European Night of Museums on Westerplatte 2015
The Museum of the Second World War took part in this annual event for the fifth time and prepared a specially organised educational zone. As usual, the programme was addressed to both adults and children and included many attractions - among others – the film and multimedia performance “The Explosion” based on the idea of Andrzej Wajda .
More photos from the event available in the photo gallery.
Screenings of ‘The Explosion’ started already on Friday, 15th of May. The film and multimedia performance by Andrzej Wajda was presented on a large screen in a warehouse located on the peninsula made available specially for that occasion. Using computer animation and video mapping, the show presents one of the most dramatic pages of history, beginning with Hitler’s seizure of power in Germany until the outbreak of the war and the fighting in September 1939. The show makes use of rare archival films and photos, mixed with fragments of Andrzej Wajda’s films Speed and Katyn.
At Saturday night about two thousand people visited Westerplatte. In theeducational zone there were workshops run by Museum employees: ‘In a Conservator’s Workshop’, devoted to conservation of exhibits, ‘Secrets of the Enigma’ and educational workshop for children and teenagers held with a use of teaching aids explaining the operation of the German Enigma coding machine. In the ruins of the New Barracks there were also stands organised of re-enactors playing Polish soldiers of 1939. Visitors were also able to see the ‘Westerplatte: Spa – Bastion – Symbol’ permanent outdoor exhibition. Rides on handcars and mobile kitchen serving dishes cooked according to original pre-war recipes were additional atractions.
Within the framework of the European Night of Museums we also invited you to see the Museum of the Second World War’s exhibition titled ‘‘45. End of the war in 45 artefacts’, which is still on display in the temporary exhibition hall at the European Solidarity Centre.
