FORTIFICATIONS – FORTRESS – MILITARIA

MILITARY TOURS OF POLAND

GDANSK BASTIONS

Earthen fortifications surrounded by a former moat filled with the water of the Motlawa river. This complex forms just a remnant of a huge defence system that used to surround Gdansk and that dates back to the early modern period. It is one of the biggest and the best preserved system of 16-17th century fortifications.

GREAT ARMOURY

It’s one of the most beautiful and precious objects built in Dutch Mannerism style in Europe. It was raised in the beginning of 17th century as an armoury and gunpowder works, humorously called by Gdansk bourgeoisie as pharmacy.

WISLOUJSCIE FORTRESS

Although the roots of the fortress date back to 14th century, the fortress started to turn into the present shape at the end of 15th century.  The major task of the fortress was defence of Gdansk port. It was also functioning as the lighthouse and checkpoint for ships heading to Gdansk. Worthy a note is beautiful shape of the fortress and innovative structure. The substructures of the fortress are grounded on wooden containers, which are set under water. The hardcore that was put into containers form base where the fortress was built. The central point is the tower surrounded by brick-built circle to which officers’ houses adhere. Exterior part is formed by four-bastions Fort Carré, which adjoin to the Vistula river from one side and is surrounded by Eastern Bulwark and the moat from other side. The fortress has never been captured. It is invaluable monument of military architecture.

SIEGE OF WESTERPLATTE

The first battle of World War II that lasted from 1 to 7 September 1939. The attack began when the battleship Schleswig-Holstein opened without warning fire towards Polish garrison. The battleship arrived on a ‘courtesy visit’ to the Free City of Danzig to pay tribute to German sailors from cruiser ‘Magdeburg’, fallen in Baltic Sea in August 1914. Secret plans projected completely different scenario… Westerplatte battlefield is listed on the Monuments of the History list. At the battlefield area, it is possible to see ruins of Wojskowa Składnica Tranzytowa (ammunition depot), i. a. ruins of reinforced concrete guardhouses.

GRADOWA HILL FORTRESS (GDANSK GORD)

Gradowa Hill Fortress (Gdansk gord, i.e. a place of early Slavic settlement) – complex of bastions and entrenchments set up in response to increasing threat of a conflict between Poland and Sweden in XVII century. The fortifications are comprised of earthworks braced with brick-built constructions. The fortified hill buffered Gdansk during Swedish siege during Charles X Gustav’s invasion of the country as well as during the Great Northern War. In the beginning of 19th century the hill was redeveloped by Prussians (who were in power in Gdansk at that time) to prepare a defence of the city against the approaching French Army. It was in vain as it turn out later. After having captured Gdansk Napoleon visited the hill personally in order to supervise the ongoing modification works. From then on, the hill was to be commonly called Napoleon’s Fort. During Polish People’s Republic period the communistic government installed in the fortress the facility which was jamming Radio Free Europe.

ORP BLYSKAWICA

Polish grom-class destroyer, took part in battles in Europe from the beginning to the end of World War II. These days, it functions as a part of Polish Navy Museum in Gdynia.

GDYNIA TORPEDO LAUNCH

Gdynia torpedo launch – object where Luftwaffe torpedoes were tested. Torpedo tube was built on Gdansk Bay in 1941. After World War II, most of fitments were seized by Soviet army and transported to USSR. It is a home for many spices of water fowl and object of expeditions for dives and lovers of water sports nowadays.

HEL

It used to be a small Kashubian fishing village accessible only by boat. Today it is a popular bathing resort.

Hel as the main station of Polish Navy was attacked by German army on the first day of World War II – 1 September 1939. Later on the peninsula was intensively fortified by Germans between 1944 -1945. In period of Cold War, because of the strategic location, Hel once again became the most important base for Polish Navy. In those times the access to the town was limited for the civilians.

BLÜCHER WEAPON EMPLACEMENT

‘Blücher’ – German bunkers complex from 1930s, part of unaccomplished investment – trade and naval port, which was launching to take over water transport between Reich and the enclave in East Prussia avoiding transit via ‘Polish Passage’. These days, mysterious nether regions of Blücher Weapon Emplacement function as multimedia museum.

ROCKET LAUNCHER IN RABKA

Rocket Launcher Museum in Rabka – Hitlerian testing ground, where Rheintochter rockets were tested during World War II.

DAG BROMBERG COMPANY

DAG Bromberg Company was built for the needs of III Reich military missions. The factory fulfilled 1/5 requisition of German army fighting on Eastern Front in TNT, smokeless powder and nitro-glycerine. There were employed about 40 thousand unfree labourers. Many of them died because of penal work. In the complex of 7 factory buildings connected by system underground tunnels and passages we can find i.a. exhibition dedicated to Alfred Nobel.

GRUDZIADZ FORTRESS

Grudziadz Fortress – a system of forts which was set up at the turn of the 19 and 20th century. The major task of the fortress was a defence of Grudziadz and a strategic bridge on the Vistula river against a possible Russian advance. Both central and the oldest point of the fortress is the Citadel. In the beginning of World War II Germans used Grudziadz Fortress as a testing ground as well as a magazine. With the perspective of Eastern Front’s retreat Hitler once again set the city a high goal: being the last line of defence. Only after intensive fighting between January and the beginning of March 1945 the Red Army defeated Germans who first took refuge in the Citadel and capitulated eventually on 6 March 1945.

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