Excavating "Durchgangslager Hanko" day eight!

The sun is back and the warm summer sea winds of Hanko. At least in July this place must have felt like paradise for the German soldiers staying in the camp 1942-1944.

Excavating the scenic beachfront of "Durchgangslager Hanko"

Todays excavation produced many interesting small artefacts. Delousing powder bags, quite a few coins (Finnish and German), medical and toothpaste tubes, glass honey jars, one 218 marked German food ration can etc. etc.

Lots of different WW2 items again today.

Today we also found another used German condom in this easternmost area of the "Durchgangslager". Even if this isn´t surprising, finds like this speak about intimate encounters between men and women on the eastern outskirts of the large German transition camp.

A used condom and Heer soldiers and DRK Schwestern outside Hanko (Casino) in 1943. Photo Jan Fast research collection.