THE skeletons of three nuns who were brutally murdered by Russian soldiers at the end of the Second World War have been discovered.
Archaeologists in Poland uncovered the remains in the town of Orneta, ending a months long hunt for the bones of seven Catholic nuns killed by the Soviets.
5
The Red Army invaded Poland as Nazi Germany withdrew their soldiers while retreating from advancing Allied troops in 1944.
Their forces attempted to seize control by murdering local soldiers and religious figures, as well as by looting and destroying churches.
Records from 1945 show that Soviet soldiers killed seven nuns in the order of St. Catherine of Alexandria who were serving as nurses at Marian Hospital in Olsztyn, Live Science reports.
Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance launched a campaign to find the remains last year.
5
After discovering the remains of Sister Charytyna (Jadwiga Fahl) in Gdansk last summer, they uncovered the bones of Sister Generosa (Maria Bolz), Sister Krzysztofora (Marta Klomfass) and Sister Liberia (Maria Domnik) in Olsztyn in October.
The final three nuns were found in December at a municipal cemetery in Orneta that measured about 215 square feet (20 square meters).
Sister Rolanda (Maria Abraham), Sister Gunhilda (Dorota Steffen) and Sister Bona (Anna Pestka) make up the last of the seven missing skeletons.
Experts also unearthed crucifixes, “religious clothing” and rosaries around the remains.
5
A statement by the Institute of National Remembrance in Poland (IPN) said: “The purpose of the study was the finding of the remains of the Catherine Sisters who fell victim to the soldiers of the Red Army.
“They all served the sick at the Marian Hospital (St Mary’s Hospital) in Olsztyn.
“They worked as nurses, looking for help for the sick, and the deceased by organizing burials in a nearby cemetery.”
The IPN said the nuns died defending themselves against the “disgrace” of Red Army soldiers who invaded the town in the winter of 1945.
5
The search was based on historical records, as well as objects buried alongside the bodies.
“On the basis of historical data, anthropomorphic features and found objects, the remains of three women were selected for exhumation, with the probability that they are the wanted Sisters,” the IPN said.
“In the remains of the collected remains, religious medals, crucifixes, elements of religious clothing and religious rosaries were found.”
A number of the nuns are thought to have died gruesome deaths at the hands of the Red Army.
5
Historical records show Sister Generosa was “locked in the hospital’s attic” before she was killed.
Sister Rolanda’s face “was mutilated and swollen beyond recognition,” while Sister Gunhilda was shot three times, according to the IPN.
The group says that Sister Krzysztofora was stabbed with a bayonet 16 times and had her eyes gouged out and tongue cut out.
The skeletons have been taken to the Forensic Medicine Institute in Gdańsk for further analysis.
Archaeologists find 2,000-year-old ‘almost intact’ Roman chariot near the ancient city of Pompeii
INTO THE DEEP
Explorer sets record-breaking dive 35,000 feet down to LOWEST point on Earth
LOST AND FOUND
Rare armour stolen from the Louvre worth $600,000 returned 40 YEARS later
ROCK STAR
I’m a meteorite dealer who makes millions from rocks which nearly got me killed
HIDDEN HISTORY
Mystery 800-year-old secret tunnels hidden for centuries found in garden
MAGMA MIA
Giant Iceland volcano may erupt after 17,000 earthquakes recorded in a week
HEADS WILL ROLL
Stone Age mystery as 5,600-year-old decapitated head found in Italian cave
In other news, experts have wiped centuries of dust and dirt from an ancient cross pedant discovered in a field in western Scotland.
A secret stash of gold coins dating back to King Henry VIII’s reign has been found in an English garden.
And, an ancient elite warrior and a Greek battle helmet have been unearthed from a rock-cut tomb in Croatia.
What do you make of the discovery? Let us know in the comments…
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]
This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
