Checking out the many WWII sites in Gdańsk is a must for any history buff because this is where World War II in Europe began. It was here, on September 1, 1939, that Nazi Germany first invaded Poland. Everything that followed started here.
The list of WWII sites you can visit in Gdańsk includes monuments and memorials, original historical sites, and one of the best and biggest World War II museums in the world. Definitely make it a point to visit Gdańsk if you can; it won’t disappoint you.
The city we know as ‘Gdańsk’ today was known as ‘Danzig’ before and throughout World War II. When discussing this city during the war, I refer to it as Danzig. When describing it as a place you can visit today, I call it Gdańsk. Just remember they’re the same thing.
World War II in Gdańsk
After annexing Austria and the Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia) in 1938, Hitler then looked toward annexing Danzig too. Like the others, he claimed its borders, determined by the Treaty of Versailles, were bogus. Here are a few of the most notable events from WWII in Danzig/Gdańsk.
The Gleiwitz Incident
In order to “justify” an invasion of Poland, Nazi Germany staged a false flag attack on itself at a radio station in Gleiwitz, Germany (now Gliwice, Poland). On the night of August 31, 1939, a group of “Polish” operatives took control of the German radio station, broadcast some anti-German propaganda, and “killed” some of the Germans.
Only, the saboteurs weren’t Polish; they were Nazi SS operatives wearing Polish uniforms. They broadcasted a fake anti-German message to make it appear like a genuine Polish ambush. The victims weren’t brave German defenders; they were prisoners from Dachau Concentration Camp the SS had killed by lethal injection, carried to the scene, and then riddled with bullets to make it look as though they’d been murdered by the Polish attackers.
The Gleiwitz Incident was just one of several such events that were used to justify taking aggressive action against Poland (called Operation Himmler). In fact, Germany had been setting the stage for months, repeatedly publicly accusing Poland of aggression against Germany.
Ten days before the attack, Hitler addressed his officers at a meeting at the Obersalzberg. He said he would provide the false pretext needed to start his war, however implausible. In his words, “The victor will not be asked afterwards if he told the truth or not.”
Invasion of Poland
At 4:47am on September 1, 1939, the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein opened fire on Danzig’s Westerplatte (the peninsula on the Baltic Sea that served as the area’s defensive garrison). Polish fighters defended the Westerplatte for seven days, but invasions into Poland also took place at several other locations.
Defending the Post Office
Also during this time, Germany fought for control of the Polish Post Office in Danzig. Anticipating such an attack, post office employees had been trained for defense, the building and surrounding areas had also been fortified, and the building stocked with a cache of weapons.
The attack on the post office began shortly before the attack on the Westerplatte and lasted for about 15 hours. The post office defenders either died in the battle or were eventually forced to surrender, and were then executed a month later. Still, the battle for the post office in Danzig remains a cherished symbol of Polish resistance.
Nazi occupation of Danzig
As expected, the Nazi occupation of Danzig included the mass deportation of Jews, political prisoners, and others to concentration camps (mostly nearby Stutthof). The city itself became the site of mass imprisonment, torture, experimentation, and execution. Despite all this, the Polish resistance was quite active here.
The Soviet Red Army moved into Danzig and “liberated” it on March 30, 1945. (Though many saw it as more of an “out of the frying pan, into the fire” situation, as was common in Soviet “liberated” cities.)
Gdańsk after the war
After the war ended, Poland reclaimed the city and changed its name to Gdańsk. Parts of it had been heavily damaged during the war due to both Allied and Soviet bombings and were rebuilt in the decades that followed. Like many cities, Gdańsk opted to rebuild in its original pre-war style, rather than a more modern one.
As you’ll see when you visit the Westerplatte, Gdańsk regained its foothold in the Baltic and once again became a major shipping and industrial center. In 1980, it became the birthplace of the Solidarity movement. (Not WWII-related, but something you’ll see a lot about while in Poland.)
Map of WWII sites in Gdańsk
This map contains all the WWII sites in Gdańsk I mention in this post. To save this map: Click on the star ⭑ next to the map’s title to save in your Google Maps. To use this map: When you get here, open Google Maps on your phone, click “Saved” at the bottom, then click “Maps.”
