#The Frisian museum

[merovingian-marvels]

Dorestad Fibula

The Dorestad Fibula (brooch) was found in the Dutch village Wijk bij Duurstede, the successor of the Early Medieval Emporium Dorestad.

Dated between 775-800, this brooch is classified as Frisian. Decorated with gold, garnets from East Asia, pearls, enamel and glass, this brooch belonged to an exceptionally rich merchant.

The brooch depicts the tree of life with leafs and fruits. The green inlay portray stylized bird heads.

RMO Leiden, Netherlands

Object nr. F1978/1.1,

Found in Wijk bij Duurstede-Utrecht, Netherlands.

[priestess-of-the-north-west]

It's great to be able to show that runes were being carved in the Netherlands. This is one of the 23 currently known Frisian rune findings: the Westeremden (a location in the North-East of the Netherlands) yew stick, found in 1918 and dated 5th-8th century.  It can be seen in the Groninger Museum. 

Made of Yew (Dutch: Taxus, or IJf) which is not a tree that generally could be found in this area. The inscription reads like a blessing or spell for luck/happiness. To me, this is Frisian galðr:

ophæmujiBAdaæmluþ wimœBæhþuSA iwioKuPdunale:

(Source: de Gruyter.)

Elmar Seebold (in 1990) reads:

ophæmu givëda æmluþ: iwi ok upduna (a)le wimôv æh þusë

Tineke Looijenga (in 1997) reads:

op hæmu jibada æmluþ : iwi ok up duna (a)le wimœd æh þusa

(Source) Interpreted as something like:

luck (amluþ) stays (gibada) at home (op hæmu); and (ok) at the yew (iwi) may it grow (ale) on the hill (up duna); Wimœd has (æh) this (þusa)

Modern Frisians translate it into:

op de boerderij (heem) blijft voorspoed; laat het groeien bij de ijf (taxus) op de terp; dit is (eigendom) van Wimoed (Source.)

Interestingly, this 5th-8th century Frisian Futhorc differs slightly from the more commonly known elder Futhark. (Context: the Elder Futhark in the Scandinavian areas transitioned towards the Younger Futhark in the 7th-8th century).

Here are a few interpretations by different writers:

By Parsons.

By Grimmsma.

By Terpen en Wierdenland.

[muspelheim71]

Phallic figurines in the Fries Museum, The Netherlands. The sign reads: “Are these two-eyed phallic figurines meant to promote fertility as a fertility symbol? Or are they simply decorative earthenware dolls? We don't know for sure. They were probably imported from present-day Germany, where many workshops made these kinds of dolls.

1250-1500, found in Hantumhuizen, pottery Fries Museum, Leeuwarden | collection of the Royal Frisian Society”

[the-punforgiven]

if you could participate in any historical event, which one would you pick?

To be honest, as much as I'd like to decapitate a french monarch, or as funny as it'd be to watch several popes argue about which pope is the most pope and which ones are fake popes, as much as I'd love to be a sailor in the earliest days of the Golden Age Of Piracy, I've only really got one answer.

To be 100% honest, ever since I was in high school I've been absolutely enthralled with legendary farmer-turned freedom fighter-turned-pirate Pier Gerlofs Donia, A legendary dude said to be incredibly tall and insanely strong, inseparable from his massive greatsword that was like 7 feet long, 14 pounds, and currently resting in a Frisian museum

Known for being an absolute legend, having the title of The Giant of Kimswerd, starting a long series of battles with the Hapsburgs both on land and at sea, organizing multiple peasant rebellions on land and allegedly sinking 132 ships in his first two years at sea, 28 of which were in a single day. He's also said to have captured like 2/3rds of a dutch fleet maybe? idk

He was also apparently so strong he could bend a coin between his thumb and forefinger, for whatever that's worth? idk I don't know how strong Frisian coins are but I'm glad his strength is on par with Stone Free lmao

While I know most of his life is shrouded in legend with sparse proper documented sources to draw from, I'd love to like, just shadow this dude's life out of curiosity to see exactly how much of his story is exaggerated for the sake of making a cooler legend, vs how much of it is like, real historical things that actually happened

Though I also can't speak Frisian, so given another part of his legend, idk if that'd turn out all too well for me lmao

[the-paintrist]

August Schaeffer von Wienwald - Motive from Helgoland - 1859

oil on canvas, height: 50 cm (19.6 in); width: 63 cm (24.8 in)

Heligoland (German: Helgoland, ) is a small archipelago in the North Sea. A part of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein since 1890, the islands were historically possessions of Denmark, then became the possessions of the United Kingdom from 1807 to 1890, and briefly managed as a war prize from 1945 to 1952.

