Archaeologists excavating Westerplatte in Gdańsk, Poland have found thousands of Second World War artefacts and more than 28,000 items of ammunition and hazardous material during the latest season of work.
The excavations were carried out by the Museum of the Second World War between 9 April and 10 August 2026 as part of the 13th season of archaeological research at Westerplatte.
479 m2 were investigated (northern wing of the former new barracks and assembly ground of the Polish Military Transit Depot).
The work has revealed structures directly connected with the defenders of Westerplatte and September fighting 1939.
Remains of the new barracks
A 292-square-metre excavation was opened over the northern wing of the new barracks, constructed between 1935 and 1937 to accommodate personnel stationed at the Military Transit Depot.
Archaeologists uncovered reinforced-concrete remains of a gunsmith's workshop, a garage containing an inspection pit and an exit ramp.
The team also documented part of a crater created by an ammunition explosion in the spring of 1945, which is estimated to have originally measured up to 20 metres in diameter.
The explosion occurred after ammunition stockpiled by German forces detonated in April 1945, destroying the northern wing of the barracks.
A further 187 square metres were investigated around the former assembly ground.
"We have uncovered the level where Polish defenders walked in 1939. This was the main command post, the crew's main bunker, and a dressing station," said archaeologist Adam Dziewanowski.
"The work will allow these structures to be uncovered and made available to visitors as part of the Museum's construction."
Thousands of wartime artefacts
Around 2,700 objects were recovered during the archaeological investigation, of which almost 900 were classified as valuable artefacts.
Among the most significant discoveries is the base plate from a Polish 81 mm mortar.
Archaeologists also recovered part of a window frame retaining camouflage paint described as "English pink", together with a damaged Polish military mess tin.
More than 28,000 pieces of ammunition and other hazardous items were also secured during the excavation, consisting mainly of Mauser rifle cartridges and artillery fuses.
The finds provide further archaeological evidence for the military occupation of the site and the events that affected Westerplatte during and after the fighting of 1939.
Human remains discovered
Separate construction work for the Westerplatte Museum led to another potentially significant discovery on 5 November 2026.
Human remains were uncovered alongside Polish military buttons and a bayonet.
The associated military equipment has raised the possibility that the remains belong to Legionnaire Mieczysław Krzak, a defender of the Military Transit Depot who died in September 1939.
The identification has not yet been confirmed.
The discovery was made during construction of the Westerplatte Museum, which covers an area exceeding 116,000 square metres and is taking place alongside the continuing archaeological investigation of the peninsula.
Archaeology of Westerplatte
Archaeological investigations at Westerplatte have been ongoing since 2016.
In 2019, archaeologists discovered the graves of nine Polish soldiers, seven of whom were subsequently identified through genetic testing.
Their remains were buried at the new Polish Army Cemetery at Westerplatte in 2022.
Further investigations in 2024 revealed the remains of four Polish civilian prisoners of war who were murdered by Germans during the first months of the war.
The latest excavation continues this programme by recording surviving elements of the Military Transit Depot and revealing ground level associated directly with its defenders in 1939.
Some of the human remains found in November may belong to Mieczysław Krzak if more tests are carried out.
Sources : PAP