If you’ll be driving around Poland, check out rental car deals here. This is the company I used and I had a great rental car experience in Poland.
WWII Museums in Gdańsk
Topping the list of amazing WWII sites in Gdańsk are these three incredible museums, the first of which is one of the biggest and best WWII museums I’ve ever been to.
1. Museum of the Second World War
Gdańsk’s Museum of the Second World War opened in March 2017 and includes 18 thematic exhibitions that fall into three overarching themes:
- The Road to War – Focusing on the growth of Nazism, Fascism, Communism, and Japanese Imperialism
- The Horror of War – Covering topics like concentration camps, POWs, forced laborers, the experiences of children and civilians, et al.
- The Long Shadow of War – The fall of the Third Reich, liberation of Europe, atomic bombs in Japan
Each room here is larger than you’d ever imagine and filled with countless priceless historical artifacts. I was constantly shocked by the size and scope of this place! Prepare to spend several hours here.
2. Museum of the Polish Post Office
Just a 5-minute walk from the Second World War Museum is the Museum of the Polish Post Office, at the site of this historic battle. Founded on September 1, 1979 (the battle’s 40th anniversary), the permanent exhibition includes historical artifacts, photographs and documents relating to the battle, and items excavated from the building’s rubble.
Important: This museum is currently undergoing renovations and will be closed until 2026.
3. Gdańsk Town Hall
Though most people visit the Gdańsk Town Hall building for the views from the top (myself included), you must first pass through a small museum to get here. Inside this museum are exhibits on Gdańsk (Danzig) during World War II. It includes photos from the war era as well as images of the destruction and the process of rebuilding.
WWII Sites on the Westerplatte
On the Westerplatte today, you’ll find several monuments and memorials dedicated to those who fought and died defending this part of the city at the beginning of World War II. The Westerplatte is about a 20-min drive north of the city and, once here, you’ll find plenty of available parking.
4. Monument to the Defenders of the Coast
Up on a hill at the far end of the Westerplatte stands the 82-foot-tall Westerplatte Monument, designed by Polish sculptor Franciszek Duszeńko (who also designed the monument at Treblinka Extermination Camp).
Follow the path around and up to check the monument out up close. It includes several relief sculptures honoring those who fought to defend the coast and those who took part in the naval battles plus several inscriptions. Construction on it took place from 1964-1966.
The below photo shows a quote from Pope John Paul II (who was born in Poland) during his visit to Gdańsk in 1987. It reads (something along the lines of):
Each of you, young friends, also finds in life some Westerplatte of your own. Some dimension of tasks that you must undertake and fulfill. Some order of rights and values that need to be maintained and defended, defended for oneself and for others.
5. “Westerplatte: A Spa – A Bastion – A Symbol”
One of the first WWII sites you’ll encounter upon arriving at the Westerplatte is an outdoor exhibit called “Westerplatte: A Spa – A Bastion – A symbol.” Its goal is to showcase the history of the Westerplatte beyond just that of being the starting point of World War II.
The exhibition is divided into four distinct areas, each correlating to one of the Westerplatte’s historical phases:
- From its birth until the end of WWI
- The Polish Military Transit Depot’s interwar period
- The defense of the Westerplatte in September 1939
- Polish collective memory and the Communist period from 1945-1989
6. Remains of barracks and guardhouses
Also on the Westerplatte you can visit several leftover ruins from the defensive battles of September 1939. These include several guardhouses, barracks, warehouses, and other buildings that have been bombed or shelled but still stand today. There are 30 of these total on the “educational path” you can follow.
Throughout this area, you’ll also find informative signs (in Polish and English) describing the purpose of some of them and telling more of the history.
7. Guardhouse No. 1 (Wartownia 1)
One of these former buildings, known as Wartownia 1 (or Guardhouse No. 1) currently serves as a small army museum. Inside, you can learn more about the history of the Military Transit Depot and what took place here in September 1939.
Note: This museum closes annually during the winter season. See the link above to find out when it reopens in the spring.
