Battle of Oliwa
Contemporary print by Philip Janssen, made in February 1628
| date | November 28, 1627 |
|---|---|
| place | Roads of Danzig |
| output | Polish victory |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
|
Arend Dickmann † |
Niels Göranson Stiernsköld † |
| Troop strength | |
| 10 ships with 179 guns | 6 ships with 140 cannons |
| losses | |
|
Unknown |
1 ship captured, 1 ship sunk |
The naval battle of Oliva was a skirmish between Swedish and Royal Polish ships that took place on November 28, 1627 in the roadstead of Danzig . It was supposed to break the Swedish blockade of Danzig. This victory has great significance in the Polish national consciousness.
background
After the Swedish Diet had dethroned King Sigismund III and instead appointed his uncle, the Grand Duke of Finland as Swedish King Charles IX , Sigismund III tried to get this throne back. These throne disputes, however, had a longer history and a deeper background. On the one hand, Sigismund III was of the Catholic faith and promoted it intensively in Protestant Sweden, and on the other hand, he was also the elected Polish king. Thus there was a double front position between Sweden and Poland and this was reinforced by the opposing camps in Europe. On the one hand the Catholic camp under Spanish-Habsburg leadership and on the other hand the Protestant and Calvinist camp with Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, England and Catholic France.
Other interests clashed in the Baltic Sea , but they contradicted the general European weather situation. Once the Dutch had a strong interest in being able to trade in natural products from the Baltic States undisturbed here. Grain export from Poland via Gdansk, Riga and other ports was the so-called “Moederhandel” of Amsterdam . On the other hand, Protestant Sweden wanted control over precisely this trade and the tax revenues and customs duties arising from it. The sound tariff was particularly popular. But Denmark, which was also Protestant, had that under its control. Russia claimed parts of Lithuania from Poland and at the same time had to defend itself against Sweden's access to the Baltic States, which conquered Russia's Baltic accesses.
The course of the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire now combined European politics with the struggle for the Dominium maris Baltici . The oppressed Protestant estates tried with the help of Denmark to drive the Catholic League out of the north of the empire. They hoped for support from the Netherlands and England. The Catholic armies under Tilly and Wallenstein in turn offered the Polish side troop contingents in return for financial compensation and supplies.
prehistory
In the war between Sweden and Poland that had been raging since 1597, the Swedish side had made major land gains since Gustav II Adolf Wasa took office . After the conquest of Riga in 1621, they were able to advance to the mouth of the Vistula . The connection of the Swedish troops with the home was made by sea and was secured by the Swedish fleet. The famous Vasa was just built for this purpose . To break this connection and to break the blockade, the city of Gdansk organized various ships and commanders under the supervision of a Royal Polish Commission. These commanders hired the crews necessary for the ships entrusted to them.
In 1627 these vehicles became active in the conquest of the fortified place Putzig (Puck) in the Gdańsk Bay . The campaigns in May were less successful. The outbreak succeeded after a battle on May 17 at Hel and a day later at Łeba . But before the overwhelming strength of the Swedish ships, the broken-out vehicles fled to Kolberg . Since the Swedes did not lift the blockade, the Poles sailed back to Danzig. In doing so, they again had combat contact with Swedish units. At no point did it succeed in loosening the blockade in Danzig. Since then, the Gdańsk Bay has been blocked by Swedish ships. In addition, this year the blockade by the Swedes was maintained beyond the end of the shipping season. Both sides prepared for winter activities.
The battle
At the end of the shipping season, part of the Swedish blockade fleet sailed home, leaving only a squadron of six ships behind. These were located near Hel and thus blocked the access from the Gdańsk Bay and at the same time were protected from storms behind the headland.
Since the royal commission ordered an attack only if they were superior in their instructions, the opportunity was given. On November 26th, the two ships "Yellow Lion" and "Meerweib" were sent towards the Nehrung at sea. But since "St. Georgen ”and“ fire bladder ”got stuck when sailing, the first attempt failed. Instead, the Swedes were warned, who also set sail and shot at the two Polish ships that had run out. In the evening all Polish ships were overtaken again because of the overwhelming Swedish forces and the rising fog.
The whole of the following day was spent lightening all Polish ships and bringing them to sea from the estuary. They gathered in the roadstead and awaited the enemy. On the morning of the following day, November 28th, the “ König David ” was the third lead ship, first under sail towards the Spit. It was followed by the “St. George ”, as the Polish flagship with the Admiral, and then the“ Fliegende Hirsch ”and the“ Meerweib ”. Behind it, after the second lead ship “Meerman”, followed the other five Polish vehicles. The Polish ships ran before the wind and so had the windward side. Every captain of a ship took on an opponent of his rank. That is why the “St. Georgen ”towards the flagship“ Tigern ”and the“ Meerman ”towards the Swedish lead ship“ Solen ”. The Polish admiral Arendt Dickman, a native of the Netherlands, fired at the "Tigers" first with four bow guns and then with the entire broadside. Since the Swedish ship set course for the sea, the Polish flagship also had to change course in order to be able to board it. This got him out of leeward and on the starboard side of the Swedes. In the meantime the “Flying Deer” had overtaken the Admiral. The "Meerweib" lay down on the two stern and shot at the Swedish crew from there. At this point in time a fierce boarding battle was developing between the "George" and "Tigers". After the Swedes were driven from the upper deck of their ship and their flag was stolen from the top, they asked for quarters . This was granted to them and with it the ship was prize of the "Georgen".
