Showing posts with label bunkers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bunkers. Show all posts

Friday, 13 March 2015

Go Bunkers, really Bunkers!

Here comes the darkness...

I know I did go bunkers already. But to be frank, it was a very brief visit. I was rushed by my companion, who was rushed by unexpected guests, who turned out weren't unexpected at all, but just forgotten :)

Shall we go in???

As we power-walked around the bunkers, I peeked through entrance holes. I am a wuss in nature, so I can pretend all I like that I didn't explore the underground, because there wasn't much time. The truth is, even if I had all the time in the world, I wouldn't go in.

Outside, yesssss!!!

So when I came across information about organised walk through soon-to-be-demolished bunkers, I was all in and very exited. Luckily for me I managed to pass my exitement to few other people that decided to tag along :)

Here comes the light, go towards it

I expected a guide, who will walk a group of 50-something people around, like when you sightsee a city with a guide, or a museum, or a castle. I imagined that as we walk though bunkers with the guide, I will be told so much about the place that I could imagine soldiers being there as we toured.

Closed off exit, trapped???

Well, there was none of that going on. As it turned out, it was a group of friends and enthusiasts, who sightsee bunkers together. So, unfortunately I did not find out anything new about the history of the buildings, or what there were used for. Despite that it was worth going. First of all we saw all the bunkers in the area (the ones still hidden in forest too). As it turns out half of them were hidden.


Bathroom :)

Another plus, and a huge one, is that with all these people and their powerful flashlights and no fear of any kind, we decided to dive in. At first very hesitant (all we were equipped with were phone flashlights, that comparing with our new friends torches were like candlelight).


Candle-lit picture

First bunker and surprise already. I thought there will be a small room (let's call it multipurpose room), but behind that room, there was a corridor linking other rooms. It was quite big. It took about 10 minutes (that felt like half an hour) to look in every room, I was getting scared I won't find the way back. When we resurfaced I was very grateful for the sun.


Lovely forest

As "the tour" progressed we become more relaxed underground, as much so that all my companions scattered around exploring new spaces on their own. Added bonus was a gorgeous weather and beautiful forest, even this time of the year.


Transformer room, aka. Common-room

Despite of lack of concrete information about the bunkers, I did find out that some of them were build in c.a. 1900 and were used by German army in war. I also know now were the transformer room is (that information I obtained when sightseeing said room. I suggested to my fellow companions that it was common-room, as it was quite big. To that suggestion one enthusiast enlightened me that it was not. Also I found that what I thought to be a broken lamp, was in fact a powering source).


bunkry gdansk linia wody polska morze baltyckie
See you underground :)

Sunday, 1 March 2015

Go Bunkers :)

pozostalosci baterii fortyfikacja gdanska  polska
Remains of battery

This time I decided to go see bunkers. I decided to go after I read an article on local website that urged to go see the bunkers, because they will be demolished soon. I felt the time urged so I decided to go see the bunkers on the weekend. I also got exited because I didn't know there were so many of them. Well, I knew there were few bunkers around Westerplatte and I knew there are bunkers all around TriCity, but I always thought of them as bomb shelters.

stanowisko ogniowe 25 Baterii Artylerii Stałej gdansk polska
25 firing position Permanent Artillery Battery, and the ship.

The day was lovely, sun came out and it was so inviting to go and do stuff outside. Unfortunately when I got around the sun disappeared. As I was preparing for the short trip I begin worrying: what if I don't find the bunkers? what if I get arrested? what if they are already demolished? what if is dangerous there? I read in the article that the bunkers are located in the port area that is under surveillance of Port Guards. Since that area is considered "the border" trespassing isn't allowed.

zamaskowany bunkier gdansk polska
Camouflaged bunker

As always I was accompanied by somebody, who wasn't the least thrilled to tag along :) As we were driving I was wondering if we are going the right way, but as we got of the main road there wasn't much choice of direction except straight forward :) When we drove of the wooded area I got surprised by a humongous ship, that seemed to come out of nowhere, then I noticed the bunkers :)

stanowisko ogniowe 25 Baterii Artylerii Stałej wejscie polska gdansk
25 firing position Permanent Artillery Battery entrance

Since the port is expanding and a new terminal will be build on the ground were the bunkers are, the preparations have begun, therefore all the trees were cut (most of the fortification bunkers are hidden in the forest that surround the beaches).

Zapasowy punkt kierowania ogniem BAS 25 gdansk polska trojmiasto
Replacement fire control point BAS 25.

I seems that the fortifications come from after II WW, when it was decided that it was necessary to rebuild Gdansk coast defence, but haven't been looked after since the '70. However I looks like these bunkers aren't the first ones build in the area and fortifications were built there before I WW.

Pozostałości bunkrów w rejonie zatoki Gdańskiej polska gdansk trojmiasto
Remains of bunkers in Gdansk bay area

It is sad that part of the history is being destroyed, but in defence of that I say that the fortifications are in poor shape, also they never actually were used in defence. Also I have learnt that there is something called Coastal Fortifications Trail. It is best to follow the trail by bike, since it is quite a distance. I hope I will conquer it when spring comes :)

szlak fortyfikacji nadmorskiej gdansk polska trojmiasto
Coastal Fortifications Trail; source: trojmiasto.pl