Category: Ideas

Category: Ideas

Churches Of Peace in Jawor and Swidnica

Churches Of Peace

Churches Of Peace – updated 10 January 2023.

The Churches of Peace in Jawor and Swidnica, were built in the former Silesia in the mid-17th century. They were named after the Peace of Westphalia, which was the name given to two peace treaties signed in October 1648 that resulted in the end of the Thirty Years War bringing peace to the Holy Roman Empire and closing a calamitous period of European history that killed approximately eight million people.

Churches Of Peace

The peace treaties effectively eradicated the Evangelical Church in the region depriving the Evangelical majority of the population any religious freedom and all of their churches.

After diplomatic intervention by Sweden, permission was granted to build three churches outside the city walls; however, this permission came with strict physical and political constraints. The Lutherans of Silesia were allowed to build three churches from wood, clay and straw without steeples and church bells with a construction deadline of just one year.

Churches Of Peace

Albrecht von Säbisch

The project was handed to architect and engineer Albrecht von Säbisch who had the difficult task of meeting the requirements of the large Evangelical community whilst also adhering to the caveats imposed on the construction of the churches.

The architect created a set of buildings that represented the pinnacle of timber-framing construction technology and architectural solutions. The Churches of Peace are the largest timber-framed Baroque ecclesiastical buildings in Europe and were built to a scale and complexity unknown in European wooden architecture before or since.

Churches Of Peace

Albrecht von Säbisch used traditional materials and technologies and despite the impermanence of the materials used, the building survived for hundreds of years.

Jawor

The Church of the Holy Spirit in Jawor was built in 1654–1655 as a rectangular three-aisled basilica with a three-sided chancel of reduced form.

Świdnica

The Church of the Holy Trinity in Świdnica was built in 1656–1657 as a three-aisled basilica with a Greek cross ground plan. The third of the Churches of Peace allowed under the Peace of Westphalia was built in Głogów in 1652 but burned down a hundred years later. Since 2001, the two remaining churches are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

FAQ

Here are some common questions and answers that you might find helpful:

Q: Where are the Churches of Peace located?
A: The two Churches of Peace (Jaworska and Świdnicka) are located in the Lower Silesia region of Poland, in the towns of Jawor and Świdnica, respectively. Both are located in southwestern Poland.

Q: When were the Churches of Peace built?
A: The Church of Peace in Jawor was built between 1655 and 1657, while the Church of Peace in Świdnica was built between 1657 and 1666.

Q: What is the history of the Churches of Peace?
A: The Churches of Peace were built as part of the Treaty of Westphalia, which brought an end to the 30 Years War (1618-1648) in Europe. The treaty granted the Protestants of Silesia the right to build three wooden churches, as a counterbalance to the Catholic churches in the region. The Jawor and Świdnica churches are two of the three that were built. They are some of the largest wooden religious buildings in Europe and are considered architectural and engineering masterpieces of their time.

Q: What can I see on a visit to the Churches of Peace?
A: Visitors can explore the interior of the churches and admire the intricate woodwork and the beautiful frescoes and paintings that adorn the walls and ceilings. You can also see the organ, pulpit, and altar.

Q: Are the Churches of Peace open to visitors?
A: Yes, both churches are open to visitors, but please check the official website for current opening hours and potential restrictions.

Q: How long does a visit to the Churches of Peace last?
A: A visit to the Churches of Peace can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how much you want to explore and learn.

Q: Are there any special requirements to visit the Churches of Peace?
A: There are no special requirements to visit the Churches of Peace, but visitors should be aware that photography inside the churches is not allowed.

Q: Are there any other things to do in the area?
A: Both Jawor and Świdnica are historic towns with charming old town squares and many other interesting buildings, monuments, and museums to visit. The area is also great for hiking and biking. The region is also famous for its culture of glass making and it is worth visiting some of the glassworks and museums to learn more about it.

Recommended Tour

Centennial Hall

What to expect from this tour

Highlights

  • Observe the production process of Boleslawiec pottery and visit the factory store
  • Learn about how the pottery is decorated by hand
  • See the majestic wooden Church of Peace in Jawor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Description

The first recorded history about pottery activities in the Bolesławiec region date back to the end of the 14th century. Since then, the region became know as a very important area of pottery production. Visit one of the best local manufacturers observing the skilled workers at the different stages of production.