The islands are located in the Heligoland Bight (part of the German Bight) in the southeastern corner of the North Sea and had a population of 1,127 at the end of 2016. They are the only German islands not in the vicinity of the mainland. They lie approximately 69 kilometres (43 miles) by sea from Cuxhaven at the mouth of the River Elbe. During a visit to the islands, August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben wrote the lyrics to "Deutschlandlied", which became the national anthem of Germany.

In addition to German, the local population, who are ethnic Frisians, speak the Heligolandic dialect of the North Frisian language called Halunder.

August Schaeffer von Wienwald (30 April 1833, Vienna - 29 November 1916, Vienna) was an Austrian landscape painter and Director of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

[businessclasstohouston]

Heritage Germany Tourist Attractions to Explore

Are you in the process of choosing your next vacation destination? While checking out the ticket availability of the first class ticket to Accra from UK or any European destination from your London home for a short but impactful tour to witness the rich heritages the Germany should you on your list.

Despite finding multiple options to reach Germany by road, opting for a flight can save you time and energy. Have a talk with your travel agency about the flight offers and the hotel accommodations months before you decide to travel there. However, the off-season deals might also drive you to explore the exotic beauty of Germany in the serenity. Also, keep doors open to get hotter deals from aggregator sites like the Business Flight Shop from where you might have explored the availability and deals on the first class ticket to Cancun from UK some time back!

Top attractions in Germany draw the attention of innumerable tourists from the corners of the world. Thus, they add Germany, one of the largest countries in central Europe while stepping ahead for a European vacation to witness the majestic geographical and manmade creations besides knowing about the history they hold during the World Wars and before that. Being one of the major economic powers of the world, Germany holds a significant position for its culture and rich heritage.

You can have a happening vacation in Germany from exploring the enchanting landscapes to the mouth-watery gourmets even if you miss the famous Oktober fest. So, before planning for your vacation in the Middle East, purchase a first class ticket to Doha from UK– enjoy your summer in Germany instead!

Let’s have a look at some of the top heritage vacation destinations in Germany:

Berlin

Berlin is the present capital of Germany and houses some of the top heritage sights of this country. Ranging from archaic monuments to technology parks, these are must-visit destinations of this country. The best sightseeings comprise– Berlin Cathedral, Deutscher Bundestag, Brandenburg Gate, Memorial of the Berlin Wall, Tranenpalast – Palace of Tears, Tierpark, Classic Remise Berlin, Pergamon Museum, Topography of Terror, Friedrichstadt-Palast, Museumsinsel, Flughafen Tempelhof Museum fur Naturkunde, The Holocaust Memorial, Berlin Philharmonic, Gendarmenmarkt, Deutsches Historisches Museum, Neues Museum, Potsdam’s Gardens, Hohenschoenhausen Prison, German Museum of Technology Berlin, Gedenkstaette Deutscher Widerstand, and so on.

Munich

Located by River Isar, the historic Munich is now the Bavarian capital, which is located in the northern region of the Bavarian Alps. This place is included as one of the must-see destinations of this country. Besides rich history, this city houses great monuments; those are considered heritage sights of Munich. The Residenz Royal Palace, Nymphenburg Palace, Karl’s Gate Asam’s Church, Theatinerkirche St. Kajetan Munich Residence, Glockenspiel am Rathausturm, Starnberger See, St. Peter’s Church, Old Town Hall, Munich Botanischer Garten, Lenbach House, Generals’ Hall, Maximillianstrasse, Nymphenburg Palace, Hackerhaus, BMW Museum, Marienplatz, Old Pinakothek, and so on are among the top German tourist attractions in Munich. Moreover, the Oktoberfest of Munich is famous for its Bavarian Beer.

The Frisian Islands

The Frisian Islands attract huge numbers of visitors and are considered one of the best tourist attractions in Germany. This destination is an island, which is bestowed with some of the excellent landscapes. This heavenly island of Germany is surrounded by the Netherlands and Denmark. The two major islands of Frisian Islands are Sylt and Amrum. The yellow serene beaches, as well as the captivating scenic beauties, are perfect honeymoon destinations for the newlyweds. The best of the natural treasures of this country can be found in these islands and therefore, considered as one of the best German tourist attractions.

