Romanian Bridgehead
On the 14th of September 1939, Marshal of Poland Edward Rydz-Śmigły issued a directive that reshaped the fate of his nation. He ordered all Polish troops fighting east of the Vistula River to move toward Lwów and then to the hills along the borders with Romania and the Soviet Union. Approximately 20 divisions still retained the ability to co-operate during this chaotic retreat. The plan assumed these forces could organize a successful defense until winter arrived. Natural lines of defense included the hills, valleys, swamps, and rivers Stryj and Dniester. These geographical features were intended to block the Nazi German advance into the region. Many ammunition dumps prepared for the third wave of Polish troops sat within this area. Transport links connected the zone to the Romanian port of Constanța for resupply operations.
The early hours of the 17th of September brought a sudden shift in the conflict dynamics. The Red Army invaded Poland from the east, violating their non-aggression pact with Warsaw. This action sealed the fate of the planned defensive line before it could fully form. Communications had become disrupted by the time the order reached smaller units. Some smaller groups crossed outside the major battles despite the chaos. The intervention by the Red Army created a two-front war that doomed the strategy. Fragmented Polish units attempted to push southward but achieved only limited success. They started diversionary skirmishes which slowed the Germans temporarily. The Polish defeat at the Battle of Lwów disintegrated efforts to clear a path to the bridgehead.
As many as 120,000 Polish troops withdrew through the Romanian Bridgehead area to neutral Romania and Hungary. Most of those soldiers joined the newly-formed Polish Armed Forces in France and the United Kingdom during 1939 and 1940. Until Germany attacked the Soviet Union during Operation Barbarossa, the Polish Army remained one of the largest forces of the Allies. Units launched new counteroffensives in attempts to clear paths toward the border. Kraków Army fought in the Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski to open routes. Some of Kazimierz Sosnkowski's units managed to evade German capture and continued fighting in Lwów. Others were stopped and captured by Soviet armored units. Many small groups of Polish soldiers crossed the border at night to escape encirclement.
The Romanian government received the treasury of the National Bank of Poland in 1939. Part of it consisted of 1,261 crates containing 82,403 kg of gold. This cargo was loaded aboard a commercial ship in the port of Constanța for transport to Western Europe. The transport was escorted by ships of the Romanian Navy to prevent interception by Soviet submarines in the Black Sea. The second part of the treasury was deposited in the National Bank of Romania. Authorities returned this portion to Poland on the 17th of September 1947. The operation prevented seizure of national assets by Axis powers during the invasion.
Poland chose not to activate its formal alliance with Romania despite existing treaties. Poland and Romania had been allied since 1921, and the defensive pact remained valid by 1939. The Polish government decided that having a safe haven in Romania offered more value than immediate war. They prioritized keeping the port of Constanța open for Allied merchant ships. Most of the Polish Navy and merchant marine had been evacuated prior to the 1st of September under the Peking Plan. These vessels operated from French and British ports to deliver supplies through Romania. The decision allowed the nation to maintain a refuge rather than risk immediate conflict with Germany.
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Common questions
What directive did Marshal Edward Rydz-Śmigły issue on the 14th of September 1939 regarding Polish troops?
Marshal Edward Rydz-Śmigły ordered all Polish troops fighting east of the Vistula River to move toward Lwów and then to the hills along the borders with Romania and the Soviet Union. This directive aimed to organize a successful defense until winter arrived using natural lines like the Stryj and Dniester rivers.
How did the Red Army invasion affect the Romanian Bridgehead strategy in September 1939?
The Red Army invaded Poland from the east on the 17th of September 1939, violating their non-aggression pact with Warsaw. This action sealed the fate of the planned defensive line before it could fully form and created a two-front war that doomed the strategy.
Where did approximately 120,000 Polish troops withdraw during the Romanian Bridgehead operation?
Approximately 120,000 Polish troops withdrew through the Romanian Bridgehead area to neutral Romania and Hungary. Most of those soldiers joined the newly-formed Polish Armed Forces in France and the United Kingdom during 1939 and 1940.
What happened to the gold treasury transported from Poland to Constanța in 1939?
Part of the National Bank of Poland treasury consisting of 82,403 kg of gold was loaded aboard a commercial ship in the port of Constanța for transport to Western Europe. The second part of the treasury was deposited in the National Bank of Romania and returned to Poland on the 17th of September 1947.
Why did Poland choose not to activate its formal alliance with Romania despite existing treaties in 1939?
Poland chose not to activate its formal alliance with Romania because having a safe haven offered more value than immediate war. The decision prioritized keeping the port of Constanța open for Allied merchant ships rather than risking conflict with Germany.