Wolf's Lair

Wolf's Lair is a military command center in the forests near Kętrzyn in northeastern Poland. The site consists of around 80 camouflaged structures, including massive concrete bunkers scattered among trees and separated by former minefields and barbed wire fences.

The German military leadership built the complex between 1940 and 1941 as headquarters for the Eastern Front. It served until 1944, when troops blew up the compound and fled west.

The name refers to the Teutonic Order castle nearby, while the concrete ruins today remind visitors of the darkest chapter of the Second World War. Some of the remaining bunkers show the thick walls and hidden entrances that once served as protection.

Visitors can explore the site daily with guided tours that walk through the ruins and remaining bunkers. Sturdy shoes help on the uneven paths between the widely spread structures.

Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg brought a bomb into a conference on July 20, 1944, to attempt an assassination. The explosion took place in a wooden barrack, which softened the force and allowed the target to survive.

Location: Kętrzyn

Inception: 1941

Made from material: reinforced concrete

Part of: Führer Headquarters

Website: https://wolfsschanze.pl/en/location-and-construction

GPS coordinates: 54.07944,21.49361

Latest update: December 12, 2025 19:57