The Black Forest

Another German destination of natural excellence is the Black Forest region. This German destination is famous for its famous cuckoo clocks, acclaimed throughout the globe. Besides, this place is a perfect spot for honeymooners, who love spending quality time with each other. Some travellers love to explore adventurous sports like skiing and hiking. Camping is an integral part of the German Black Forest region.

Opt for a packaged tour to Germany from an OTA where you can also add the round-way first class ticket to Entebbe or any destination you are from. By doing so, you have a strategically designed itinerary for saving both money and time.

[uniqueartisanconnoisseur]

Pella, Iowa the beautiful!

Pella, Iowa the beautiful!

I have always wanted to go to Pella, Iowa! After seeing pictures of the beautiful Vermeer Mill, I was smitten. This June 2021, was my summer for an amazing hosted Pella, Experience! Let me tell you all about Beautiful Pella and what you can do in this Southcentral Iowa town! In front of Visit Pella with Jill Vandevoort. The first part of our journey was to Pella. Jill Vandevoort of Visit Pella…

[geritsel]

Tames Oud - A Horse-Drawn Cart in the Snow

[culmaer]

I'm reaching that point where I'm just. tired. and want to lie down all day

but I cannot have come all the way to the Netherlands and not visit the Rijksmuseum. so I'm considering maybe skipping Ljouwert... I really would've loved to visit the AFûK and Frisian Museum but I feel like I have to choose between Amsterdam and Friesland. Or I can power through it as rest when I get home

[gogmstuff]

1820s dresses (from top to bottom):

1820 Bella og Hanna. M.L. Nathansons ældste døtre by Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg (location ?). From tumblr.com/blog/view/fashionsfromthepast  1769X2607 @72 1.2Mj.

1820 Lady by Wilhelm Gottfried Bauer (Aiktionhaus Stahl - 7May22auction Lot 386). Removed spots w Photoshop 789X1000 @72 147kj.

1826 Antoinetta Margaretha Brasker by Jan Adam Kruseman (Fries Scheepvaart Museum/Frisian Maritime Museum - Sneek, Friesland, Netherlands). From kovlam.livejournal.com/1275171.html 954X1199 @100 270kj,

ca. 1825 Anne Bloham by Sir Thomas Lawrence (location ?). From pinterest.com/aeltukov/art/gb-regency-era-1793-1837/; cropped to remove previous frame intrusions 1242X1511 @72 600kj.

ca. 1826 Emily Treslove by John Constable (private collection). From theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/sep/18/new-constable-portrait-artist-painting-emily-treslove-artist-neighbour-double-chin; removed spots & flaws w Photoshop 2247X2691 @144 4.8Mp.

Herzogin Mathilde von Württemberg mit ihren beiden Kindern by Carl Rothe (Neumeister 30Mar22 auction Lot 1444). Removed spots, cracks & wrinkles with Photoshop 3369X4016 @300  2.2Mj.

Herzogin Sophie Dorothee Caroline von Württemberg by Franz Seraph Stirnbrand (Neumeister 30Mar22 auction Lot 1437). Removed more conspicuous cracks, wrinkles, & flaws with Photoshop and cropped 3309X3939 @300 2.4Mj.

Unknown woman wearing a blue-striped bodice by Louis Léopold Boilly (Christie's - 30Oct18 auction Lot  55). Removed spots & cracks with Photoshop 1497X2028 @144 3.2Mp.

1829 Surgeon Christian Fenger with wife and daughter by Martinus Rørbye (Ribe Kunstmuseum - Ribe, Jylland, Denmark). From tumblr.com/blog/view/history-of-fashion/679957013176975360 2048X2483 @72 1.4Mj.

[steellegacy]

⚔️ The zweihänder sword and helmet (presumably) belonged to Pier Gerlofs Donia (1480-1520), otherwise known as Grutte Pier (Greate Pier), Friesian pirate, warlord and folk hero of the late 15th century who sunk 132 enemy ship – including one battle where he destroyed 28 Dutch ships in a single day.

