of the flag raising on MS Piłsudski took place three days after she entered the Port of Gdynia. It started with a Holly Mass concelebrated by the maritime bishop Dr. Stanisław Okoniewski who consecrated the flag prior to its raising performed by the ship’s captain Mamert Stankiewicz and her First Officer Jan Gottschalk.