WW2-Poland-2015

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