Especially spectacular is the decoration, all of which is done by hand with special stamps with the emblematic pattern called peacock's eye. Afterwards, there is some time for shopping before heading to the next stop, a local restaurant for lunch.

On the way back you will have a chance to see one of the biggest wooden churches in Europe. The outstanding Church of Peace in Jawor was built during the socio-political context of the 17th century during the religious wars and persecution of the Protestants. It was constructed under very strict regulations and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Includes

  • Entrance and visit to Bolesiawiec Manufature
    Entrance to the Church of Peace in Jawor

Centennial Hall In Wroclaw

Centennial Hall

Centennial Hall Wroclaw – updated 10 January 2023.

Centennial Hall was erected in 1911-1913 by the architect Max Berg as a multi-purpose recreational building and is a landmark in the history of reinforced concrete architecture. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.

Centennial Hall

The building is frequently visited by tourists and the local populace. It lies close to other popular tourist attractions, such as the Wrocław Zoo, the Japanese Garden, and the Pergola with its Multimedia Fountain.

National Historic Monument

The building became one of Poland’s official national Historic Monuments (Pomnik historii), as designated on 20th April 2005, together with the Four Domes Pavilion, the Pergola, and the Iglica. Its listing is maintained by the National Heritage Board of Poland.

The building was designed to respond to emerging social needs and included an assembly hall, an auditorium for theatre performances, an exhibition space and a sports venue.

The hall was built as part of a Centennial Exhibition to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Leipzig, won by the anti-French coalition against Napoleon Bonaparte.

Concrete technology

Max Berg, who was the Wrocław city architect at the time, designed the massive Centennial Hall using new reinforced concrete technology. It was a pioneering work of modern engineering and architecture and became a key reference in the design of public spaces and in the further evolution of reinforced concrete technology.

The 23m dome was the largest ever reinforced concrete dome in the world at the time and was made from steel and glass. The hall had an inner diameter of 69m and a height of 42m and was the largest building of its kind at the time of construction. It can seat around 7,000 people.

The Centennial Hall (Hala Stulecia) is currently one of the most sought-after places to organise exhibitions, conferences, congresses, and cultural and sporting events within Poland and from overseas.

FAQ

Here are some common questions and answers that you might find helpful:

Q: Where is the Centennial Hall located?
A: The Centennial Hall is located in Wrocław, Poland, in the district of Psie Pole. It’s situated within the Wrocław City Park, one of the largest city parks in Europe.

Q: When was the Centennial Hall built?
A: The Centennial Hall was built between 1911 and 1913 as part of the celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the defeat of Napoleon.

Q: What is the history of the Centennial Hall?
A: The Centennial Hall was designed by architect Max Berg and was one of the first buildings in the world to be constructed using reinforced concrete. It was intended as a multifunctional building and was used for various events such as concerts, exhibitions, and sporting events. The building was severely damaged during World War II, but was rebuilt and reopened in 1971. Today it is a National Heritage Site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Q: What can I see on a visit to the Centennial Hall?
A: Visitors can explore the Centennial Hall and admire its impressive architecture and learn about its history. You can also see the grand Hall itself, and the bas-reliefs, sculptures and frescoes that adorn it.

Q: Is the Centennial Hall open to visitors?
A: Yes, the Centennial Hall is open to visitors. The opening hours vary, please check the official website for current times.

Q: How long does a visit to the Centennial Hall last?
A: A visit to the Centennial Hall can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how much you want to explore and learn.

Q: Are there any special requirements to visit the Centennial Hall?
A: There are no special requirements to visit the Centennial Hall. However, visitors should note that some parts of the building are not accessible to people with limited mobility.

Q: Are there any other things to do in the area?
A: The Centennial Hall is located in Wrocław City Park, which is a great place to relax, take a walk, or have a picnic. You can also visit the nearby Japanese Garden or the Zoo. Wrocław is a beautiful city with lots of things to see and do, like the Old Town, Wrocław’s famous dwarfs and many other historic buildings, monuments and museums.