8. “No More War” Sign
At the entrance to the path that leads up to the Westerplatte Monument in large white letters are the words: “Nigdy Więcej Wojny” which is Polish for “No More War” essentially.
These words were originally placed here in the 1960s along with the main monument, but were replaced with newer ones in 2009. (The originals were badly corroded.) For more on this subtle monument, see this article.
9. Polish Army Soldier’s Cemetery
The building of the cemetery for Polish Army Soldiers on the Westerplatte has been a long time coming. The location of the deceased had mostly been unknown until a 2019 archaeological survey of the area discovered the first of many bodies. They have since been identified.
In 2022, a new cemetery and memorial space for them opened and the fallen have been reburied here. The area consists of a circular walkway with a large Polish cross at its center. Along that walkway are 15 steles which represent each of the 15 fallen soldiers found here.
WWII Monuments & Memorials in Gdańsk
Back in the city, here are a few more WWII monuments and memorials you can visit.
10. Monument to Witold Pilecki
Near the entrance to the Museum of the Second World War you’ll find a monument to Captain Witold Pilecki. Captain Pilecki was a Polish cavalry officer who participated in the defense against the Nazi and Soviet invasions. He was later a co-founding member of the Polish resistance.
Most notably, in 1940, he allowed himself to be captured so he could infiltrate the concentration camp at Auschwitz in order to establish another resistance movement there. (Right? What a badass. But I’m not done!)
In addition to growing the movement into the hundreds, he also created detailed records of what was happening in the camp and smuggled them to the Allies. Then, he escaped Auschwitz and went on to fight in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944.
He was taken prisoner by the Germans as a result but freed when the war ended. Eventually, he was arrested by the communist secret police for treason (essentially), tortured, and executed in 1948.
His monument in Gdańsk was added to the site in 2019 and features a sculpture of himself atop a pedestal. According to the museum: “Placing the statute on the edge of the pedestal symbolizes a characteristic feature of Captain’s biography: for most of his life he was caught between life and death, between two totalitarianisms, between independence and occupation of Poland.”
11. Monument to the Defenders of the Polish Post Office
Outside the entrance to the Post Office Museum stands the large Monument to the Defenders of the Polish Post Office, added to the site in 1979. This monument depicts the brick walkway rising up in a wave and features a fallen post office defender handing over his gun to Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. Letters spill out of the man’s mail bag and an abstract flurry of pigeons floats up from the top.
12. T-34 Tank Memorial
Just a little ways north of the main city you can find the T-34 Tank Memorial along what’s known as Victory Avenue. On March 27, 1945, this Soviet-built T-34 of the Polish 1st Armored Brigade was the first Allied tank to enter the occupied city. It stands today as a monument to the liberation of Gdańsk.
This tank is believed to be tank #121, commanded by Lieutenant Julian Miazga. The plaque on the front of the tank reads:
Memorial Tank T.34 1st Brigade / In the name of the heroes of Westerplatte who fought in March 1945 for the return of Gdańsk to the Motherland.
13. Dr. Spanner Office Memorial
Throughout World War II, here at the Gdańsk Medical Academy, Dr. Rudolf Spanner made soap using the fat from bodies of prisoners from the nearby Stutthof Death Camp as well as various mental hospitals. After liberating the city, the Red Army set up a military hospital here and discovered hundreds of corpses, dozens decapitated (and found a pile of heads elsewhere), which prompted an investigation.
Long (extremely disturbing) story short, Dr. Spanner was never prosecuted and (I kid you not) continued to practice medicine under his own name, until he died in 1960. The “human soap” investigation continued for decades until 2003 when new tests revealed the truth and confirmed what witnesses had claimed at the time.
Today, on the side of the Museum of the Medical University of Gdańsk, there hangs a white marble memorial plaque in four languages: Polish, English, German, and Russian. It reads:
In this building, during World War II the Nazis used the bodies of victims of genocide; persons executed in the prisons of Königsberg and Gdańsk, the patients of the Regional Home for the Mentally Impaired in Kocborowo and the inmates of the concentration camp in Stutthof as material to produce soap. People brought this fate upon people…
Other WWII sites in Gdańsk
In this section you’ll find a few more interesting WWII sites in Gdańsk that include some of the original historical sites you can visit.
