Archaeologists excavation the area of a hill by the Świętoduska street, just behind the Town Hall in Lublin, East Poland, unearthed a previously unknown German WW2 bunker and remains of fortified firing positions.

Archaeologists hoped to unearthed traces of settlements dating back to 8th-9th centuries, but the German World War II fortifications were a surprise. There were no previous documents and testimonies indicating their presence at the site. The site was fortified by Nazis in order to form resistance against the advancing Red Army and Polish troops. According to the archaeologists, a query conducted before the start of excavations revealed no such structures.

It seems the fortifications were constructed in a hurry. According to the researchers the structure was finished carelessly. It was built with concrete blocks. The network of fortifications consists of the bunker and trenches for communication purposes, as well as a large cut, possibly for the purpose of an artillery position. The interior of the bunker will be excavated as soon as the sappers will check the area from the possible existence of unexploded ordnance.

At this point archaeologists are not sure if the structures were used by the German soldiers after construction, as there are no documents indicating their existence and use. But it is possible that they played a role in defence of Lublin’s city centre from the north.

(after RMF24 & Krzysztof Kot)