"During the ice route operation, the divers of the Special Purpose Underwater Works Expedition recovered 460 trucks from the bottom of Lake Ladoga and the Gulf of Finland. EPRON also worked in the summer, and from July 10 to September 10, 1943, 20 trucks were recovered. From the 1942 report"
"As soon as the first vehicles appeared on the ice, the enemy aircraft began to interfere with the route operation, strafing the continuous flow of vehicles and specifically targeting the distinctive groups of divers on the ice. Since the vehicles were in motion, the enemy's firepower was directed towards the diving stations, which they used as a reference point for their accurate shooting. The freezing temperatures and blizzards made the work more challenging. The hoses of the diving stations froze. Their joints were warmed by their own breath, and they continued working." [Central War and Maritime Archive. F. 171. L. 3. F. 26. P. 110]
Divers from the Red Banner EPRON (Special Purpose Underwater Work Expedition) recover a sunken cargo from the bottom of Lake Ladoga. Source: L. 1AR-16. St. unit 28221, Central State Archive of Cinema, Photo and Audio Documents of St. Petersburg
Divers from the Red Banner EPRON (Special Purpose Underwater Work Expedition) recover a sunken cargo from the bottom of Lake Ladoga. Source: L. 1AR-16. St. unit 28221, Central State Archive of Cinema, Photo and Audio Documents of St. Petersburg
Divers from the Red Banner EPRON (Special Purpose Underwater Works Expedition) recover a sunken tank from the bottom of Lake Ladoga. Source: L. 1AR-27. St. unit 45715_0001, Central State Archive of Cinema, Photo and Audio Documents of St. Petersburg
Diver A. P. Mishin before going underwater, January 1943. Source: L. 1AR-2. St/ unit 3174, Central State Archive of Cinema, Photo and Audio Documents of St. Petersburg