14. St. Bridget’s Church exhibition
St. Bridget’s Church is a popular “attraction” in Gdańsk, mostly for its enormous amber altar. But for our purposes, you can also explore an exhibition inside dedicated to “The History of the Cross at Westerplatte.”
Follow these panels throughout the church and you can learn all about the discovery of the fallen soldiers at the Westerplatte and the process of creating a memorial space and cemetery for them.
Inside this church you’ll also find several memorials to other WWII events and individuals, such as the victims of the Katyn massacre (pictured below).
15. Air Raid Shelter
Outside the Museum of the Second World War, you’ll be able to see the outside of an air raid shelter along the canal. Stairs lead down to the entrance (which is locked), and just down the sidewalk is a viewing window down into the shelter.
16. U-Boat Hall (MONTOWNIA Hotel)
What is today the MONTOWNIA Hotel in downtown Gdańsk was actually the “U-Boat Hall” during the war. During World War II, this building served as an assembly plant and storage facility for the production of German U-boats. Due to its military importance, the building was especially reinforced in anticipation of attacks. At war’s end, the Soviet Union seized the materials inside along with the U-boats.
In the decades since, the building has taken on several different uses, but today has been remade into a large hotel and experience space that includes a food hall and more. But the best part is that it still maintains its wartime industrial look and feel. On the 3rd floor there’s even a small museum dedicated to the building’s wartime history.
WWII Cemeteries in Gdańsk
In addition to the small cemetery on the Westerplatte, there are three more military cemeteries in Gdańsk you can visit.
17. Zaspa Cemetery
Halfway between downtown Gdańsk and the Westerplatte is the small Zaspa Cemetery. Early victims of Nazi crimes in Gdańsk and at the Stutthof concentration camp make up the majority of burials here (around 14,000). You’ll also find some memorials and a mass grave that contains the bodies of those executed following the defense of the Polish Post Office.
18. German Military Cemetery
A little closer to the city center, you’ll find the large cemetery that contains a smaller one for more than 500 German fighters as well. This follows the typical look for German WWII cemeteries with their clustered cross-shaped grave markers. You’ll also find a large monument here to the dead.
19. Cemetery of Soviet Soldiers
At the other end of the same cemetery you can visit the Cemetery of Soviet Soldiers. This cemetery holds the graves of almost 3,100 Soviet soldiers and POWs who were either killed here during liberation or while in German captivity. Each grave is denoted with a star-shaped headstone.
There’s also a large bas-relief monument depicting Soviet soldiers, a tank, and some inscriptions in both Polish and Russian.
20. Stutthof Concentration Camp
Just 45 minutes east of Gdańsk, you’ll find the former Stutthof Concentration Camp and Museum. Nazi Germany established this camp within the first month of invading Poland. It operated as a civilian internment camp, then a “labor education” camp, and then a concentration camp until it was liberated on May 9, 1945.
In that time, the SS killed more than 60,000 people here–mostly non-Jewish Poles, but also some Jews from Warsaw and other northern towns. Many died from disease and the horrid conditions within the camp, others were gassed in the camp’s small gas chamber, some were murdered in various other ways.
Today, you can visit this former camp-turned-memorial site and museum. Admission is free and you can explore some of the original camp sections and structures and an informative museum.
Where to stay in Gdańsk
There are so many great hotels to choose from to explore the WWII sites in Gdańsk, but here are a few places to begin your search:
There are plenty more Gdańsk hotels to choose from though; see all Gdańsk hotel options here.
Suggested books and movies
If you’d like to read more about these topics or watch some related movies, check out the following:
More info for your visit to Poland
- Hotels: Find great places to stay on Booking.com (my go-to). Expedia and Hotels.com are worth checking too. VRBO is best for apartment rentals.
- Rental cars: Check out the best local rental car deals here.
- For more local tours, check out all the options from Viator and Get Your Guide.
- Don’t forget a Poland guidebook and this must-have Poland customs and culture guide!
- Want more? See all my Poland posts here.
Like this post? Have questions about visiting any of the WWII sites in Gdańsk? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading.
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