The Boyen Fortress in Giżycko
The Boyen Fortress is one of the best preserved examples of 19th century fortifications in Poland. Located on the isthmus between the lakes Kisajno and Niegocin, it forms an irregular-shaped star. Four gates lead to the fortress centre, where lies the heart of East Prussia’s defensive system. In 1914 the fortress successfully stopped the Russian attack. The fortress is open to the public. The building of the former barracks now houses the Boyen Fortress Museum. Near the fortress, on the hill called Góra Stołowa we can see a cross commemorating Saint Bruno of Querfurt and his eighteen companions. The martyrs probably were killed here by Prussians in March 1009.
Tourist information, tel. + 48 87 428 52 65, www.gizycko.turystyka.pl
Gierłoż – The Wolf’s Lair
It was a strategic decision of the Third Reich leaders to establish headquarters in the land of lakes, bogs and far-stretching forests. They were major command centres, equipped with the most modern communications networks. The most famous of all Masurian headquarters of the Third Reich is the Wolf’s Lair, Hitler’s headquarters in Gierłoż. It is a complex of buildings erected between 1940 – 1944. The greatest bunkers had incredibly thick walls without windows and 7-metre high reinforced concrete roofs. In 1945 German sappers used hundred of tones of explosive materials in order to blow up all buildings and bunkers in Gierłoż.
Useful information
The Wolf’s Lair, tel. +48 89 752 44 29, www.wolfsschanze.home.pl
marked sightseeing route; entrance is payable; a possibility of hiring a guide.
The Headquarters “Wendula”
Several kilometres north-east of Gierłoż in Radzieje we can pay a visit to the chief chancellor of the Third Reich - Hans Lammers’s headquarters of the code name “Wendula”. They are much smaller than the Wolf’s Lair in Gierłoż. Two concrete bunkers have survived, whereas the other ones have fallen in ruin. The headquarters are open to the public, but there is no marked sightseeing route.
The concrete town
In the forest around the village of Mamerki you will find a former seat of the High Commander of the Land Forces. Between 1940-1944 over 200 structures were erected in the area. At that time Mamerki gave employment to 1500 people. 30 concrete bunkers have survived in good condition, including ‘the giant bunker’, which resembles the structures from the Wolf’s Lair. On the roof of one of the bunkers there is a tower overlooking the picturesque surroundings. Mamerki is an area of special bats protection. It is the second biggest hibernation place of bats, especially the barbastelle bat. Bunkers with marked sightseeing routes are open to the public all year. Entrance is payable from May till the end of October.
Useful information
Tourist information Węgorzewo tel. + 48 87 427 40 09 , www.mamerki.com
“The Robinson complex”
In the forest Puszcza Romincka, near the town of Gołdap, there is a woodland area Kumiecie which was a seat of the chief Commander of the Air Force. Like other Masurian headquarters, the complex consists of several bunkers and concrete buildings, which functioned in the times of the Third Reich under the code name “Robinson”. It was also the name of a special train, available only for Luftwaffe leaders. In 1944, when the Red Army was approaching the border, German soldiers blew up several structures of the headquarters. Some buildings of the Sanatorium Vital in Gołdap used to belong to the Robinson headquarters.
Pozezdrze – Hochwald
1 km of the village of Pozezdrze history lovers are invited to pay a visit to ruins of Himmler’s field headquarters. The headquarters under the code name Hochwald consist of 9 buildings, all of which were destroyed by Germans in January 1945. The structure which has been preserved in relatively good condition is Himmler’s bunker with double-thick walls and roof.
Information: www.pozesdrze.pl
Martiany – military bunker
It is a well preserved military bunker built in 1939, which is now located in the premises of one of the households in Martiany. Inside you will see all original German inscriptions made by the bunker’s residents, remains of suspended beds and machine gun portholes. The owner renders the premises available for tourists.
|
3.39
5.36