Wroclaw: Recommended tour

Centennial Hall

What to expect from this tour

Highlights

  • See more of Wroclaw in a shorter amount of time by electric car
  • Learn about the history of the city and its monuments on the route
  • Travel along routes planned by licensed guides

Description

Discover the beauty of Wroclaw during a 2-hour electric car tour. See many of the interesting sights and landmarks of the city in a convenient and comfortable way.

The itinerary takes visitors to 30 of the most important monuments and attractions of the capital of Lower Silesia.

Routes for the tour were prepared by licensed city tour guides and include places such as Saint Elisabeth Church, Jatki, the University of Wrocław, Ossolineum, Market Hall, Piasek Island, Piasek Bridge, Cathedral Island, Botanical Gardens, Saint Martin Church, and more.

Commentary on board is available in multiple languages. The high-quality sound system in the electric car makes it possible to learn about the exciting history of the city in the language of your choice.

Includes

Electric car
Heated interior and warm blankets (December-February)
Hotel pickup

Other tours & attractions

The Drowning Of Marzanna

Drowning Marzanna

The drowning of Marzanna – updated 29 August 2022

When it comes to whacky & bizarre traditions, the drowning of Marzanna scores 11/10 and has a distinct Children of the Corn feel about it. The tradition is a surviving pagan ritual in which an effigy of the goddess of winter, plague and death is set alight and then drowned.

drowning of Marzanna

Marzanna is sometimes referred to as Winter’s Witch and according to Slavic superstition, she had to be killed to ensure that spring arrived on time and the harvest was plentiful. Of course, being a witch, the killing involved a good old-fashioned witch-burning followed by a drowning.

Historically, the effigy of Marzanna was made out of straw, was wrapped in linen and decorated with beads & ribbons. Then on the afternoon of 21st March, the children of the village would torture her by putting her head in every trough, water barrel and puddle available before handing the idol to the grown-ups to set her on fire and throw her in the river, with much applause and cheering.

drowning of Marzanna

In some regions of Poland, the burnt and soaked effigy was then removed from the water and paraded back through the village.

Today, the ritual is alive and well (unlike Marzanna) and children in kindergarten and primary schools all over Poland create a Marzanna doll made out of rags, sticks and straw, take her to the nearest riverbank and burn and drown her usually whilst singing witch burning or spring related songs.

The Marzanna doll can range in size from a small puppet to a life-sized dummy and (we should have mentioned this), the burning and drowning takes place under adult supervision.

drowning of Marzanna

The tradition of burning or drowning an effigy of Marzanna to celebrate the end of winter is a folk custom that survives in the Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, and Slovakia. The ritual represents the end of the dark days of winter, the victory over death, and the welcoming of the spring rebirth.

In 1420, the Catholic Church attempted to forbid this old pagan custom, however, both the custom and tradition prevailed.

Śmigus Dyngus

Śmigus Dyngus

Śmigus Dyngus – updated 29 August 2022

This is a celebration held on Easter Monday each year; which traditionally involved men throwing buckets of water over women. The ladies were supposed to wait until the next day to get their revenge by soaking the guys but the reality today is a massive water fight with everyone soaking everyone on the same day.

Śmigus Dyngus

The day is known affectionately as Wet Monday (lany poniedziałek in Polish) and if you are in Poland on this day, expect to get soaked from head to toe. There are no rules anymore and weapons of choice include water guns, balloons, buckets and anything else that can carry water.

Usually the ladies end up drawing the short stick during this tradition and the prettier they are, the wetter they will be. Very attractive girls can expect to be soaked repeatedly during the day.

Wet Monday

In Poland’s rural areas, sneaking into a girl’s home in the morning and throwing a bucket of water over her whilst she is still in bed and then dragging her to a nearby river or pond for a further soaking is not unusual. Sometimes the girl and her bed are thrown in the water together.

There are other rituals associated with Śmigus Dyngus apart from throwing water at each other, including whipping with pussy willow branches, dressing up as bears and other woodland creatures, house-to-house processions and verse declarations.

Śmigus Dyngus

Traditionally, boys would whip girls with pussy willows on Easter Monday and the girls would reciprocate on the next day. Pussy willow branches were adopted as an alternative to the palm leaves used elsewhere in Easter celebrations, because they were not available in Poland. Prior to the beginning of the whipping, the pussy willow branches were blessed by priests on Palm Sunday.

