Nemi Ships - Destruction

Destruction

The ships were destroyed by fire in World War II on the night of May 31, 1944. Several US army shells hit the Museum around 8 pm causing little damage but forcing the German artillery to leave the area. Around two hours later smoke was seen coming from the Museum. There are conflicting views on which side was responsible for the destruction:

At that time, Allied forces were pursuing the retreating German army northward through the Alban Hills toward Rome. On May 28, a German artillery post was established within 400 feet (120 m) of the museum … An official report filed in Rome later that year described the tragedy as a willful act on the part of the German soldiers. A German editorial blamed the destruction on American artillery fire. The true story of what happened that night will probably never be known.

Only the bronzes, a few charred timbers and some material stored in Rome survived the fire. Due to the destruction, research effectively stopped until the 1980s. The museum was restored and reopened in 1953. One-fifth scale models of the ships were built in the Naples naval dockyard and these along with the remaining artifacts are housed there.