After the Russian defeat in the Battle of Tsushima , Wołkowicki , together with a group of younger officers disagreed with Admiral Nebogatov , who wanted to capitulate . During a meeting , he claimed that they should fight to the end , then blow up the ship and escape . These words spread across the nation , Wołkowicki was later awarded with Order of St. George , and he became a national hero of Russia . His attitude was described by Alexey Novikov-Priboy , a Russian marine writer . Some historians , such as George Sanford speculate that Wołkowicki 's fame saved him in 1940 , during the Katyn massacre
Katyn massacre
Katyn massacre
Jerzy Wołkowicki