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Gdansk's picturesque Westerplatte peninsula has the unhappy distinction of being the site of the official start of the Second World War. A small forested island separated from Gdansk by the harbour channel, Westerplatte was established as a Polish military outpost during the interwar period, equipped with one 75mm field gun, two 37mm antitank guns (slightly mystifying for a coastal defense), four mortars and several medium machine guns, but lacking any true fortifications. By the autumn of 1939, the Polish garrison occupying Westerplatte comprised of 182 soldiers expected to withstand a potential attack for twelve hours.
In late August, 1939, under the suspect pretense of an amiable courtesy visit, the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein dropped anchor in the channel off Westerplatte and on September 1, at exactly 04:45 local time, began it's barrage of the Polish outpost with its superior 280 and 150mm guns. Thus began Germany's invasion of Poland, igniting the powderkeg that would explode into World War II.
Expecting an easy victory, the German offensive was sternly repelled by Polish small arms and machine gun fire, and suffered unexpected losses during two more assaults upon Westerplatte the same day. The only Polish 75mm gun was destroyed after discharging 28 shells into the German position across the channel. Despite a German naval infantry invasion, sustained bombardment by heavy artillery and diving airraids from German warplanes, the Polish garrison repulsed the Germans for seven days, before the depleted unit, suffering from exhaustion, severe injury and a shortage of food, water, ammunition and medical supplies, was forced to surrender on September 7th.
Over the course of the violent engagement some 2,600 German soldiers fought against the 205-strong garrison of stalwart Poles. The exact number of German casualties has never been disclosed, but is assumed to be quite high in comparison to the Polish figures - of the 205 Polish soldiers defending the outpost, only 14 perished (including the Polish radio operator, later executed for refusing to divulge radio codes to the German side) while 53 were wounded.
Today the ruins of the barracks and two blockhouses - the only structures on the island - still remain. One of the blockhouses has been converted into a museum commemorating the battle and those who fought there, with two shells from the Schleswig-Holstein ironically propping the entrance. A placid 25m tall stone monument now marks the site of this infamous exchange that preceded the levelling of Gdansk's Old Town and sparked a worldwide conflict that would result in immeasurable suffering (particularly in Poland). Though it is outside the city, Westerplatte is a worthwhile venture for anyone visiting Gdansk; like so many sights in Poland, it is haunted by it's troubling history in the face of a beautiful natural environment.
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 | | "Westerplatte is not just a story that you can read in different versions and claim that it is the only right one. It is recognized worldwide that the beginning of WW II had its beginning on the Sep 1st in this magic place. It is recognized and well documented that the beginning of Gdansk is dated for many years before Christ and was Polish city, the beginning of Amber track in PL, the city was rebuilt by Mieszko I, the prince of Poland, that it God the city rights from the hands of Polish prince as well in XII century. in XIV century it was invaded by rebuilt Kreuzzügen, which did not make the city German. The truth is that for many further centuries Gdansk was a free Baltic port and free city,by mainly because of the support that Gdansk show tu Kazimierz Jagiellonczyk (King of Poland) in fighting Kreuzzügen (Krzyżacy) . Not mentioning the fact that the most precious parts of Gdansk were totally damaged in 1945 during its releasing and rebuilt during communistic times in PL. I seriously have never thought that there are ppl in the world claiming that Gdansk is German, or even better - France. Well, than i guess i can easily claim that Romania is a part of Russia and UK is actually a state of USA. " | Nika
Poland
Aug.05.2010
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "A moving story, well said. I have visited Poland on 4 vacations. This sight is one of my most memorable places. It should be visited as should Aushwitz. We must not forget what happened." | Paul Salek
United States
Jul.02.2010
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "In Brest fortres, russian soldiers was fight till last person. Westerplatte was surrender before using last bullet. Das they herow?" | Mongol
Ukraine
Jun.21.2010
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "i think this was a very good story. want a cookie?" | patches lomnicki
Austria
Apr.20.2010
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "Just saw the ceremony at Gdansk on TV on 1 Sept and can only say that hopefully nothing of the magnitude of World war 2 will never again take place - this closest we came to WW3 was the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
Through the establishment of organizations like NATO and the UN can we as a race hopefully prevent another world-wide conflagration but as history as shown, it is only the human race which attempts to exterminate itself. Good luck humans!
