Monday we were confined to the bus
for most of the morning as we headed north to Lidbark (formerly part of
Prussia) where deep in the forest is Wolf's Lair, Hitler's headquarters for
much of the war. In total, Hitler spent 800 days at these headquarters that
were constructed by 2-3 thousand workers and occupied 2.5 square kilometres of
the dense forest.
About 80 buildings in total were constructed of either timber, brick or the more serious bunkers of 2 metre thick reinforced concrete.
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| Hitlers Bunker |
As the Russian army approached in 1945,
Wolfsschanze was abandoned and a couple of days later destroyed to deny use by
the red army.
The afternoon was a huge history lesson delivered by a local guide as we walked freely amongst the ruins of the buildings. Many of the brick buildings remain in tact but windows etc. we're pilfered after the war by townspeople. The entire headquarters were protected by 54 thousand land mines of many types and all needed to be cleared by the Poles after the war.
The afternoon was a huge history lesson delivered by a local guide as we walked freely amongst the ruins of the buildings. Many of the brick buildings remain in tact but windows etc. we're pilfered after the war by townspeople. The entire headquarters were protected by 54 thousand land mines of many types and all needed to be cleared by the Poles after the war.
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Plenty of TNT was used to demolish this one |
There was a failed assassination attempt on
Hitler in 1944. There were four deaths and many injuries when a bomb was
exploded in a meeting room. Hitler received only minor injuries.
Mussolini also visited Wolfs Lair.
It is an eerie feeling exploring the site where 1,500 of Germany's highest ranked officers plotted against the allies.
Mussolini also visited Wolfs Lair.
It is an eerie feeling exploring the site where 1,500 of Germany's highest ranked officers plotted against the allies.
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| Most of the brick buildings are still intact |
Later in the afternoon we visited a church in a
village called Swieta Lipka. Now you won't believe this I know, but as far as
churches go it is the best we've ever seen (other than St Peters, Rome of
course). For a 300 year old building it was extremely well decorated in
baroque style and contained a restored organ that put on a show of moving
statues. Our visit was timed to be there for the daily organ recital. A couple
of tunes were played and of course the plate then went around to get a final
playing. It was well worth the visit.
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| The most magnificent organ |
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| About the best church we've ever been in. |
Our accommodation for the night was in the 14th
century Krasicki Castle Hotel. It is a massive complex and hard to determine
what is original and what is restored. They put on a wonderful three course
buffet for dinner.
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| Krasicki Castle Hotel |
Tuesday evening.
We're now in Gdansk on the Baltic Sea. We had an interesting day with not too long in the bus. After our great hotel breakfast we didn't set off until 9:00am and our first stop was at a small village for a photo opportunity. There are about 50 Storks' nests in this village and from where we stopped there were nine or ten in direct view. The nests are huge, a couple of metres in diameter and constructed of sticks. They were in trees, on top of chimneys and on poles. Some had pairs of birds standing on them, others had only one bird while others had chicks and birds. These birds return each year from Africa where they migrate annually. We saw a nest in Belgium the other week but to see a flock this big was amazing.
We're now in Gdansk on the Baltic Sea. We had an interesting day with not too long in the bus. After our great hotel breakfast we didn't set off until 9:00am and our first stop was at a small village for a photo opportunity. There are about 50 Storks' nests in this village and from where we stopped there were nine or ten in direct view. The nests are huge, a couple of metres in diameter and constructed of sticks. They were in trees, on top of chimneys and on poles. Some had pairs of birds standing on them, others had only one bird while others had chicks and birds. These birds return each year from Africa where they migrate annually. We saw a nest in Belgium the other week but to see a flock this big was amazing.
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| One of about 50 storks nests in a small village |
We had a 3 hour tour of the World Heritage Site
at the 13th century Teutonic Castle in Malbork. It is in the former Prussia, a
state of Germany which is now Poland.
It was an enormous fortress and how well preserved it was despite the severe damage it received during the war. A lot of money from Norway and Lichtenstein was plowed into the place to rebuild it. They've done a mighty job.
It was an enormous fortress and how well preserved it was despite the severe damage it received during the war. A lot of money from Norway and Lichtenstein was plowed into the place to rebuild it. They've done a mighty job.
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This Teutonic Castle in Malbork is enormous |
From Malork we had an easy hour drive on to
Gdansk where we will spend the next two nights.
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| You see some funny signs in your travels. |
Now there was a memory I had all most forgotten, that organ recital was magnificent and the church was awesome. There are a lot of churches in Poland.......
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