A unique military artefact dating from the 1939 campaign has been discovered in the Starachowice forests. Members of the Fort Monument Protection Group came across the head of the banner of the 12th Light Artillery Regiment and the remains of belts and sashes belonging to this unit. The items had remained hidden under a layer of soil for nearly 86 years, so the find generated widespread interest among history enthusiasts. The eagle from the September campaign is to go to the museum.
The eagle from the 1939 campaign and the circumstances of the discovery
During one of the search expeditions, a metal detector signalled the presence of an object under a layer of mulch. A gentle uncovering of the spot indicated by the device revealed a silver eagle with additions of gilding. Right next to it rested a flag belt and fragments of fabric. Members of the association described the find as one of the most valuable military objects they had found in all their activities.
Historical background of the 12th Light Artillery Regiment
The unit was part of the 12th Infantry Division. In September 1939 it was directed to the Kielce region as part of the Southern Grouping of the Prussian Army and took part in the struggle near Iłża. After the losses suffered, a decision was made to disarm the troops. Equipment was to be liquidated, while elements of the banner were hidden so that they would not be intercepted by enemy forces. The banner ended up in the forest, where it was found many decades later by a group from Wąchock.
Eagle from the 1939 campaign – meaning
The found eagle is considered to be a particularly important object related to the history of the Polish Army. Most banners from the September campaign have been lost, which only adds to the significance of the discovery. The banner cloth of the 12th Light Artillery Regiment is currently stored in a museum in Ostrowiec, while the metal pieces that had been sought for many years were finally recovered. Members of the association admit that the result of the work exceeded their wildest expectations.
Further activities and the future of the artefact
The association has secured the found objects and has communicated that they will undergo conservation. Once the work has been completed, specialists will carry out analyses and, once the artefacts have been entered in the register of historical monuments, they will go to the museum. The group is currently cooperating with the Museum of Nature and Technology, but is working to ensure that the unique eagle will eventually end up at a military history institution.
Continuing the search for the Fort Monument Protection Group
The members of the Fort Monument Protection Group emphasise that the discovery gives them motivation. They intend to continue their fieldwork in the forest areas of the Świętokrzyskie region, as they believe they still hide many material reminders of the events of 1939.
Source: zwiadowcahistorii.pl, Grupa Ochrony Zabytków Fort
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