As many as 1,500 objects were found at Westerplatte! “Exceptional objects”; “We can touch history”.

As many as 1,500 objects were found at Westerplatte! “Exceptional objects”; “We can touch history”.

During the completed ninth stage of on-site archaeological research at Westerplatte, 1,500 objects relating to, among other things, the service of Polish soldiers were discovered. The most valuable exhibits, including a pattern book for military maps, were presented on Wednesday at the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk.

On Wednesday, the Museum of the Second World War (M2WW) presented the results of the completed ninth stage of excavations at Westerplatte. During the five-month work, relics of ammunition shelters No. 8, 10, 11 and 12 were documented, the area of the position of the Polish 76.2 mm cannon was examined and the search continued for the remains of Leg. Mieczysław Krzak, a fallen defender of the depot.

Archaeologists conducted research in the vicinity of the historic power station of the Military Transit Depot and supervised the construction of the new Polish Army Soldiers’ Cemetery at Westerplatte. In the area of the necropolis, three craters created as a result of the German attack on the Polish outpost were found, in which objects from nearby buildings – the officers’ villa and guardhouse No. 5 – were identified.

M2WW director Professor Grzegorz Berendt, who was present during the presentation of the most valuable artefacts, emphasised that archaeological work on the Westerplatte peninsula has been carried out since 2016.

“These works are the first in eight decades since the end of the Second World War,” he stressed.

He added that the results of the work are “the work of the employees” of the institution he heads up.

“The enthusiasm, dedication, intuition and knowledge of those working at the museum went against all those who, for a very long time, denied the sense of dealing with Westerplatte,” stated the director.

Presenting the artefacts excavated by archaeologists, he pointed out that these are “exceptional objects”, thanks to which “we can touch history and meet the people who created the Military Transit Depot and defended Poland in 1939.”

Four objects are on display at the museum

Filip Kuczma led the archaeologists’ work. He pointed out that more than 1,500 objects related, among other things, to the service of Polish soldiers at Westerplatte, were recovered during the on-site research work.

“During the research, we documented in detail, using archaeological excavation means, an area of 860 sq. m.,”  Kuczma pointed out.

He also pointed out that out of the 1,500 artefacts found, four were selected that “can be linked to soldiers serving at Westerplatte”.

Four items were on display at the museum on Wednesday: an eagle from the garrison cap of a soldier of the 63rd Infantry Regiment, a military map template, a platter from the tableware of an officers’ casino, and a Polish soldier’s canteen.

Kuczma explained that the eagle from the garrison cap of a soldier of the 63rd Infantry Regiment was made of brass.

“The marking of the 63rd Infantry Regiment from Toruń can be seen on it. Soldiers of this unit served at the Military Transit Depot at Westerplatte in the years 1926-1933,” he added.

A military map template was found in a bomb explosion crater near the officers’ villa.

“In 1939, the quarters of the commander of the Military Transit Depot, Major Henryk Sucharski, and Captain Franciszek Dąbrowski, his deputy, were located there,” stated Kuczma.

He added that the displayed object most likely belonged to one of them. 

What valuable objects were found?

The head of the archaeological works, mentioning other objects found, pointed to a vessel with a characteristic monogram and decoration in the form of a gold and blue rim, which was made to a special order specification at the Porcelain Factory “Giesche” in Katowice.

“The casino for officers of the Military Transit Depot was located in the officers’ villa,” stressed Kuczma.

The last item on display was a canteen damaged on 2 September 1939 during a raid on the Military Transit Depot, during which Guardhouse No. 5 was completely destroyed.

“The object was found in a bomb explosion crater, which was discovered in the vicinity of the officers’ villa and the guardhouse,” explained the head of the archaeological work.

The objects presented on Wednesday were set up in a display case on level -1 of the Second World War Museum in Gdańsk as part of the ‘Entering History’ campaign.

This series aims to present exhibits related to current anniversaries, war events or issues of the war and occupation period that are not usually presented in the museum space.

Translation: J. Czarniecki

For the original in Polish, please refer to the following link:

https://wpolityce.pl/historia/620563-az-1500-przedmiotow-znalezionych-na-westerplattewyjatkowe

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