The origins of Śmigus Dyngus are uncertain but is believed to date back to pagan times and is described in writing as early as the 15th century. The use of water is said to evoke the spring rains needed to ensure a successful harvest later in the year. Girls could save themselves from a soaking by giving boys bribes of painted eggs (pisanki), regarded as magical charms that would bring good harvests, successful relationships and healthy childbirths. Similar traditions can be found all around Central and Eastern Europe.

Easter in Poland

Easter in Poland

Easter in Poland – updated 29 August 2022

There’s no escaping the connotations that Easter in Poland is all about religion; however this is far from reality, it is also about eating and spending time with your family & friends.

Holidays in Poland

Second only to Christmas, Easter is one of the most beautiful celebrations of the year, it is also a time which marks the end of winter and the promise of sunny weather ahead.

Easter in Poland in linked to the Western Roman Catholic calendar; which dictates that Easter Sunday falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring so there is a pagan connection working alongside Christian rites and practices. Families across Poland take part in Easter celebration regardless of their religious beliefs.

Holidays

Preparation for the Easter holiday begins with Lent, the 40 days that mark the time prior to Resurrection Day, a time when, traditionally, people were not supposed to eat meat or sweets or enjoy alcohol and tobacco and this practice was once deeply rooted within Polish culture. Nowadays, the majority of Poles do not follow the rules of Lent to the letter and prefer instead to use this period of time to perhaps abstain from one thing such as alcohol or chocolate.

In Poland. the week preceding Easter is all about spring cleaning and getting your property spick and span. It also includes an evening mass on Easter Friday called Droga Krzyżowa (Way of the Cross).

Toys

The Saturday before Easter Sunday is traditionally used to paint hard-boiled eggs (pisanki) and prepare Easter baskets (Święconka) ready to take to the church to be blessed. Each basket is filled with a variety of foods and usually contain a piece of sausage, bread, salt & pepper, pisanki, fresh cress or oats and a small sugar or plastic lamb. Each basket is also lined with either a white lace or linen napkin and decorated with sprigs of boxwood.

Easter Poland

After being blessed, the Easter basket is taken home and must remain untouched until the next morning, Easter Sunday.

On Easter Sunday, some Poles go to church at 6am for the Resurrection mass; which involves a procession; however the day is primarily focused on family and food. Easter breakfast is a big event in Poland and it includes the contents of the Easter basket in addition to a feast of sausage, ham, roast meats, pâté, eggs, horseradish relish and bread. Its not unusual for the Easter breakfast to take up to 3 hours.

Similar to Christmas with the sharing of opłatek, people at the Easter breakfast will share the contents of the Easter basket. The rules are that the contents must be shared evenly and with everyone.

After the meats comes the cakes with the usual offering being either a sweet yeast cake with a hole in the middle known as a babka or a Mazurek; which is a cake covered in icing topped with almonds, walnuts, dried fruit and roasted seeds. Plus there will always be at least one cheesecake!

Easter in Poland

The last day of Easter is Easter Monday, known in Poland as Śmigus Dyngus or Wet Monday.

Christmas In Poland

Christmas in Poland

Christmas in Poland – Updated 12 September 2022

Christmas is an important holiday in Poland and is celebrated by both Catholics and non-Catholics. It is a time for families to come together and celebrate with traditional meals and activities.

One of the most important traditions is the preparation of the Christmas Eve feast, known as Wigilia. This meal is usually meatless and includes dishes such as fish, pierogi (dumplings filled with sauerkraut, mushrooms, or potatoes), and carp. It is also traditional to leave a place setting at the table for any unexpected guests or for the Christmas spirit, known as the “Wigilia Baby.”

Other Christmas traditions in Poland include the decorating of the Christmas tree, the exchange of gifts, and the singing of carols. In addition, it is also common to attend Mass on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Christmas markets

Poland is a very popular destination for visitors from overseas during the festive period, particularly in the main cities such as Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk & Wroclaw where you will find traditional Christmas markets selling an assortment of festive products.

