The Polish defense was expected to last only 12 hours, yet the garrison held out for seven days against overwhelming force.
The monument's design includes reliefs depicting the heroic defense of the coast and themes of peace.
Guardhouse No. 1 was physically moved 20 meters from its original location in 1967 to allow for road construction.
The cemetery on the site contains the remains of Major Henryk Sucharski, the commander of the Polish garrison.
During the occupation, the Germans used prisoner labor to raze many of the original transit depot buildings.
The site was officially designated as a Historic Monument of Poland in 2003.
A new Museum of Westerplatte and the War of 1939 is currently under development on the site.
The 'Militia' emblem of the Polish garrison is still visible on the surviving brickwork of the Guardhouse.
Westerplatte is the site of the Battle of Westerplatte, the opening engagement of World War II, which began on September 1, 1939. The area is dominated by the 25-meter-tall Monument to the Defenders of the Coast, constructed from 236 granite blocks. Visitors can explore the ruins of the former barracks and the partially destroyed Guardhouse No. 1. The site is a peninsula located at the entrance to the Port of Gdańsk, strategically chosen for its military importance in the interwar period. The German battleship Schleswig-Holstein fired the first shots of the war here against the Polish Military Transit Depot. Excavations conducted since 2016 have uncovered the remains of soldiers and original military infrastructure. The site functions as an open-air museum managed by the Museum of the Second World War. Most of the territory remains a protected historical complex accessible to pedestrians.
The base of the Monument to the Defenders of the Coast looking upward.
Wear sturdy walking shoes, as the site covers a large area with uneven paths and grass.
Bring water and snacks, as facilities on the peninsula itself are extremely limited.
Combine your visit with the Museum of the Second World War in downtown Gdańsk for full historical context.
Do not attempt to walk through restricted areas currently under archaeological excavation.
Maintain a respectful tone, as this is a memorial site and cemetery.
