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Wolf's Lair (Wolfsschanze) is the most famous WWII site in Poland.
LOCATION: Forest near Gierłoż, 8 km east of Kętrzyn. Chosen for: 1) camouflage in dense forest 2) proximity to Wilamowo airfield 3) 90 km from Soviet border.
CONSTRUCTION (1940-1944): Organisation Todt employed 7,000 workers. 80 bunkers + 200 barracks over 250 ha. Thickest bunkers: 8 m concrete, 2 m steel plates.
INHABITANTS: Hitler from June 1941 spent 800 days here. Each bunker labeled A-Z. Hitler in "Führerbunker". Others: Göring, Himmler, Bormann, Speer, Keitel.
JULY 20, 1944 ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: Operation Valkyrie. Col. Klaus von Stauffenberg planted a bomb. Explosion 12:42. 4 killed, Hitler only burned because the bomb was moved behind the table leg. Stauffenberg shot in Berlin that evening. Tom Cruise film (2008) recreates it.
END (January 1945): Before the Red Army arrived (Jan 24), bunkers were dynamited.
TODAY: Museum + 30 marked bunkers. Recreated conference room. 3 km trail. Ticket 25 PLN, child 15 PLN. Daily 8:00-dusk. PL/EN/DE guide.