📝 The sword measures: Length - 2.13 m (7 ft) Weighs - about 6.6 kg (14.6 lb)

The Blade has the stamp “Inri” (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews) The handle is made of oak and covered with goat skin in one piece, taken from the leg, that is, there is no seam. In all likelihood, this sword with identifying marks, came from Germany. The sword is on display in the Museum of Friesland (Fries Museum) in Leeuwarden. Collection Fries Museum Inv. Nr. H 185-C

Interesting facts: 📜 In 1515, Pier Gerlofs Donia's house was destroyed and burned by soldiers of George the Bearded (Georg der Bärtige, 1471-1539), Duke of Saxony, founder of the Albertine branch of the Wettin family. The Landsknechts raped and murdered Pierre's wife, after which hatred prompted him to take part in the Guelders Wars (Dutch: Gelderse Oorlogen) against the powerful Habsburgs, on the side of the Duke of Guelders, Charles II (1492-1538), a member of the House of Egmond.

📜 According to legend, Pier was around 7 feet (around 2.13 m) tall, and was so strong that he could bend a coin using just his thumb and forefinger.

📜 Another legend attesting to his great strength is that he was able to pick up a plough with just one hand.

📜 There is another legend that says that Greate Pier could cut down several heads with his sword at once.

- - ⚔️ Этот меч и шлем (предположительно) принадлежали фризскому пирату, военачальнику и народному герою конца XV века Пьеру Герлофсу Дониа (1480-1520), известному как "Большой Пьер" (Grutte Pier), потопившего 132 вражеских корабля, включая одно сражение, в котором он уничтожил 28 голландских кораблей за один день.

⚔️ Размеры меча: Длина - 2,13 м Вес - около 6,6 кг Произведен в Пассау, Германия, сер. XV в. Рукоятка изготовлена ​​из древесины дуба и покрыта цельным куском козьей кожи, взятой с ноги, то есть нет шва. Клинок имеет клеймо "Inri" (Иисус из Назарета, Царь Иудейский). Меч выставлен в Музее Фризии (Fries Museum) в Леувардене.

Интересные факты: 📜  В 1515 году дом Пьера Герлофса Дониа был разрушен и сожжён солдатами саксонского герцога Георга Бородатого (Georg der Bärtige, 1471–1539) из династии Альбертинов. Ландскнехты изнасиловали и убили его жену, после чего ненависть побудила его принять участие в Гельдернской войне против могущественных Габсбургов, на стороне гельдернского герцога Карла II (1492—1538) из династии Эгмонтов.

📜 Согласно легенде, "Большой Пьер" был ростом около 2,13 м и был настолько физически силен, что мог согнуть монету, зажав ее между большим и указательным пальцами. А также поднять плуг только одной рукой.

📜 Еще одна легенда гласит, что Пьер мог срубить своим мечом сразу несколько голов.

[merovingian-marvels]

Loom weights

Loom weights are almost always found in woman’s graves. They are made in various shapes and sizes, f.e. round, teardrop shaped or triangular.

Made from ceramics, bone or carved stones, loom weights provide tension which enables to weave evenly. Despite there being multiple weights on a loom, they’re never given as grave goods in complete sets.

The possible reason only a few or just one weight is given is perhaps to underline the woman’s talent and skills at weaving.

Textiles in the early medieval era were most often made from wool or flax. Frisia was famous for its high quality wools. This was because of it’s central location, the unique landscape which doesn’t allow to be farmed, but is fertile and high in nutrients for grazing sheep, combined with excellent weaving quality and the selling of semi-finished products. The production and trade of wool enabled the Frisians to grow very wealthy.

Koninklijk Museum voor Kunst en Geschiedenis (KMKG), Brussels (city) - Brussels Capital Region, Belgium

Museum nr. B002118-001

Found in Labuissière (Merbes-Le-Chateauh, Hainaut - Belgium

[blueiscoool]

England’s Largest Anglo Saxon Gold Coin Hoard Found

Norwich Castle Museum hopes to acquire the largest Anglo Saxon gold coin hoard ever found in England

The largest find to date of gold coins from the Anglo-Saxon period in England has been revealed after it was unearthed by metal detectorists in a field in West Norfolk.

Buried shortly after AD 600, the West Norfolk hoard contains a total of 131 gold coins, most of which are Frankish tremisses, solid gold coins from the Frankish Kingdoms of Gaul and Western Europe, which were not yet produced in East Anglia at the time.

