Displaced belongings

As the Second World War raged in the Baltics, thousands of escape boats set course for Sweden. On board were not only refugees, but also suitcases and trunks packed with the things they could not bear to leave behind. And so photo albums, silver cutlery, christening gowns, books, and teddy bears went to sea, along side fishing nets, compasses, and even firearms.

In Displaced belongings, the same cherished possessions guide us through the seminal period in Baltic history. They embody the fates of individuals living under successive occupations of the Baltic States, but also the shared memory of their escape. Theirs are stories of hope and despair, ordinary life and hardship, loss and survival, at one of the most turbulent times ever witnessed. They might seem insignificant, but these small, colourful objects are a unique chapter in the history of the Baltic Sea and an important contribution to the world history of migration.

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