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Where the Second World War in Europe Broke Out: The Landscape History of Westerplatte, Gdańsk/Danzig

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  • Wojciech Samól

    (Museum of the Second World War, Bartoszewski Sq 1, 80-862 Gdansk, Poland
    Insitute of History, University of Gdańsk, Wit Stwosz St. 55, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland)

  • Szymon Kowalski

    (Faculty of Architecture, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicz St. 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland)

  • Arkadiusz Woźniakowski

    (Faculty of Architecture, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicz St. 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland)

  • Piotr Samól

    (Faculty of Architecture, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicz St. 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland)

Abstract

The article describes the landscape history of the Westerplatte Peninsula in Gdańsk (Poland) from the 17th to the 20th century presented as a complex process of the landscape’s environmental, urban and military transformations. Westerplatte is known as the symbolic place where the Second World War in Europe broke out, and for this reason the current discourse is mainly concentrated on that period. Nonetheless, the history of Westerplatte includes many other important events involving Polish, German, Russian and even French politics over the last three centuries. Thanks to its location at the entrance of one of the main harbours on the Baltic Sea, it is cartographically the best-documented part of the Vistula river estuary. A comprehensive archival survey conducted in the Polish and German archives and cartographical analysis of over 200 selected historical maps allowed the authors to reconstruct its spatial history over three centuries. This case study of Westerplatte can be regarded as an example of the research modus operandi of a historical landscape which has been transformed multiple times. It might form the basis for establishing a new policy for its preservation, allowing a balance to be kept between fluctuations of the current historical politics and more universal requirements for the protection of tangible and intangible heritage. The article also stresses the importance of a holistic and interdisciplinary approach in the analysis of a historical landscape and the necessity of proper selection and critical verification of sources.

Suggested Citation

  • Wojciech Samól & Szymon Kowalski & Arkadiusz Woźniakowski & Piotr Samól, 2023. "Where the Second World War in Europe Broke Out: The Landscape History of Westerplatte, Gdańsk/Danzig," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:3:p:596-:d:1086083
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Francesca Vergari & Gian Marco Luberti & Alessia Pica & Maurizio Del Monte, 2021. "Geomorphology of the historic centre of the Urbs (Rome, Italy)," Journal of Maps, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(4), pages 6-17, July.
    2. Ken Taylor, 2016. "The Historic Urban Landscape paradigm and cities as cultural landscapes. Challenging orthodoxy in urban conservation," Landscape Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(4), pages 471-480, May.
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