Wrocław: World War II and the non-existent city of Breslau｜Poland

Wrocław, formerly Breslau - the capital of Silesia - is a city that has been strongly associated with the NSDAP movement in Germany since the early 1930s. The largest headquarters of the NSDAP authorities in Eastern Germany was located in Wrocław. Until 1945, Wrocław was very ideologically connected with the NSDAP movement, Hitler himself visited Breslau several times. When the city was declared Festung Breslau in 1945, the destruction of Wrocław began. How did the city's fate during the war unfold? Get to know this interesting story.

We start the tour at the Market Square in Wrocław, next to the Old Town Hall. This place miraculously survived the war and destruction of the city. Then we head to Solny Square, where the first bunkers in the city were built to protect the local population. Are there any remnants left today?

Then we head towards the former Castle Square, where until 1945 regular Nazi parades and Fackelzuege took place, and Hitler himself greeted his supporters from the balcony of the Monopol Hotel.

We are on Świdnicka Street (Schweidnitzer-Strasse) - this is a representative street of the city, this is where the inhabitants of Wrocław greeted their leader visiting the city - and this is also where the victorious Soviet Army entered the city in 1945.

We enter the Partisan Hill (Lieblichs Hoehe) - this is where the command of the Breslau Fortress was located and the city's underground bunkers were located. Today it is a beautiful place to relax for Wrocław's inhabitants, with lots of cafes and beer gardens - with a wonderful view of the city. The underground bunkers remain to this day.

The last stage of the trip is ahead of us - a walk towards Ostrów Tumski (Dominsel) - it was on Ostrów Tumski that the most fierce battles for the city took place in 1945. Today, Ostrów Tumski with the Cathedral is beautifully restored - we admire the view of this oldest part of the city from Ceglarskie Hill (Holtei-Hoehe).

We end the tour in front of the former building - the headquarters of the NSDAP authorities in Breslau - and you can explore Ostrów Tumski and its monuments on your own.

PS: Title photo, source https://wroclaw.wyborcza.pl/