S.M.S. Cracovia

The Free City of Krakow (popularly called the Republic of Krakow) was abolished and annexed by the Austrian Empire in 1846 AD after three decades of limited autonomy, mixed with prior Austrian occupation. Three failed Polish rebellions, the dissolution of Krakower autonomy and full integration of the Congress Kingdom of Poland into the Russian Empire dissilusioned many Poles still living on their ancestral lands. However, there were visionary individuals and vigorous entrepreneurs, who took advantage of the situation - created industries, founded schools, wrote literature, all preserving and strengthening Polish culture and identity without bloodshed.

Such were the people of Krakow and the Polish-speaking part of Galicia, a province and kingdom within the Austrian Empire. The Empire itself was in a favourable mood - national tensions relaxed after the introduction of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867. All this allowed for unrestricted funding and construction of a vessel that would become a symbol of national pride - the steam frigate "Cracovia", built in 1869 and introduced into service in the Imperial and Royal Navy in 1870. While serving the Austrian Emperor, the frigate was designed by Polish engineers (albeit with French advisory help), and built in rapidly developing Polish-owned steel mills around Krakow itself. 

Decommissioned in 1879, it became a stationary coal hulk on the Vistula river by 1882. However, it was still remembered as one of the first airships to be built by a landlocked nation, without prior knowledge of shipbuilding.

- - Pencil, B5 paper.