The location of a Polish field gun, the so-called putilovka, and the remains of its crew's shelter have just been discovered on Westerplatte. As researchers explain, in September 1939 the gun hit German positions in Nowy Port. After conservation work, it will soon become part of the exhibition at the Museum of Westerplatte and the War of 1939.
Researchers who have been conducting research since May Westerplatte their excavations, they have just discovered the exact location of a Polish field gun, the so-called Putilovka, which attacked German positions in Nowy Port during the defence of the peninsula in September 1939.
In September 1939, the cannon hit German positionsMuseum of the Second World War
In addition, they found objects that were elements of the site, including the remains of a wooden and earth shelter for the gun crew and relics related to it. – The most interesting find was a fragment of the wheel rim of the described gun, damaged on September 1, 1939 during German shelling. This unique relic, which is the only known element of the missing putilovka, after appropriate conservation procedures will certainly become an important element of the archaeological exhibition being prepared by the Museum of Westerplatte and the War of 1939 – informed the Museum of the Second World War.
The exact location of the “putilovka” has been foundMuseum of the Second World War
Researchers found the remains of a wooden and earth shelter for the gun crewMuseum of the Second World War
Work is also continuing on the site to search for the remains of one of the fallen defenders of the Polish depot – Mieczysław Krzak. The legionnaire died on September 2, 1939, on the outskirts of the Fort facility. As explained by the Museum, this season the site of the former shooting range is being examined in detail, where, according to some indications, they may still be located. The estimated area of research is over 2,000 square meters in total. The work is scheduled to last until early November 2024.
Seven defenders of Westerplatte have been identified
As part of ten stages of research conducted over the years on Westerplatte, an area of over 7.5 thousand square meters was examined in detail and over 13.5 hectares were cleared of explosives and dangerous materials. Archaeological supervision was also carried out over the construction of the Polish Army Soldiers' Cemetery, the modernization and adaptation of the former power plant building of the Military Transit Depot for exhibition purposes and the construction of a tourist service point in part within the WST. During archaeological work, over 82 thousand monuments were obtained, including 32 thousand artifacts of great historical, exhibition and scientific value, illustrating the turbulent history of the peninsula from the mid-17th to the 20th century. A significant part of the acquired collection are objects related to the service of Polish soldiers on Westerplatte and the battles fought during the defense of the Military Transit Depot. In 2019, during research, the graves of 9 Polish soldiers were found. Some of them died in guardhouse no. 5, bombed by the Luftwaffe on September 2, 1939, the rest died in other parts of the peninsula. Cooperation between the Museum of the Second World War, the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin and the investigative department of the Institute of National Remembrance in Gdańsk resulted in the genetic identification of 7 people. In 2022, the defenders of the WST were laid to rest in the new cemetery of Polish Army Soldiers in Westerplatte.
Main image source: Museum of the Second World War