German shipwreck of MS Rio de Janeiro found after 75 years - film

On Tuesday, 23 June, Norwegian divers found the wreck of the German ship MS Rio de Janeiro. The vessel was sunk by the Polish submarine ORP Orzeł on 8 April 1940.

A group of technical divers Adykk from Norway found the wreck of a German ship MS Rio de Janeiro, which was torpedoed and sunk by the legendary Polish submarine ORP Orzeł. Interestingly, this took place on the eve of the German attack on Norway and Denmark. The wreck rests at a depth of 135 metres, near Lillesand, on the southern coast of Norway.

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In order to identify the vessel, the Norwegians made detailed photographic and film documentation. The technical diving team that explored the wreck of the MS Rio de Janeiro also brought to the surface several artefacts. These will be used for the final identification of the vessel. The wreck of the German ship is to remain an underwater cemetery and the final resting place of all those who died on board.

For the Norwegians it is a great discovery and an exciting moment. This ship is as important in their history as ORP Orzeł is for us. If the British Navy at that time had taken the reports of Captain Jan Grudzinski seriously, it could have greatly delayed the German invasion of Norway. Unfortunately, Churchill downplayed this information. Everyone thought that the attack would take place elsewhere – said Tomasz Stachura, head of the SANTI expedition Finding the Eagle

Finding the wreck of theMS Rio de Janeiro is the culmination of years of effort by the entire team. The search for the wreck of the German ship began six years ago. The final success is undoubtedly the result of joint effort and involvement, as well as help from hydrographic companies, historians, as well as enthusiasts and amateur divers.

My colleagues from Germany and Norway have told me that many divers, both technical and recreational, have been diving in this area for years, hoping to find a wreck. Diving there, including wreck diving, is very popular – added Tomasz Stachura

Sinking of Rio de Janeiro

On 8 April 1940, the Polish submarine ORP Orzeł torpedoed and sank the MS Rio de Janeiro. The vessel was on its way to Bergen, Norway. It was here that ammunition was to be loaded and German soldiers were to enter to begin the invasion of Norway as part of Operation Weserübung. From the information available, we know that around 200 people died on board and 180 were rescued. Among others, 200 infantry soldiers and 100 Luftwaffe personnel were on board that day. The holds also carried 80 horses, guns, military vehicles, as well as food supplies and ammunition.

On 7th March 1940 the ship was requisitioned by Kriegsmarine. It was to be used to transport troops and equipment before the planned invasion of Norway and Denmark on 9 April 1940. The invasion plan assumed that MS Rio de Janeiro would reach Bergen immediately after the German army occupied this port. The ship left Szczecin on 6 April, and two days later, only a few hours before the start of the attack on Norway, she was spotted near Lillesand by a Polish the submarine ORP Orzeł.

The captain of the MS Rio de Janeiro called for a stop and check, only stopped the machinery after being fired upon with machine guns by the surfaced “Eagle”. The ship started to call for help over the radio and at the same time delayed submitting to the control. As a result, after several warnings, it was torpedoed and sunk. The captain of ORP Orzeł, Jan Grudziński, notified the British Admiralty about the sinking of a transport ship carrying German troops heading north. Undoubtedly, it was the first signal of the beginning of the invasion of Poland. Norway.

A monument for the Eagle

For Norwegians, ORP Orzeł has become a symbol of the fight for freedom. Therefore, a monument commemorating the Polish ship and its heroic crew was erected in Lillesand. Currently, there are two ORP Orzeł monuments in the world – in Tallinn and Bergen. The third one, in the form of a commemorative plaque, on the initiative of SANTI Finding the Eagle is to be erected in Gdynia in the autumn.