Wilczy Szaniec (Wolf’s Lair)

Wilczy Szaniec in Gierłoża near Kętrzyn Adolf Hitler headquarter

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.