After leaving Dresden we set the GPS for north! To be a little more precise, we planned on spending 2 days getting to our next destination which was north east of Dresden.

Our destination was a site of great military history significance in Poland. We spent 6 days in Poland in total - enough for a blog entry by itself. But first, The Wolf's Lair.

Have you seen the movie Valkerie? It told the story of the July 1944 assassination attempt on Hitler's life and starred Tom Cruise as Colonel Stauffenberg. All this happened in Poland at The Wolf's Lair in a wooded area 8 kilometres from Rastenburg, now known as Ketrzyn.

During World War Two "Wolfsschanze" was Hitler's military headquarters. This is from where orders affecting all WW2 fronts were given and sent to wherever German officials and soldiers operated. Hitler spent over 800 days of the war at The Wolf's Lair. The area is heavily wooded and provided excellent camouflage for over 80 buildings and bunkers that were constructed here between 1940 and 1944. The depth of concrete used for the ceilings and walls of the bunkers depended on the importance of the people who were to live and work inside. Needless to say, Hitler's main bunker had the most fortified walls and ceilings and even had trees planted on the roof to help keep it hidden. All the shelters were only one storey high with ventilation, sewerage and water supply systems as well as mains and central heating. Hitler believed the Wolf's Lair to be one of the safest places in Europe - probably why he spent so much time here! After Hitler left The Wolf's Lair on 20th November 1944, he left instructions for the complex to be blown up. A special train delivered the tons of TNT needed to destroy the heavily fortified bunkers and barracks. The destruction of the complex was carried out on 24th and 25th January 1945 and the explosions were heard in Ketrzyn, 8 kilometres away.

But back to Tom Cruise - I mean Colonel Stauffenberg! On 20th July 1944 in the Wolf's Lair, Colonel Stauffenberg made an abortive attempt on Hitler's life. A group of officers realised that the war couldn't be won and hatched a plot to kill Hitler. They thought that with Hitler dead they would be able negotiate favourable conditions of capitulation. Stauffenberg placed a briefcase with explosives under a table where a meeting was to be held. He left the room and managed to flee before the bomb exploded. However, the briefcase was moved and Hitler survived but 4 others died and 11 were injured. Of course Stauffenberg and any one else who was involved in the plot were gathered up and executed - either shot or hung by a meat hook and piano wire so they strangled and would die slowly and painfully. It is believed approximately 5 000 people were killed as a result of the assassination attempt.

After the war building materials like bricks, wood and metal fittings were used by the local population. Minefields surrounding the quarters took 10 years to clear - until 1955. 55 000 mines of various types were removed by Polish sappers.

The Wolf's lair is now an historical museum - out in the open - where you can visit the remains of the buildings. We spent the day having a guided tour of the site and then re-visiting several of the bunkers and also some areas that were not included in the tour. MANY photos were taken and kilometres walked! We stayed right at the site in a hotel that was once the barracks for Hitler's escort. For 2 night's accommodation, including breakfast, we paid £41, (240 Polish Zlotych) about AUS $90 - bargain!

As well as the ruins of the complex, there was a display of military vehicles that you could pay to go for a ride in. The area was busy with people the whole time we were there. Tour buses stopped at regular intervals and those on board went off with their guides to tour the remains of the complex. The camping area contained many campervans and tents as well. A constant flow of people came and went from the only restaurant on the site. We were amazed by the number of people visiting from all over he world.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and Greg was in 7th heaven the whole time he was here as it is another site on his military history travel list that he has been able to visit.