The hoard also contains nine gold solidi, a larger coin from the Byzantine empire worth three tremisses and four other gold objects, including a gold bracteate (a type of stamped pendant), a small gold bar, and two other pieces of gold which were probably parts of larger items of jewelry.

It is thought the presence of these items suggests that the coins should be seen as bullion, valued by weight rather than face value. Experts say the haord will help transform our understanding of the economy of early Anglo-Saxon England.

“This internationally-significant find reflects the wealth and Continental connections enjoyed by the early Kingdom of East Anglia,” says Tim Pestell, Senior curator of Archaeology at Norwich Castle Museum, which hopes to acquire the find.

“Study of the hoard and its find spot has the potential to unlock our understanding of early trade and exchange systems and the importance of west Norfolk to East Anglia’s ruling kings in the seventh century.”

East Anglia is famed for its Anglo Saxon heritage, but the previous largest hoard of coins of this period was a purse containing 101 coins discovered at Crondall in Hampshire in 1828. It had been disturbed before discovery and may originally have included more coins. Buried around AD 640, the hoard contained a mixture of Anglo-Saxon, Frankish and Frisian coins, along with a single coin of the Byzantine Empire, minted in Constantinople.

Archaeologists now regard this period – the decades on either side of AD 600 – as quite literally a ‘golden age’ for Anglo-Saxon England. The largest find of gold metalwork from the era is the spectacular mid-7th century Staffordshire hoard, discovered in 2009 by Terry Herbert and comprising over 5.1kg of gold and 1.4kg of silver. But it contains no coins.

Back in East Anglia, the famous ship burial from Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, which dates somewhere between AD 610 and 640, includes a purse of 37 gold coins, three blank gold discs of the same size as the West Norfolk coins and two small gold ingots, as well as many other gold items.

The Sutton Hoo purse contained only Frankish coins, reflecting the fact that although imported coins were already used in East Anglia by this time, they were not yet being minted in the area by the time of the burial.

Another important Anglo Saxon grave was discovered in 2003 at Prittlewell in Essex, probably buried a few years before the Sutton Hoo ship, and yielded two gold coins and other gold objects.

The majority of the objects in the latest hoard were found between 2014 and 2020 by a single detectorist, who together with the landowner has requested anonymity, hence the find currently being described only as coming from ‘West Norfolk’.

A Coroner’s inquest is currently being held to determine whether the find constitutes Treasure under the terms of the Treasure Act (1996). If any two or more coins contain more than 10% of precious metal and are confirmed by experts to be more than 300 years old, they will be declared Treasure and will be the property of the Crown. Typically, the government only claims the find if an accredited museum wishes to acquire it, and is in a position to pay a reward equivalent to the full market value.

In this case the anonymous finder reported all of his finds to the appropriate authorities. However, ten of the coins were found by a second detectorist, David Cockle, who had permission from the landowner to detect in the same field.

Mr Cockle, who at the time was a serving policeman, failed to report his discovery and instead attempted to sell his coins, pretending that they were single finds from a number of different sites. Mr Cockle’s deception was uncovered, and in 2017 he was found guilty of theft and sentenced to 16 months in prison, as well as being dismissed from the police.

“The West Norfolk hoard is a really remarkable find, which will provide a fascinating counterpart to Sutton Hoo at the other end of the kingdom of East Anglia,” says Helen Geake, Finds Liaison Officer for Norfolk.

“It underlines the value of metal-detected evidence in helping reconstruct the earliest history of England, but also shows how vulnerable these objects are to irresponsible collectors and the antiquities trade.”

The administration of the Treasure process is undertaken at the British Museum who also manage the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) in England (in Wales it comes under the management of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales).

Thousands of archaeological objects, many of them found by members of the public, are logged every year with the Finds Liaison Officers of the PAS to improve our understanding of the past. They can be explored at www.finds.org.uk

By Richard Moss.

[rijksmuseum-art]

The Egyptian Widow, 19??, Museum of the Netherlands

The Frisian artist Alma-Tadema was a great success in England, where he was even knighted. His representations of ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman scenes made him one of the most popular 19th-century painters. In this picture, full of archaeological details, a woman is mourning beside the inner mummy case containing the body of her husband. His sarcophagus stands at left, while priests and singers lament the departed.

