Karlsruhe 2021 expedition - what did the first examined boxes contain?

The Karlsruhe 2021 expedition is slowly coming to an end. The Baltictech group and the other participants of the expedition have surveyed part of the hold and found out the contents of some of the boxes.

We have only just informed you about the start of the expedition Karlsruhe 2021and it will soon come to an end. For most of the time the weather is good, so the team is successively carrying out further tasks. We have managed to examine part of the cargo hold and find out the contents of individual crates.

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On the fourth day of the expedition participants explored the cargo hold located in the bow section. The divers established contents of crateswhich are damaged and open. Inside they found mainly equipment and military hardware. They also found many suitcases, which contained things taken by the fleeing East Prussians.

We didn’t move them, of course, but they made a huge impression nonetheless. With shoes, belts and private luggage scattered everywhere, we couldn’t forget that nearly 1,000 people died on the wreck of the Karlsruhe. – report the participants of the expedition.

At the end of the day, the expedition participants on board the Glomar Vantage held a small ceremony to remember all those who lost their lives on the SS Karlsruhe.

The next two days were also filled with underwater work and checking more parts of the wreck.

In the forward holds is a whole lot of military equipment, including cables, spare parts, tools, etc. On top of all this stand the private boxes and suitcases of the escapees. The rear holds were prepared by the Germans primarily for the transport of people. And that’s where we have the most shoes suitcases and benches. It makes a huge impression and it is hard to believe that more than 1000 people sailed on such a small ship, because Karlsruhe was only 66 m long.

Last days of the expedition

The participants of the Karlsruhe 2021 expedition still have four days of diving left. According to information provided by Baltictech, the weather is starting to deteriorate and conditions underwater are not the best. Despite this, the dive teams are still carrying out their tasks.

We know the wreck so well that we can move around it practically in the dark. Even in poor visibility, which does not spoil us.

New expedition participants have also joined the team. These include divers Daniel Pastwa and Maciej Honc, as well as Iwona Pomian from the National Maritime Museum.

Sunday brought the final proof that confirmed the identity of the wreckage. Diving team working underwater revealed the name of the vessel on the starboard side.

The team of Sami Paakkarinen Oscar Svensson and Jenni Westerlund unveiled the inscription on the starboard side. This way we already have the last so-called “hard proof” that our wreck is definitely Karlsruhe. We have already been practically everywhere on the wreck. Every available room has been checked and filmed. We are constantly coming across new traces of refugees and military. We are slowly approaching the end of our research and inventory. There is supposed to be a strong wind during the night, but the Glomar Vantage vessel is performing well. Tomorrow, when the tide dies down, we go into the water again.

Work on the Karlsruhe wreck has now entered its final phase and we should soon know the preliminary summary of the Karlsruhe 2021 expedition.