Knowra Battle of Westerplatte Battle of Westerplatte A seven-day defense of Poland’s military transit depot at Westerplatte against German forces, beginning the German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939.
Westerplatte Military Transit Depot : A Polish military installation in the Free City of Danzig, established to handle the transit of military supplies. Its barracks, guardhouses, and terrain formed the position the Polish garrison defended.
Free City of Danzig : A semi-autonomous city-state established under League of Nations protection after World War I. Westerplatte lay within its territory, where Poland held special rights to maintain the depot.
Surrender of Westerplatte : The Polish garrison’s capitulation to German forces on September 7, 1939. It ended the seven-day defense after ammunition, supplies, and medical capacity dwindled.
Battle of Wizna : A Polish defensive battle against German forces in September 1939, fought near the Narew River. Like Westerplatte, it became celebrated for prolonged resistance by a small Polish force.
Westerplatte peninsula : A peninsula at the mouth of the Vistula in present-day Gdańsk, Poland. Its narrow approach shaped how German forces could attack the depot.
Treaty of Versailles : The 1919 peace treaty that established the postwar settlement between Germany and the Allied powers. Its settlement created Danzig’s special status and enabled Poland’s depot at Westerplatte.
Westerplatte Monument : A monument in Gdańsk commemorating the Polish defense of Westerplatte in 1939. Its postwar construction made the battlefield a prominent site of national remembrance.
Battle of Hel : A Polish defense of the Hel Peninsula against German forces that lasted from September to October 1939. Its much longer duration contrasts with Westerplatte’s week-long stand.
Schleswig-Holstein (battleship) : A German pre-dreadnought battleship that shelled Westerplatte on September 1, 1939. Its bombardment opened the attack but did not quickly defeat the Polish defenders.
Polish Corridor : The territory granted to Poland after World War I that connected the country to the Baltic Sea. Its borders and the status of Danzig formed part of the tensions surrounding the depot.
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