Construction of the Polish Army Soldiers' Cemetery
September 29th, 2022 the construction of the Polish Army Soldiers' Cemetery in Westerplatte was completed.
As part of the investment, a linear path was built leading to the cemetery district. The Virtuti Militari Cross was placed in the central point of the area, and the historic Dąbrowski Cross was placed on the perimeter. In the vicinity of the cemetery, relics of fragments of the Officers' Villa and Guardhouse No. 5 have been put on display. The interior of the basement under the Officers' Villa is also displayed for public view under glass. The historical part of the communication route from 1939 has been reconstructed.
Where the remains of the soldiers were found, roses that bloom white from late summer to early fall hve been planted. The bomb crater, located in the north-eastern corner of Guardhouse No. 5, from the raid on September 2, 1939, has been marked with decorative grasses.
On August 10th, 2020, the Museum of the Second World War announced an international competition for the development of an urban and architectural concept titled ‘Concept of the Military Cemetery of the Polish Army Soldiers in Westerplatte’.
On December 14th-16th, 2020, at the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk, deliberations by the the competition jury were held, during which the best urban and architectural concepts of the military cemetery of the Polish Army Soldiers in Westerplatte were selected. 27 works were submitted to the competition, which were verified and then assessed. The deliberations of the competition jury were chaired by Dr. hab. Eng. arch. Bolesław Stelmach, professor at Lodz University of Technology - director of the National Institute of Architecture and Town Planning who advised the competition jury.
On December 21st, 2020, the winning concept of the military cemetery of the Polish Army in Westerplatte was presented, created by NM architects Tomasz Marciniewicz, Zuzanna Szpocińska, Jerzy Grochulski and Karolina Kayzer.
On February 19th, 2021, in accordance with the competition regulations, the Museum, after conducting negotiations, signed an agreement with the winning architectural office for the preparation of design documentation for the military cemetery of the Polish Army Soldiers in Westerplatte, including obtaining the necessary permits and arrangements.
In May 2022, construction works commenced on the Polish Army Soldiers 'Cemetery in Westerplatte, together with the relics of the Guardhouse No. 5 and the Officers' Villa.
On September 29th, 2022, the construction works were completed and the Voivodship Building Supervision Inspector consent was obtained to commence use of the cemetery.
The new cemetery of the Polish Army Soldiers in Westerplatte will be a place of eternal rest for the exhumed remains of the defenders, as well as for other remains found during the excavation works. The cemetery will retain its existing park layout. The finished project includes 18 rememberance plaques with places for the burial of defenders, a reconstruction of a part of the historic communication route from 1939, as well as archaeological relics of fragments of the Officers' Villa and Guardhouse No. 5.
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