However, the crew of the "Meerweib" had not recognized this and were now firing at their own people. This was not ended until Dickman called out. The crew of the "Flying Deer" was also wrong. First she shot at her own flagship and then moored at the "Meerweib" to board. The Swedish "Pelicanen" approached the "Georgen" with the idea of pinching them between themselves and the "Tigers". But she was shot at by Lee from "King David". The poles of the “St. Georgen ”were then called back to their ship to operate the guns. After they put two to three layers on the "Pelicans", the latter lowered the forward sail and set a white flag. She had suffered considerable damage and many losses due to the double loading of the "Georgen". But after realizing that no one was following her, she set sail and headed for the lake. Although she had closed the broadside gates, she shot the "Georgen" through the stern gate while it was still running. With the last shot she killed Admiral Dickman.
During this whole time the “Meermann” had headed straight for the “Solen” to turn them into a pinch. She also opened the battle with the bow guns. After only two or three layers, they lay down on the starboard side of the “Solen”. The guns continued to fire during the boarding battle. After the Polish marines were on the Sweden, the Swedish skipper with a pitch wreath and fuses disappeared below deck. The Polish captain recognized the danger and jumped back on his own ship with most of the boarding crew and 32 Swedes with him. The skipper lit the pitch wreath and jumped into the powder. After the ship exploded, the battle ended. The remaining Swedes turn to flee and are pursued by the previously uninvolved Polish ships to Hel.
Comparison of the fleets
| Polish ships | Cannons | Loads | captain | Swedish ships | Cannons | Loads | captain | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. George | ( Święty Jerzy ) | 31 | 200 | Johann Storch |
Tigers (tigers) |
22nd | 160 | Simon Stewart |
| Merman | ( Vodnik ) | 17th | 100 | Hermann Witte |
Brine (sun) |
38 | 150 | Alexander Forrath |
| King David | ( Król Dawid ) | 31 | 200 | Jacob Murray |
Pelicans (pelican) |
20th | 100 | [...] Fritz |
| Flying deer / the "Dane" | ( Latający Jeleń ) | 20th | 150 | Ellert Appelman |
Månen (moon) |
26th | 150 | NN |
| Arca Noë | ( Arka Noego ) | 16 | 90 | Magnus Wesman |
Enhörningen (unicorn) |
18th | 120 | NN |
| Mermaid | ( Panna Wodna ) | 12 | 80 | Adolf von Arzen |
Papagoyan (parrot) |
16 | 90 | |
| Yellow Lion / "Old Pincke" | (Żółty Lew) | 10 | 60 | Hans Kizer | ||||
| White Lion | ( Biały Lew ) | 8th | 100 | Peter Evil | ||||
| Fire bladder | ( Płomień ) | 18th | 120 | NN | ||||
| Black Raven | ( Czarny Kruk ) | 16 | 130 | Alexander Bley |
consequences
Due to the damage suffered in the battle, the Polish ships had to return to the roadstead of Danzig. The Polish ships chasing the Swedes also returned to Danzig according to the instructions given to them. The Swedish fleet only resumed the blockade in the spring. In the meantime four Polish ships went on a pirate voyage in the Baltic Sea. However, three ships were badly damaged by the winter storms and one vehicle did not return. After that there were no further activities until spring.
In 1628, a surprise attack by Swedish troops overland caused the ships "Gelber Löwe" and "St. Georg ”on the Vistula River, was destroyed by artillery. Until the armistice in 1629, no other significant events occurred.
Then the "King David" was sent to Wismar like most Polish ships and also the conquered Swedish pinch of "tigers". There they were made available to the Wallenstein fleet. None of the vehicles returned to Danzig, either they were seized by the Danes or Swedes, passed over to the enemy or were taken over by the Swedes in 1632 after the conquest of Wismar. Among them was the former Swedish ship "Tigern".
The victory of a Catholic power over Protestant opponents was used for its own purposes in contemporary journalism. Ludwig Camerarius is said to be the author of letters that are said to have been found on the conquered "tigers". It was assumed that Camerarius was known as the author of Protestant pamphlets against the Catholic side. It was now assumed that he should have expressed his views and abuse particularly clearly in these captured papers.
During the 20th century, this single victory by Polish ships at sea was used for national and nationalist propaganda. In the 1930s and 1950s in particular, numerous articles on the history of seafaring in the Kingdom of Poland appeared. The sea battle at Oliwa only became the subject of scientific work after the Second World War.
literature
- This was the case and the actual course of the tough meeting, so between Yr Königl: May: to Poland and Sweden from Hertzogs Gustavi Adolphi from South Germany Orlog's ships, in front of the Dantziger Reide, happened in the year 1627. On the first Sunday of Advent. Tandem bona causa triumphat. Danzig 1628. (Digitized version of the Pomorska Biblioteka Cyfrowa / Pomerania digital library)
- Viktor Fenrych: Akta i diariusz Królewskiej Komisji Okrętowej Zygmunta III z lat 1627–1628. (Księgi Floty Ojczystej 14; Akta do dziejów Polski na morzu 6). Gdańsk 2001, ISBN 83-87359-52-1 . (The files and the diary are in German. The accompanying texts are available in Polish and English.)
- Eugeniusz Koczorowski: Oliwa 1627. Warszawa 2001, ISBN 83-11-09449-7 .
- Adam Koperkiewicz: Sols . Gdańsk 1986, OCLC 823708224 .
- Eugeniusz Koczorowski: Flota polska. W latach 1587-1632 (German: The Polish Fleet 1587-1632 ), Warsaw (Wyd. Min. Obrony Narodowej) 1973.
Individual evidence
- ↑ The names of the ships are given here in German according to the sources. The Polish version in brackets.