Siege of Danzig
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The Siege of Danzig refers to the siege of the city of Danzig (Gdańsk) by Russian forces during the War of Polish Succession (1733-1738).
In February 1734, the joint Russian and Saxon forces laid siege to the city, where the Polish king Stanislas Leszczynski had fled after the Russian capture of Warsaw, and after failing to find support in Poland. After 135 days, the fortress surrendered in June 1734, forcing Stanislas to flee to Königsberg (now Kaliningrad). The city had suffered heavy damage and had to pay contributions.
The siege started in earnest on February 22, 1734, when a Russian army of 20,000 under Peter Lacy, after proclaiming August III the Saxon at Warsaw, proceeded to besiege Stanisław at Danzig, where he was entrenched with his partisans (including the Primate and the French and Swedish ministers) to await the relief that had been promised by France.
On March 17, 1734, Marshal Münnich superseded Peter Lacy, and on May 20 the long-expected French fleet appeared and disembarked 2,400 men on Westerplatte. A week later, this little army gallantly attempted to force the Russian entrenchments, but, failing to do so, and following the arrival of a Russian fleet under admiral Thomas Gordon on June 1 was finally compelled to surrender. This was the first time that France and Russia had met as foes in the field. On June 30, Danzig capitulated unconditionally, after sustaining a siege of 135 days which cost the Russians 8,000 men[citation needed].
Disguised as a peasant, Stanisław had contrived to escape two days before. He reappeared at Königsberg, whence he issued a manifesto to his partisans which resulted in the formation of a confederation on his behalf, and the despatch of a Polish envoy to Paris to urge France to invade Saxony with at least 40,000 men. In Ukraine too, Count Nicholas Potocki kept on foot to support Stanisław a motley host of 50,000 men, which was ultimately scattered by the Russians.