Christmas in Poland

Gingerbread

Traditionally during Advent, families would bake Christmas gingerbread and use it to make their own decorations. Gingerbread was made into a variety of shapes including hearts, animals and St. Nicholas figures (St. Nick is the Polish version of Santa).

Today, most Poles buy their Christmas decorations in the shops and markets as there is always a fantastic selection on offer. Some families still make their own decorations from gingerbread; however, this is more commonplace in the villages of Poland rather than the cities and towns.

Christmas trees

You’ll find Christmas trees in most public areas in Poland and also outside churches and within people’s homes. Traditionally Christmas trees in Poland were decorated with shiny apples, walnuts, wrapped chocolate shapes, hand blown glass baubles, and many homemade ornaments and candles with a star as a top piece. You may still find this in some homes; however today most Poles decorate their trees in a similar fashion to trees in the UK or America.

Christmas in Poland

Unlike the UK where Christmas trees are erected in homes in early December and are usually taken down on the 6th January, the poles decorate their trees just before Christmas and may keep them that way until early February.

It is still commonplace for Christmas trees to be real in Poland; however, many Poles do opt for replica trees, particularly in apartment blocks – to avoid the inevitable clean-up of pine needles on the stairs and in the elevator.

Gwiazdory

During the run up to Christmas, you may see the “Gwiazdory,” or star carriers wandering through the towns and villages. Depending on location, some of the Gwiazdory will sing carols, recite verses or put on puppet shows & nativity scenes. Today, the Gwiazdory are usually a group of men dressed in Santa costumes.

Oplatek

One tradition unique to Poland is the sharing of the “oplatek”, a thin wafer into which is pressed a holy picture. People once carried these oplatki from house to house wishing their neighbours a Merry Christmas. Nowadays, the bread is mostly shared with members of the family and immediate neighbours.

As each person shares pieces of the wafer with another person, they are supposed to forgive any hurts that have occurred over the past year and to wish the other person all the happiness in the coming year.

Christmas Eve in Poland

In Poland, Christmas Eve is the big event, not Christmas Day. Traditionally, everyone would wait until the appearance of the first star in the sky (Gwiazdka) and then a huge feast would begin (Wigilia) followed by an exchange of gifts. Before the sighting of the first star, people would fast. to make the feast more enjoyable. Today, most Poles begin festivities prior to Gwiazdka.

Wigilia

Wigilia (the Christmas supper) is a carefully planned meal packed pull of traditions. Bits of hay are spread beneath the tablecloth as a reminder that Christ was born in a manger and an even number of people must be seated around the table or tradition states, someone may die in the coming year

In some places an empty place setting is symbolically left at the table for the Baby Jesus or for a wanderer who may be in need, or if a deceased relative should come and would like to share in the meal.

The meal begins with the breaking of the oplatek. Everyone at the table breaks off a piece and eats it as a symbol of their unity with Christ. They then share a piece with each family member giving good wishes for the following year. There should be twelve dishes, as a symbol of the Twelve Apostles, or an odd number of dishes for good luck (usually five, seven, or nine). Poppy seed cake, beet soup, prune dumplings, carp, herring and noodles with poppy seed are universal Polish Christmas foods. There is no meat in the Christmas Eve feast.

Christmas Day is a day spent visiting friends.

Christmas in Poland Tours & Experiences

Fat Thursday

Fat Thursday (Tłusty Czwartek)

Fat Thursday – Updated 05 February 2024

Of all the traditions in Poland, Fat Thursday is one of the most popular, one of the oldest (16th century) and definitely the tastiest.

Fat Thursday (Tłusty Czwartek in Polish) happens every year in February and on the last Thursday prior to Ash Wednesday marking the beginning of Lent. It basically involves eating as many doughnuts as possible; which apparently brings you good luck.

Fat Thursday

Each year, approx. 100 million doughnuts are consumed in Poland on Tłusty Czwartek, that equates to two and a half for each person.

The type of doughnuts eaten are known as pączki; which are deep-fried, usually filled with jam or marmalade, sugar glazed and topped with candied orange peel. As an alternative to pączki (or more likely as an addition to), Poles also like to eat faworki. These are thin doughnut ribbons; which are fried until they are crispy and topped with powdered sugar and are also known as “angel wings.”

