Westerplatte is a peninsula in Gdansk. The name “Westerplatte” comes from the German language. From the words: Wester-western and Platte (here in the meaning of the island), so literally it means Western island. This is the only place on the territory of Gdansk that has retained the non-Polish sounding name. It remained unchanged because of its symbolic overtone of the Polish struggle for freedom. A military transit depot operated on this site in 1926 -1939. Its first defense in 1939, became one of the main and most famous symbols of Polish resistance against the invasion of the Nazis. On the Westerplatte on September 1, 1939, at 4:45, the Nazi attack on our country began. The German training battleship Schleswig-Holstein arrived in the port of Gdansk on 25 August 1939 on a courtesy visit. The reason was the previously announced visit of a smaller ship that allegedly crashed. The battleship’s design was somewhat outdated, but it was heavily armed and prepared for an attack on Westerplatte. Below deck the ship carried an assault company of Kriegsmarine.The defense of the peninsula from 1 to 7 September was commanded by major Henryk Sucharski (the 2nd-7th was commanded by deputy captain Franciszek Dąbrowski). The garrison fought a single battle being under siege by superior enemy forces. After the announcement of the surrender, German troops brought Polish prisoners to the peninsula on October 10, who were supposed to put the territory in order after previous battles. After the end of hostilities in 1966, the Polish people, worshipping the heroes of Westerplatte, erected a monument to the defenders of the coast at the entrance to the port. Currently, ships flying the flag of various countries honor the memory of heroes with appropriate signals while entering the port. Westerplatte is an extremely important point on the historical map of the coast. From here, it has become a mandatory point for many tourists and organized excursions. There are many places to see to learn how heroically Polish freedom was defended. The location where the tour of the peninsula begins is the pier for passenger ships. From this point one can admire the view of the port canal, the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the monument to the coast defenders and the fortress of Wisłoujście.
The defenders’ cemetery is located on the site of guard house V, which was bombed on September 2, 1939. 50 years after this event, 15 crosses with dog tags were displayed at this place, which symbolize the soldiers who heroically fought and died in the defense of the peninsula. Another crucial site is Watch No 1 – the only historical landmark that remained after the former military transit depot in Westerplatte. It is now included in the Historical Museum of the City of Gdansk. Created inside, the exhibition reflects her appearance from the time of the siege. Here one can see a mock-up of the combat situation on September 1, 1939, photos, maps, and memorabilia of soldiers. In front of the entrance to the guard house there are 2 large projectiles (each of them weighs 300 kg) which comes from the battleship Schleswig-Holstein. An interesting place on the Westerplatte are also the ruins of new barracks. The building was built 5 years before the outbreak of the war and was designed quite modernly for those times. It was the center of defense. At present, we can only admire its ruins, since Soviet soldiers blew up the barracks after the end of the war. In front of the building there are signs with all the names of the defenders of Westerplatte. Another place are the remains of an officer’s Villa, previously the place was used as a guard house number III. The building protected access from the canal and from the pier. In part of the former basement of the Villa, there was a place for machine guns. One can also see the bunker and the Westerplatte observation tower. The bomb shelter dates back to the fifties of the XX century, and there is also an observation tower next to it. From here one can go to the outpost called Fort. It is an important part of the Museum of the Battlefield, which has in its collections military items which reconstruct the events of World War II. In 1939, this place was the center of anti-landing defense, and today there is the T-34 tank there. The highlight of the visit to a symbolic Westerplatte peninsula is the monument to the defenders of the coast that I mentioned earlier. It is located on a mound (23 meters high) close to the entrance to the Harbor. It’ s construction took 2 years. It was built on 236 granite blocks and weighs 1,150 tons. Westerplatte is an important place for Polish history. It was the place where heroic soldiers showed their love and devotion to the motherland, which made them a symbol and inspiration for the whole country. Will to fight showed on the Westerplatte continued in the Polish people throughout the whole World War II. As a result of the superior strength of the enemy it was often suppressed, but it never completely died.
Автор Natalia Stępniak, Westerplatte, студентка I курса Русской филологии Гданьского университета, бакалавриат
Перевод Ewelina Biernaś студентка II курса Русской филологии Гданьского университета, бакалавриат