Battle of Westerplatte
Westerplatte peninsula, Gdańsk harbour, Poland
What happened
A small Polish garrison under Major Henryk Sucharski and Captain Franciszek Dąbrowski defended a depot against German forces, including the battleship Schleswig-Holstein. Early on 1 September 1939, the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein opened fire on the small Polish ammunition depot at Westerplatte, among the first shots of the Second World War. The defenders had expected to hold out for about 12 hours. Instead they held for seven days against attacks from land, sea and air before surrendering.
Why it matters
Why it matters: The defence became a lasting symbol of Polish courage during the German invasion. It is still one of the best-known events of the war in Poland.
What came next
The garrison surrendered on 7 September 1939. A 25-metre monument was built on the site in 1966, and a museum opened in 2015.
Did you know?
Westerplatte had been a Polish military depot since 1926, inside the Free City of Danzig.
Timeline
- 1926Poland sets up a military depot at Westerplatte.
- 1 September 1939The Schleswig-Holstein opens fire.
- 7 September 1939The garrison surrenders.
- 1966The Westerplatte Monument is unveiled.
- 2015A museum about the battle opens.