Fat Thursday

The traditional reason for making pączki was to use up all the lard, sugar, eggs and fruit in the house, because their consumption was forbidden by Christian fasting practices during the season of Lent.

You can buy pączki and faworki from most bakeries any day of the year; however it is only on Fat Thursday when you will see queues a few hundred metres long outside the best bakeries, with Poles making sure that they get their hands on the best doughnuts. The two most famous bakeries in Poland are Zagoździński in Warsaw or Michałek in Kraków.

Over the years, the recipe for doughnuts has evolved considerably. Today, they are light and fluffy, back in the 16th century they resembled rocks and it is said that if thrown at you, they could cause damage.

Fat Thursday

The tradition of Tłusty Czwartek is so strong; there are even proverbs written about them such as ‘those who don’t eat a stack of pączki on Fat Thursday will have an empty barn and their field destroyed by mice.’

Pączki are different to doughnuts that you will find in other countries, the traditional recipe includes lard, eggs, yeast, wheat flour and loads of sugar. They are fried in lard or deep oil for a very short while and they taste at their best when they are still warm. A small amount of grain alcohol (traditionally rectified spirit) is added to the dough before cooking; as it evaporates, it prevents the absorption of oil deep into the dough.

Today, Polish chefs cater for everyone and it is possible to find vegan and gluten-free versions of doughnuts and even the traditional filling is often replaced with alternatives such as vanilla custard or chocolate.

The equivalent of Fat Thursday is also celebrated in other countries such as Germany, Italy & Spain. It is similar to the British tradition of Shrove Tuesday, where many Brits eat pancakes on the final Tuesday before lent.

Miedzyrzecz Reinforced Region

Miedzyrzecz

Miedzyrzecz – updated 15 January 2023.

The Miedzyrzecz Reinforced Region (MRR) was a fortified area built by the Germans in occupied Poland during World War II. It was located in the present-day western part of Poland, east of the city of Poznan and was part of the larger system of fortifications known as the “Reinforced Region East” (RRE). The MRR was designed to protect against a possible Soviet invasion of Germany and to control the population in the area.

Miedzyrzecz

MRR

The MRR was made up of a network of bunkers, trenches, and other fortifications, as well as anti-tank ditches and minefields. The fortifications were built using forced labor, mostly by prisoners of war and concentration camp inmates. The MRR was never completed and it was never put to the test during the war. After the war, the fortifications were dismantled and the area was returned to civilian use. Today, some of the fortifications still exist, and some have been turned into museums or other tourist attractions.

Dragon teeth

Built by Nazi Germany with the purpose of protecting the most vital section of the eastern border of Germany, Miedzyrzecz Reinforced Region was a line of 106 reinforced concrete bunkers with 25cm thick walls, steel domes and concrete antitank barriers called “dragon teeth”.

Underground tunnels

21 of the concrete bunkers were connected by a 30 km network of 40m deep underground tunnels containing railway stations, war rooms, workshops, engine rooms, stockrooms and barracks. The whole network of bunkers and underground system of the Miedzyrzecz Reinforced Region were fitted with essential equipment such as lighting, ventilation, plumbing, sewage disposal and communications.

Miedzyrzecz

30,000 bats

Miedzyrzecz Reinforced Region remains one of the largest and the most interesting systems of this type in the world today. It is also one of the largest hibernation sites for bats in Europe. Each year over 30,000 of them winter here representing 13 different species.

Museum & routes

Today, the Miedzyrzecz Reinforced Region is partially open to the public. Visitors can visit the museum and also choose from five different routes with various levels of difficulty, lengths and duration.

Miedzyrzecz

Short Route – This is the shortest of the routes available to tourists. The duration of the trip is 1.5 hours, while the length of the entire route is approximately 1500 meters.

Long Route – The duration of the trip is 2.5 hours, while the length of the entire route is approximately 2,500 meters.

Extreme Route – Depending on the variant, they take up to 3 hours, 6 hours or the longest up to 8 hours of underground hiking.

Surface Route – The option is ideal for people who want less physical effort or do not want to visit the underground routes.