On the other hand, perhaps these terrible losses of life is nature's way of keeping the population in check - just think what the world's population would be now if the losses of World War 1 and 2 had not occurred!" | James Cooper
United States
Sep.03.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Danzig is a German city but the France and British and to some extent the Americans to spite the German people as well as the Austria/Hungary empire their lands was split up. Agree that part of the German land was Polish and they got this and more land in excess including some 2-3 millions of Ukrainians one million German nationals. France frantically tried to carve out some of the western German lands and occupied Ruhr industrial areas when the German could not pay the annual 1 billion Reichmark in gold and hanged Germans that was in opposition. There is no wonder that the Allies crazy “peace treaty” resulted in the carnage of the Second World War." | Richard Clark
Bulgaria
Sep.02.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Danzig was not in political terms a German city. It was a free (that is international) city under the auspices of the League of Nations. Hitler even asked if he could be extradited from there if necessary." | Levi Bookin
Israel
Sep.02.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I saw the attack by the Schleswig-Holstein as part of a documentary on the invasion of Poland on German TV the other night. Besides it being an appalling and heartless onslaught of huge guns levelled parallel to land, I was even more appalled by the fact that the German Propaganda Ministry had a camera team set up on the harbour quay before the barrage started and they filmed the whole thing to show in German cinemas a week later!" | James
Germany
Aug.27.2009
rates this page 2/5 |
| | "Thanks for the nice side and all the information! I read here, that the 2nd WW was especially cruel for people in Poland. In my opinion this war was more terrible then words can express most of the people on earth. If you say "especially for Poland" you do regrade the suffering of all the others on earth." | Leah
Germany
Jun.14.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Stephen: The status of Danzig at the time of the attack on Westerplatte was recognized by all western European nations as having been clearly violated by the German assault. But no matter. There are only two facts that are truly germane. (1)The German sneak attack was unprovoked and clearly orchestrated as part of a larger invasion. (2) Anyone who has not been subject to incoming artillery rounds has also not earned the right to question the bravery of those who have." | Leonard
United States
Apr.06.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Stephen, you've obviously had your head buried in the sand. I was brought up in England, but learnt about Polish history and you have it all wrong... never mind dear. You can read books?" | Grazyna
United Kingdom
Jan.15.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Stephen, are you made your comments up or you really don't know facts?! Do yourself a favourite and educate." | Greg
Canada
Jan.09.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Stephen Backwell you aviously don`t know history of poland at all, so it will be good for you to READ historical facts before writing anything !!!!" | Arnold
Poland
Dec.08.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "DANZIG IN 1939 = A GERMAN CITY OF 400,000
Danzig was a 97% German city on which Poland had no territorial claim.
Yet according to the Polish version of history Danzig was "invaded" on 1st September 1939.
Although a full-blooded German city just like Hamburg, Danzig was in every way an international port and the Poles were guaranteed full access.
German proposals to make Danzig a free international port but to return it to Germany were rejected by the Polish military dictatorship." | Stephen Backwell
United Kingdom
Dec.06.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "i love it " | jamie
United States
Nov.19.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Just visited this area, and was able to walk around. Many visitors on a early day of may." | Thore
Norway
May.21.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "History has forgotten the Aug.24, 1939 Molotov - Ribbentrop pact and its secret protocol where Hitler and Stalin agreed to divide Poland between them. Russia invaded Poland on Sept. 17, 1939." | Frank Meyer
United States
Sep.21.2007
rates this page 2/5 |
| | "I am currently writing a historical fiction on the Poland invasion. I you could send me plenty of historical facts on this specific battle, I'd be grateful. Thank you." | Jared
United States
May.08.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
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