Polish relics excavated in Narvik

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, thanks to actions taken by the Polish ambassador in Oslo – Stefan Czmur and defence attache Colonel Jarosław Przybysławski, Polish military relics from the Second World War have been recovered. From Lake Jernvatne in the north of Norway, in Narvik municipality, chassis for 220mm wz.32 mortars were lifted.

ByMałgorzata Brykała

Published: July 22, 2014 - 12:29

Updated: July 22, 2023 - 07:42

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From Lake Jernvatne in the north of Norway, in Narvik municipality, chassis for 220mm wz.32 mortars were lifted. As the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasises, the whole undertaking would not have been possible without the help of the Norwegian armed forces.

“I thank our Norwegian friends for their help in unveiling forgotten pages of Polish history. A TKS tankette from the September campaign, which was acquired from Norway a year ago, has already been restored,” said Deputy Minister Bogusław Winid

The deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also admitted that the restoration of memory is one of the main elements of the historical policy of this government. (However, looking at the recent attempts to stop the exhumation of the members of the effigy of the Polish People’s Army by the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), or the absence of Polish officials during the anniversary of Operation Ostra Brama, we can have reasonable doubts)

“I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the discovery and excavation of the Polish mortar platforms,” the deputy minister noted

The excavated undercarriages were part of the mortar equipment ordered from the Czechoslovak Skoda factory in 1933. Two years later Poland received 27 ordered copies, which were to satisfy the need for heavy artillery. In the future they were to be used to destroy fortifications and shelters.

After the fall of the September campaign, the mortars found their way into the hands of the Germans and Russians. 12 pieces were used during the fights conducted by the Third Reich in Norway. In 1941-42 they were part of the coastal artillery.

The recovered objects will soon go to Bydgoszcz, where they will expand the collection of the Land Forces Museum. Some of them will also be added to the collection of the very interesting War Museum in Narvik.

Source: msz.gov.pl Photo: Brigade Nord-Haeren/Red Cross War Museum