Miedzyrzecz

Detailed information about the routes and prices can be found on the official MRU website

FAQ

Q: When was the Miedzyrzecz Reinforced Region (MRR) built?
A: The MRR was built by the Germans during World War II, it was part of the larger system of fortifications known as the “Reinforced Region East” (RRE)

Q: Where is the Miedzyrzecz Reinforced Region located?
A: The MRR is located in the present-day western part of Poland, east of the city of Poznan.

Q: Who built the Miedzyrzecz Reinforced Region?
A: The MRR was built by the Germans during World War II, using forced labor, mostly by prisoners of war and concentration camp inmates.

Q: What was the purpose of building the Miedzyrzecz Reinforced Region?
A: The MRR was designed to protect against a possible Soviet invasion of Germany and to control the population in the area.

Q: Was the Miedzyrzecz Reinforced Region completed?
A: The MRR was never completed, it was part of the larger system of fortifications called the “Reinforced Region East” (RRE) which was never finished.

Q: Is the Miedzyrzecz Reinforced Region open to the public?
A: Some of the fortifications still exist, and some have been turned into museums or other tourist attractions. Visitors can tour the remains of the fortifications and learn about their history and the role they played during World War II.

Tours & Attractions

Camp Łambinowice

Łambinowice

Łambinowice – updated 13 January 2023.

Camp Łambinowice, also known as Zwangsarbeitslager Lambinowice, was a Nazi German concentration camp located in the village of Łambinowice in Lower Silesia, Poland. The camp was established in 1941, during World War II, as a subcamp of the Gross-Rosen concentration camp.

Łambinowice

Auschwitz and Dachau

The camp was primarily used for the imprisonment and forced labor of Polish political prisoners and Jews. Many of the prisoners were brought from other camps, including Auschwitz and Dachau. Many were also Polish resistance fighters, priests, and intellectuals.

Inhumane conditions

Prisoners were subjected to inhumane conditions, including overcrowding, starvation, disease, and abuse. Many prisoners were forced to work in the nearby coal mines, and the work was extremely dangerous and grueling. Thousands of prisoners died at the camp due to the harsh conditions and mistreatment.

Gas chamber

The camp also had a section known as “Vernichtungslager” (extermination camp), where prisoners were killed in a gas chamber.

Invasion of Poland

Throughout the war, more than 300,000 Allied and Soviet prisoners passed through the gates of the camp at Łambinowice. The base camp was given the designation Stalag VIII-B (later to become Stalag 344).

In 1941 a separate camp, Stalag VIII-F was set up close by to house the Soviet prisoners.

Warsaw Rising

In October 1944 soldiers and officers were brought to Łambinowice from the Warsaw Rising, including over 1,000 women. Later, most of the prisoners were transferred to other camps.

Red Army

In January 1945, as the Soviet army approached, the Germans began to evacuate the camp, forcing the prisoners on a death march westward. Many prisoners did not survive the march, and those who did were liberated by the Soviet army in April of that year.

After the Soviet takeover of the area, on 17th March 1945 the Red Army took the camp over and continued to operate it, this time the institution housed German prisoners of war.

Łambinowice

Transit camp

A transit camp, run by the Ministry of Internal Security and commanded by Czesław Gęborski (later put on trial for crimes against humanity for his actions in the camp), was also created nearby, serving as an internment, labour and resettlement camp for German Silesians, as a “verification” point for Silesians, as well as a camp for former veterans of the Anders' Polish II Corps, whom the new communist authorities of Poland saw as dangerous. Out of 8000 internees, it is estimated that between 1000 and 1,500 German civilians died in the camp, mostly by typhus and maltreatment from camp officials. More than 1,130 names are listed in the cemetery.

Łambinowice Museum

After the war, the camp was closed, and the remaining prisoners were freed. Today, the site is a memorial to the victims of the camp, with a museum and a monument dedicated to the memory of the prisoners who suffered and died there.

It is important to remember that the Holocaust was a systematic extermination of millions of Jews, Romani, disabled people and other targeted groups, by the Nazi regime and its collaborators, Camp Łambinowice was one of the many concentration camps that existed during WWII, where atrocities took place.

KL Stutthof

KL Stutthof, Sztutowo

Stutthof – updated 15 January 2023.

