Westerplatte

Westerplatte, once an ordinary military depot, has entered the annals of history as the place where World War II began. Since 1926, the peninsula, located in the Free City of Danzig, served Poland as a military transit point, with a symbolic but strategic garrison presence. In the first days of September 1939, 182 Polish soldiers defended themselves against the German attack, which was numerically and technically superior to them. This heroic defense lasted 7 days, even though it was planned that the facility would only last 12 hours. The German offensive began with the shelling of the battleship Schleswig-Holstein in the morning hours of September 1. Despite heavy fire and repeated attacks, the Polish defenders, using concrete shelters and field fortifications, repelled each attack, inflicting significant losses on the enemy. Their perseverance and determination gained respect even among German soldiers, which emphasized the unique nature of the defense. After fierce battles and repeated harassment by German artillery, on September 7, in the face of overwhelming enemy forces and no hope for relief, Major Henryk Sucharski, the commandant of the outpost, decided to capitulate. Westerplatte, despite its painful history, remains a symbol of Polish bravery and determination, reminding us of the high price that European nations paid during World War II.