Westerplatte

Guardhouse No. 1 on the Westerplatte in Gdańsk is a historic building constructed in 1934 that served as a heavily fortified post with machine-gun positions. It gained worldwide fame when it was shelled by the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein on September 1, 1939, marking the start of World War II. Despite heavy damage, the structure withstood the attacks and did not surrender until September 7. Today the surviving building houses an exhibition of original artifacts, uniforms, and models, along with a reconstructed interior as it looked in 1939. A central site for commemorative events and tourism, it gives visitors a deep insight into the military history of the peninsula.