In a remarkable turn of events, treasure hunters have unearthed what may be the key to locating the legendary Amber Room, valued at an estimated £250 million, nearly a century after it vanished. The discovery came about as divers embarked on an ambitious expedition to a shipwreck resting at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, believed to hold the secrets of lost artworks and priceless artifacts.
A group of Polish amateur divers last year found the wreck of the Karlsruhe, a German ship which was sank by the Royal Navy in 1945, 289 ft deep and 43 mi from the Polish coastal town of Ustka
Divers said they had first used dive robots with cameras to explore the wreck and discovered numerous locked cargo boxes on the ship
The Amber Room, a symbol of opulence and grandeur, was originally crafted in 18th-century Prussia and found its home in the Catherine Palace near Saint Petersburg, Russia. However, its fate took a dramatic turn during the chaos of World War II when Nazi German soldiers dismantled the chamber and transported it to the city of Koenigsberg, now Kaliningrad, before it mysteriously disappeared from historical records.
Members of the Baltictech diving group are now beginning their search of the shipwreck, cracking open containers and exploring the site for the lost loot
The Amber Room was an opulent jewel-studded chamber built in 18th-century Prussia that was installed in the Catherine Palace near Saint Petersburg, Russia
The divers will conduct 12 dives a day and, in teams of three, will enter the wreck through an open shaft in the middle of the ship
Last year, a group of Polish amateur divers stumbled upon the wreckage of the Karlsruhe, a German vessel sunk by the Royal Navy in 1945, lying 43 miles off the Polish coastal town of Ustka. The Karlsruhe’s final voyage from Koenigsberg, laden with 360 tonnes of goods and escorted by two minesweeping ships, raised suspicions about its valuable cargo, particularly considering the proximity to the last known whereabouts of the Amber Room.
Crates which the divers hope could contain artefacts which the Nazis stole from the legendary Amber Room
Stachura from Baltictech told MailOnline that initial observations of the wreck had revealed several ‘non-military crates’ (pictured) as well as what appears to be the remains of ‘picture frames and rotting canvases’
Artefacts buried underneath sand inside the ship at the bottom of the Baltic Sea
The team believes they have spotted chests which may have been used by a museum, as well as fragments of canvas which may have come from paintings
Expedition leader Tomek Stachura emphasized the significance of the Karlsruhe, stating, “If the Germans were to take the Amber Chamber across the Baltic Sea, then the Karlsruhe steamer was their last chance.”
A reconstruction of the Amber Room was made in 1979 and completed at the Catherine Palace in St Petersburg (pictured)
Utilizing dive robots equipped with cameras, divers meticulously explored the wreck, uncovering a trove of locked cargo boxes and tantalizing clues hinting at the presence of the long-lost treasure. With the aid of underwater scooters, they embarked on a series of expeditions, conducting 12 dives daily in teams of three, navigating through the ship’s depths to unravel its secrets.
A ring-shaped object is displayed on the screen after divers carried out a survey of the sea floor following the discovery of the Karlsruhe, a wrecked German steamer, earlier this year
The divers said that ‘a lot of items from the ship’s interior have spilled out,’ adding that they had found 10 trunks and ‘lots of other trinkets’ while examining the area of the shipwreck
Polish divers search for the World War II German cruiser Karlsruhe at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, where they believe the lost treasures of the Amber Room – looted by the Nazis and missing since 1945 – could be buried
Their efforts yielded intriguing discoveries, including non-military crates and remnants of picture frames and canvases, suggestive of valuable artworks. Historian Piotr Michalik underscored the significance of the find, noting the heavy load carried by the Karlsruhe and the protective measures surrounding it, indicating the potential presence of invaluable cargo.
A clue to the Amber Room mystery? A screen shows a man-made object on the floor of the Baltic Sea where divers searching for the long-lost treasures say that a sonar survey has revealed chests and other objects lying around a wrecked Nazi ship
The ship brought 1,083 refugees and 360 tons of cargo and has been lying 290ft underwater for decades
Divers have discovered military vehicles, porcelain and many crates with so far unknown contents
Stachura revealed initial observations of the wreck, unveiling chests possibly linked to museums and fragments of canvas, raising hopes of recovering stolen masterpieces. However, amidst the excitement, the team remains cognizant of the solemnity surrounding the site, considering the possibility of the wreck being declared a sea grave due to the lives lost aboard.
The shipwreck was found at the bottom of the Baltic Sea several dozen kilometers north of Ustka
The wreck of the German cruiser Karlsruhe was discovered off the Polish coast by divers exploring the area in search of the ship which was sunk in April 1945
Divers found the shipwreck at a depth of 88 meters and say most of it is practically intact
The explorers say that the ship was in Königsberg around the time the Amber Room was last seen
As the exploration progresses, the divers vow to meticulously document and inventory their findings, awaiting authorization from Polish authorities to commence a state-sanctioned dive for retrieval. The outcome of their endeavor holds the promise of unraveling one of history’s enduring mysteries, shedding light on the fate of a cultural treasure lost to the annals of time.
Karlsruhe took part in Operation Hannibal, a German naval operation involving the evacuation by sea of German troops and civilians
The ship is not to be confused with the Karlsruhe which was also recently discovered off the coast of Norway, which was sunk in 1940
Tomasz Zwara from Baltictech added: ‘The history and available documentation show that the Karlsruhe was leaving the port in a great hurry and with a large load’
The remains of the Amber Room after it was seized by the Nazis, who packed the amber panels in 27 crates and shipped them to Germany, where they vanished and have not been seen since
In the depths of the Baltic Sea, amidst the wreckage of war, lies the potential key to unlocking the secrets of the Amber Room, offering a glimpse into a bygone era of splendor and intrigue. As the world watches with bated breath, the quest for the elusive treasure continues, fueled by determination, curiosity, and the enduring allure of lost riches.