On the basis of available publications and patent descriptions it was possible to put together facts related to the beginnings of submerged arc welding in Poland and worldwide. The overview of reference publications confirms the information according to which the authorship of welding under a flux layer providing a metallurgical shield for the welding zone should be ascribed to D.A. Dulczewskij, whose patent was published in 1929. The article presents the issues of the first research, structural and implementation works connected with submerged arc welding and surfacing carried out at Instytut Spawalnictwa in early 1950s.