The Danish personnel from the Headquarters Multinational Corps Northeast organised a trip to the south-western part of Poland on 26-28 August 2011 to get familiar with the tourist attractions of the Host Nation and to enhance the common relationships.
Early in the morning on Friday 26 August 2011 ten Danish officers and Non-Commissioned officers left the Baltic Barracks and headed against the Southern Part of Poland. The purpose was to visit the old bunker system at Boryszyn Loop and from there to continue to Szklarska Poreba close to the Czech border.
After 1 ½ hours drive we reached the area. At the entrance to the bunker system we were met by the guide, who came from Berlin! Before going down to the underground he gave us a short orientation about the bunker system. The system running from north to east is around 12 kilometers long and it is in quite good condition. The construction started in the 1933 as a part of the eastern defense system around Berlin. However, in 1938, before it was finalized, the construction was stopped by order from Hitler himself.
During II WW it was used as a factory for aircraft engines and at the end of the war it was manned by “Volksturm soldiers” They should stop the Russian advance in the area. As we all know they did not succeed.
After the war the construction was abandoned and everyone could get access to it. Amongst those who went in there were approximately 35.000 bats. They are still there! Therefore the bunker is closed down during winter time so they have a peaceful winter quarter.
It is now cleaned up and all entrances except of two are blocked. One of them is located in the northern and one in the southern part. You can only get access together with a guide and you need to bring a flashlight and wear some warm clothes. It’s only 10 degrees Celsius down there.
The future plan is to make the object a tourist attraction, but for the time being the money for funding is needed so it can be improved.
Back in the bus the travel party continued to Szklarska Poreba, where we arrived late afternoon. After being accommodated the time for dinner and socializing started.
After next morning’s breakfast we met with our guide again. The plan was to drive to Sniezka Mountain and to take the lift up. Then the idea was to walk to the top of Sniezka Mountain from the end station and from there walk back to Szklarska Poreba. A hike, which would take about 7 hours. But the weather forecast was not very good, so the guide suggested to go through with the first part of the plan, but to cancel the last part and instead to walk back to the lift station. This still would take almost 4 hours.
The lift brings up to an altitude of about 1200 meters above sea level and there is a splendid view over the hole area especially the Jelena Gora valley. From the lift it takes around 45 minutes of walk to reach the peak of Sniezka Mountain where the border line to the Czech Republic goes through. So we could stand with one food in Poland and the other one in the Czech Republic. After celebrating to have reached the top we started our way back to the starting point. The area is characterized with well prepared brick paths, which run all over the place. It is obviously a very popular place. A lot of people spend their Saturday walking around.
On the way down our team stopped at a lake and we enjoyed the lunch packages. At the end of the trail the team stopped at a Norwegian Wooden Church!! We decided to get more information about the church and therefore we had a guided tour inside it.
The church was built by the Norwegians in the 12th century and brought to Karkonosze Mountains in 1842 by the Prussian king Frederick William the 4th. It is still in use.
From Karkonosze we went back to the hotel where we could taste the local beer. After some tasting it was time for dinner and socializing and more tasting!
Next morning we decided to drive directly back to the barracks where we were about three o’clock in the afternoon.
In all aspects that was a very interesting and recommendable tour. The tour down there goes through farming land and forest areas. Underway you also pass through small cozy villages.
The bunker system is historically interesting but if it’s going to be a tourist site it needs improvement.
It’s always nice to walk in the mountains and the area along the Czech border is beautiful and not so hard to walk in. Everyone can do that. You just need some good shoes or boots.
Article by Major H. Knudsen
