What is hidden at the bottom of the Vistula Lagoon?

During hydrographic work, unknown objects were discovered lying on the bottom of the Vistula Lagoon. They are believed to be wrecks of German vehicles from the Second World War. Most likely, they belonged to the 4th Field Army and were sunk in the winter of 1945. It was then that the evacuation of the German population of East Prussia took place. The case was investigated by archaeologists from the Polish Maritime Museum in Gdańsk.

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As always in similar cases, a team of marine archaeologists will carry out a reconnaissance and compile full documentation. This will help to identify and assess the value of the finds, as well as determine the current condition of the objects. The value of the data collected is important as no similar research has ever been carried out in this area before.

Iwona Pomian, head of the Underwater Research Department at the CMM, says that only after thorough research will it be possible to decide what to do with the find. If the researchers’ speculations are confirmed, a decision may be made to excavate the vehicles and place them in the Gdańsk Museum of the Second World War.

As is usual with this type of finds, the details of the exact location are kept strictly confidential. However, we found out that the wrecks are buried at a depth of 3-4m between Tolkmicko and Krynica Morska. The exact location is known only to the employees of the Maritime Office in Gdynia.

In the winter of 1945, almost half a million refugees from East Prussia tried to get to the coastal harbours and on to the Third Reich to escape the oncoming offensive of the Bolshevik army. Columns of Germans crossing the frozen lagoon were shelled and bombed. It is most likely in such circumstances that the units found arrived at their final resting place. It has not yet been established whether these were military or civilian vehicles.

Source: PAP
Photo: Polish Maritime Museum