KL Stutthof was a Nazi German concentration camp established in a secluded, marshy area near the small town of Sztutowo (German: Stutthof) 34 km (21 mi) east of the city of Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland) in the former territory of the Free City of Danzig.

The camp was set up in September 1939, shortly after the start of World War II. It was the first camp outside German borders and the first concentration camp set up by the SS on Polish soil. The camp was in operation until May 9, 1945, and during this time, an estimated 110,000 people were sent there; 65,000 of whom died.

The majority of those who died were Polish, but there were also prisoners of other nationalities including Soviet, Jewish, Czech, Dutch, and Belgian.

Crematorium

Invasion of Poland

The camp was established directly after the invasion of Poland and was initially designated as a civilian internment camp prior to becoming a labour education camp in November 1941 and finally a regular concentration camp in January 1942.

Selbstschutz

Before the war even began, the German Selbstschutz (ethnic-German self-protection units) had created lists of people that were to be arrested and detained. The Nazi authorities had also secretly started to review suitable locations to establish concentration camps in the area.

Stutthof

Liberation

Stutthof was the last camp liberated by the Allies on 9th May 1945 and it is estimated that between 63,000 and 65,000 prisoners of the camp and its subcamps died as a result of execution, hunger, disease, extreme labour conditions, and a lack of medical attention. As many as 28,000 of those who died were Jews. Other inmates of Stutthof included citizens from 28 different countries.

Conditions

The conditions in Stutthof were incredibly harsh, those who were not gassed, shot, clubbed to death, drowned in mud or given a lethal injection of phenol could just as easily die during one of the two typhus epidemics that swept through the camp.

Stutthof

New camp

Initially the camp consisted of eight barracks to house the prisoners in addition to buildings for the SS guards and was surrounded by a barbed-wire fence. Stutthof was enlarged in 1943 with a new camp constructed alongside the earlier one containing thirty new barracks, a crematorium and a gas chamber, all surrounded by an electrified barbed-wire fence. Stutthof was included in the “Final Solution” in June 1944 and mass executions began assisted by mobile gas wagons to complement the maximum capacity of the gas chamber.

Focke-Wulf

Many prisoners were used as forced labourers working in an armaments factory located inside the camp next to the prisoner barracks or in a Focke-Wulf aircraft factory, which was constructed nearby.

Camp plan

Evacuation

The evacuation of 50,000 prisoners from the Stutthof camp and subcamps began on 25th January 1945. Thousands died marching in severe winter conditions combined with brutal treatment by SS guards. Around 5,000 were marched to the Baltic Sea coast, forced into the water, and machine-gunned. It has been estimated that around half of the evacuated prisoners, over 25,000, died during the evacuation from Stutthof and its subcamps.

The camp itself was liberated by Soviet forces on 9th May 1945, rescuing about 100 prisoners who had managed to hide.

Museum

Today, there is a museum at Stutthof. During a tour of the camp, you can see a narrow gauge railway line that runs around the camp, the camp commandant’s villa, kennels, the main entry to Stutthof concentration camp, better known as the 'Death Gate', guard towers, barracks, gas chamber, crematorium, the original dual-layer barbed-wire fence and various exhibitions.

FAQ

Q: When was the established?
A: Stutthof was established in September 2, 1939, after the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Q: Where is Stutthof located?
A: The camp is located in a secluded, marshy area near the small town of Sztutowo (German: Stutthof) 34 km (21 mi) east of the city of Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland) in the former territory of the Free City of Danzig.

Q: Who operated KL Stutthof?
A: It was operated by the SS (Schutzstaffel) from the time of its inception until the end of the war.

Q: How many people were killed at KL Stutthof?
A: An estimated 65,000 people were killed at Stutthof, including around 28,000 Jews, as well as Polish intelligentsia, Soviet and other prisoners of war.

Q: When was the camp liberated?
A: Stutthof was liberated by Soviet forces on May 9, 1945, near the end of World War II.

Q: Is KL Stutthof open to the public?
A: Yes, the camp is open to the public as a museum and memorial site. Visitors can tour the camp and learn about the history of the Holocaust and the atrocities committed at KL Stutthof.

KL Stutthof Tours & Experiences