The exhibition will be located in the two-storey main building of the Westerplatte Museum, situated below ground level, near the Defenders of the Coast monument. Construction is set to begin in the second half of 2026 as part of the second phase of
a project aimed at revitalising the Battle of Westerplatte historical monument, in line with a long-term program adopted by the Council of Ministers. The investment is financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The usable area of the facility will be approximately 7,000 square meters, with nearly 2,800 square meters dedicated to exhibition space.
The exhibition will primarily focus on events that transpired on the peninsula and the experiences of the Polish soldiers who defended it.
– We want to highlight that World War II began here, and this site has become a symbol of Polish patriotism. Echoing the words of John Paul II, we want to ask visitors: “What is your Westerplatte?” explains Prof. Rafał Wnuk, director of the Museum of the Second World War. – Both Gdańsk and all of Poland will be able to take pride in this place – he adds.
Creation of a new museum
On 20 May 2025, the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk hosted
a meeting as part of a “Single-stage implementation competition to develop a design concept for the exhibition of the Westerplatte and War of 1939 Museum – Branch of the Second World War Museum located at Westerplatte”. Four entries were submitted for consideration, and the competition jury selected Trias AVI sp. z o.o. as the winner. They were granted the right to negotiate a design contract under a single-source procurement procedure. However, due to a lack of agreement, the Museum initiated discussions with the design studio JAZ + Architekci sp. z o.o. from Warsaw (winner of the second prize), and
a contract was signed on 8 October 2025.
– The selection of the company and the formal establishment of cooperation is another step that brings us closer to our goal of creating the Westerplatte Museum – stated the director of the Museum of the Second World War.
The exhibition will consist of five thematic sections entitled:
• “The Peninsula”
• “The Battle”
• “People” – the wartime and post-war fates of the defenders of Westerplatte
• “War and Nature”
• “Never again war”.
Westerplatte: a place of remembrance
The significance of Westerplatte is highlighted in the exhibition through
a careful blend of multimedia elements and physical exhibits, along with a visually striking and emotionally resonant design.
– Ongoing archaeological efforts are uncovering new secrets of the peninsula, revealing many original artifacts related to the resort’s operations, life at the Military Transit Depot, the battles of 1939, and the German civilian prisoner-of-war camp. These findings also shed light on the peninsula’s evolution as a site of remembrance post-1945 – says Jan Szkudliński, PhD, head of the Research Department of the Museum of the Second World War, who heads the team responsible for the exhibition scenario.
From 1926 to 1939, the Military Transit Depot served as a Polish outpost on the Westerplatte peninsula, bordered to the south-east by the Free City of Gdańsk. It was home to ammunition depots monitored by a dedicated guard unit. In September 1939, the garrison at Westerplatte heroically defended against overwhelmingly superior German forces for seven days.
The Polish soldiers stationed at the Military Transit Depot became enduring symbols of patriotism for future generations. Today, Westerplatte stands as a testament not only to their bravery and sacrifices but also to the courage and acumen of their commanders. The site also bears witness to the tragic history of civilians held in the German camp that operated here from 1939 to 1941 – a story that will also be featured in the exhibition.
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