WW2-Poland-2015
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On 20 August 1944, Hitler personally presented survivors of the bomb blast in the Wolf's Lair with a gold "20 July<br />
1944 Wound Badge". Next-of-kin of those killed in the bomb blast were also given this award.<br />
Demise<br />
Enormous amounts of explosiveswere used to blow up the Wolfsschanzebunkers. Here the explosion has lifted a<br />
bunker's roof, made of 2-meter-thick solid ferro-concrete.<br />
In October 1944 the Red Army reached the borders of East Prussia during the Baltic Offensive. Hitler departed from<br />
the Wolf's Lair for the final time on 20 November when the Soviet advance reached Angerburg (now Węgorzewo),<br />
only 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) away. Two days later the order was given to destroy the complex. However the actual<br />
demolition did not take place until the night of 24–25 January 1945, ten days after the start of the Red Army's Vistula–<br />
Oder Offensive. Despite the use of tons of explosives - one bunker required an estimated 8,000 kg (18,000 lb) of TNT -<br />
most of the complex buildings were only partially destroyed due their immense size and reinforced structures.<br />
The Red Army captured the abandoned remains of the Wolfsschanze on 27 January without firing a shot: the same<br />
day Auschwitz was liberated. It took until 1955 to clear over 54,000 land mines which surrounded the installation.[4]<br />
Wolf's Lair<br />
In the very heart of Mazurian forests we can find the ruins of Adolf Hilter's war headquarters. It’s a hidden town in the<br />
woods consisting of 200 buildings: shelters, barracks, 2 airports, a power station, a railway station, air-conditioners,<br />
water supplies, heat-generating plants and two teleprinters.<br />
In 1944 more than 2000 people lived here. On July 20, 1944 count Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg made a failed<br />
assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler.<br />
It was here that decisions were made about the use of prisoners in the German armaments industry and about the<br />
construction of new death camps. Here also murderous decisions were taken regarding the fate of many nations of<br />
Europe.<br />
Among those who resided and worked here were : Adolf Hitler, Hermann Goring, Heinrich Himmler, Martin Bormann,<br />
Wilhelm Keitel, Joseph Goebbels, Dr. Fritz Todt, Albert Speer and others.<br />
Wolf's Lair is available to the public from 8.00 am until dusk.<br />
Our guests are welcome in a hotel and restaurant, placed in the former building of Hitler’s personal security<br />
headquarters - the perfect place for visitors of nearby attractions and an excellent base for leisure seekers in Mazurian<br />
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