The Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk is selecting a contractor for the second phase of the Westerplatte Museum’s construction. The project will result in a new underground exhibition space and will also focus on conservation work on the peninsula’s most important historical monuments, as well as the continued reconstruction of the historic layout of the former Military Transit Depot. In addition, work is currently underway at Westerplatte as part of the first phase of the project.
The Westerplatte Museum and the main building
A few days ago, the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk announced a tender for works related to the project ‘Construction of the Westerplatte Museum – a branch of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk – scope 2’. Its most important element will be the construction of the museum’s main building on approximately 12 ha of the peninsula, situated south of Major Henryk Sucharski Street. Near the Monument to the Defenders of the Coast, an underground building with a usable area of approximately 7,000 square metres will be constructed, of which nearly 2,800 square metres will be devoted to the exhibition. According to the director of the Museum of the Second World War, Prof. Rafał Wnuk, the exhibition will recount the course of the fighting in September 1939, the fate of Polish soldiers, the history of Westerplatte itself, its transformations, and the impact of the war on the local ecosystem. A consortium led by the Muro Architekci practice is responsible for the project; the consortium also includes Lachman Pabich Architekci and the “Projektownia” Architectural Practice. The visualisations were produced by FFAR Studio.
First phase of works at the Westerplatte Museum
The first phase of the project has been underway since February this year and is being carried out by Strabag. The work is concentrated on the northern part of the former Military Transit Depot and aims to restore its historic appearance from the interwar period. It was there, in September 1939, that Polish soldiers defended themselves against the German attack for seven days. The works include the reconstruction of paths and selected structures, including the station master’s building, six ammunition bunkers and the second line of embankments. Conservation work is also being carried out on the surviving historic structures, alongside the construction of a service road to the former power station and the necessary infrastructure. The project will be complemented by street furniture, an information system, stylised lighting, CCTV and facilities for people with disabilities. The museum has announced that this part of Westerplatte will be open to visitors in the second half of 2027.
Conservation of historic monuments and uncovering of relics
The second phase of the project will focus on restoring a further section of the historic network of roads and paths, and on showcasing the preserved foundations of buildings that no longer exist. Conservationists will work on the Monument to the Defenders of the Coast, as well as the ruins of the southern wing of the new barracks. The northern wing, meanwhile, will be presented in the form of a so-called ‘archaeological pit’. Visitors will be able to see the relics uncovered during this year’s excavations, including the original historic floor. The project aims to restore the historic appearance of the Military Transit Depot, whilst new development features will make it easier to navigate the peninsula and improve the visitor experience. The selected contractor will have 35 months from the signing of the contract to complete all the works.
Westerplatte Museum – new discoveries
The entire project is being carried out under the constant supervision of archaeologists from the Museum of the Second World War. In addition, research is also underway on the northern wing of the new barracks. Specialists are uncovering and securing the remains of the building, documenting their condition and gathering the information needed to prepare a future exhibition. The archaeological work is expected to continue until August 2026. Both phases of construction are being funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage as part of a multi-year programme.
The history of Westerplatte – a symbol of the start of the Second World War
The history of Westerplatte dates back much further than the famous events of September 1939. As early as the 17th century, due to its strategic location at the entrance to the port of Gdańsk, earthworks and artillery batteries were erected on the sandy island to defend the city. Over time, however, their importance waned, and in the 19th century the area began to transform into a popular seaside resort with hotels, restaurants and beaches. Following the establishment of the Free City of Gdańsk, however, everything changed. With the League of Nations’ approval on 14 March 1924, a Military Transit Depot was established there, and Poland took over the area on 31 October 1925.
At 4.45 am on 1 September 1939, the German battleship “Schleswig-Holstein” began shelling the Polish outpost. The crew, commanded by Major Henryk Sucharski, repelled successive attacks by a vastly superior enemy for seven days. After the conflict ended, the ruined Westerplatte was transformed into the most important memorial to the start of the Second World War. Archaeological excavations have been carried out there since 2016, during which, amongst other things, the remains of buildings and the remains of nine Polish defenders were discovered. Their ceremonial burial took place in 2021 and 2022 at the new Polish Army Soldiers’ Cemetery at Westerplatte. We wrote about it HERE. The project currently underway aims to document the findings of this research and create a comprehensive museum complex dedicated to the history of the heroic defence of Westerplatte and the Polish campaign of 1939.
Source: muzeum1939.pl
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