Wolf's Lair

Wolf's Lair (German: Wolfsschanze) was the headquarters of Adolf Hitler and the High Command of the Armed Forces of the Third Reich from 1941 to 1944, located in the picturesque forest of Gierłoż near Kętrzyn. It was designed as a fully functional military complex, consisting of approximately 80 permanent structures, including bunkers with thick walls, office buildings, wooden barracks, and an air base. Construction, carried out by the Todt Organization, began in 1940 with the aim of providing Hitler with a comfortable base for commanding troops during operations in the USSR. Interestingly, the construction process utilized local resources and forced laborers of various nationalities. The headquarters was carefully camouflaged in the forest and protected by advanced defense systems, including minefields and guard posts. The history of the Wolf's Lair is inextricably linked to the history of World War II, as it was here, on July 20, 1944, that Claus von Stauffenberg's failed assassination attempt on Hitler took place. After the war, the area remained abandoned for a long time, littered with numerous mines and unexploded ordnance, posing dangers to the local population. Demining efforts only began after 1945, and a museum was established, opening to tourists in 1959. The Wolf's Lair has since become a cultural site, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. In recent years, the complex has undergone transformations to become more museum-oriented, with planned reconstructions and new exhibitions, allowing for a deeper understanding of its historical context and role in the events of World War II.