History /
Ketrzyn camp [6]
In the woods of Gierłoż was Hitler's headquater called the Sinister Wolf's Lair
Gierloz was a stronghold of Hitler (called "Wolfschanze") during World War II where huge bunkers destroyed by Germans, but still impressive, can be seen. It is place where an attempt to assasinate Hitler by baron von Stauffenberg took place.
In the woods of Gierłoż (8 km east of Kętrzyn) in the war time there was Hitler's headquater called the Sinister Wolf's Lair. It consisted of a group of 80 bunkers built in the years 1940-1944. Buildings had a good camouflage with nets holding imitationfoliage, the colour of which was changed from season to season. Hitler used this quaters from 24.06.1941 to 20.11.1944. In July 1944 Colonel Claus v. Stauffenberg made his unsuccessful attempt on Hitler's life. The headquater of Hitler was destroyed in January 1945. The tourists can visit the ruins of those bunkers.
The sinister Wolf's Lair
This is what Hitler's war-time headquarters was called. It layies in the woods of Gierloz, 8 km. East of Ketrzyn. It consisted of a group of 80 strong bunkers built in the years 1940-44, a small railway station and an airfield; it had a direct telephone link with Berlin. In eight of the bunkers the thickness of the walls was from 1 to 6 m., and the thickness of the roof from 6 to 8 m. Hitler's headquarters was exceptionally carefully guarded. It was surrounded by a belt of minefields, with anti-aircraft gun emplacements; the buildings were camouflaged with nets holding imitation foliage, the colour of which was changed from season to season. Hitler used this headquarters from 24 June 1941 to 20 November 1944, although he was not of course constantly in residence there. It was here that on 20 July 1944 Colonel Claus v. Stauffenberg made his unsuccessful attempt on Hitler's life. "The Wolf's Lair" was destroyed by the German army as it withdrew in late January 1945. The area which housed Hitler's headquarters, with the ruins of the bunkers, can be visited by tourists.