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.5776

[mauritshuis-museum]

Portrait of a Man, Jacob Adriaensz Backer, 1636, Mauritshuis Museum

Backer was a Frisian painter who settled in Amsterdam. He is known mainly for his history paintings and portraits. This unknown man is wearing a sober black outfit, and has draped his cloak over his arm – a motif often used by Backer. Another characteristic is the attention he paid to the hands, which in this case are firmly clenched around a hat and a pair of gloves.

https://www.europeana.eu/portal/record/2021672/resource_document_mauritshuis_826.html?utm_source=api&utm_medium=api&utm_campaign=j4AoMQNzp

[greatworldwar2]

• Polish 1st Armoured Division

The Polish 1st Armoured Division was an armoured division formed as part of the Polish Armed Forces in the West during World War II.

After the fall of Poland and then France in 1940, the remaining Poles that had fought in both campaigns retreated with the British Army to the United Kingdom. Stationed in Scotland the Polish 1st Armoured Division was formed as part of the Polish I Corps under Wladyslaw Sikorski, which guarded approximately 200 kilometres of British coast in 1940-1941. The commander of the Division, General Stanislaw Maczek, was Poland’s premier mechanized commander, and many of his subordinate officers from the unit he commanded in 1939, the 10th Mechanized Brigade, had made their way to Britain with him. They were organized on the British Armoured Division model, equipped with British uniforms, weapons and tanks. They were initially equipped and trained on Crusader tanks but in late 1943 and early 1944 these were replaced with Sherman tanks and Cromwell tanks.

By the end of July 1944, the 1st Armoured had been transferred to Normandy, its final elements arriving on August 1st. The unit was attached to the First Canadian Army as part of the 21st Army Group. This may have been done to help in communication, as the vast majority of Poles did not speak English when they arrived in United Kingdom from 1940 onwards. The Division joined combat on August 8th, during Operation Totalize. It suffered serious casualties as a result of "friendly fire" from Allied aircraft, but achieved a victory against the Wehrmacht in the battles for Mont Ormel, and the town of Chambois. This series of offensive and defensive operations came to be known as the Battle of Falaise, in which a large number of German Army and SS divisions were trapped in the Falaise Pocket and subsequently destroyed. Maczek's division had the crucial role of closing the pocket at the escape route of the trapped German divisions, hence the fighting was desperate and the 2nd Polish Armoured Regiment, 24th Polish Lancers and 10th Dragoons, supported by the 8th and 9th Infantry Battalions, took the brunt of German attacks by units attempting to break free from the pocket. Surrounded and running out of ammunition, they withstood incessant attacks from multiple fleeing panzer divisions for 48 hours until they were relieved. The total losses of the division from August 7th when it entered combat until the end of the battle of Falaise on August 22nd were 446 killed, 1501 wounded, and 150 missing, or 2097 soldiers in total during about two weeks of fighting.

After the Allied armies broke out from Normandy, the Polish 1st Armoured Division pursued the Germans along the coast of the English Channel. It liberated, among others, the towns of Saint-Omer, Ypres, Oostnieuwkerke, Roeselare, Tielt, Ruislede, and Ghent. During Operation Pheasant a successful outflanking manoeuvre planned and performed by General Maczek allowed the liberation of the city of Breda without any civilian casualties. The Division spent the winter of 1944-1945 on the south bank of the river Rhine, guarding a sector around Moerdijk, Netherlands. In early 1945, it was transferred to the province of Overijssel and started to push with the Allies along the Dutch-German border, liberating the eastern parts of the provinces of Drenthe and Groningen including the towns of Emmen, Coevorden and Stadskanaal.

In April 1945, the 1st Armoured entered Germany in the area of Emsland. On May 6th, the Division seized the Kriegsmarine naval base in Wilhelmshaven, where General Maczek accepted the capitulation of the fortress, naval base, East Frisian Fleet and more than 10 infantry divisions. There the Division ended the war and, joined by the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade, undertook occupation duties until it was disbanded in 1947; it, together with the many Polish displaced persons in the Western occupied territories, formed a Polish enclave at Haren in Germany, which was for a while known as "Maczków". The majority of its soldiers opted not to return to Poland, which fell under Soviet occupation, preferring instead to remain in exile. Many artefacts and memorabilia belonging to Maczek and the 1st Polish Armoured Division are on display in the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum in London.