Contemplating A History Lesson We Must Not Forget at the Museum of the Second World War? (Gdańsk, Poland)

Travel, as life, isn’t always fun or beautiful and that there are times and places that should make us stop and reflect. We visited the incredibly well done and comprehensive Museum of the Second World War during our first stop of my MSC Poesia’s Jewels of the Baltic Sea cruise Directly from the museum about it’s intent: “.. presents the story about the tragic experience of World War II, about its genesis and consequences, about victims and perpetrators, about heroes and ordinary people. It is meant to resemble a history lesson that we must not forget.”

Ha! So you may have already noticed that I am a nerd with a capital N as I am fascinated by so many things and am insatiably curious so I LOVE museums. And so I could spend days on end in museums but I have talked with others that don’t typically visit them but even they agreed that this should be high on your list to visit. Especially as we have to remember the past to prevent it from happening again in the future. Plan for at least 2.5–4 hours to fully engage with the exhibits.

LOGISTICS

There are notable displays on Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and the Soviet Union showcasing the rise of totalitarian regimes. Artifacts include propaganda posters, political cartoons, and documents from the interwar period.

There is also a focus on the Failure of Democracy and how the international community failed to prevent conflict. And additional information on appeasement and the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact: The secret pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union that paved the way for Poland’s invasion

The Horror of War (1939–1945)

The second narrative covers the war’s major events, battles, and the devastating effects on civilians.

The museum’s collection includes over 50,000 artifacts including military weapons which help underscore the battles and major events.

Weapons and Technology: the German Enigma machine used for encrypting messages.

There is a big emphasis on the human toll of the war and not just the loss of lives in battles – what it was like for civilians living through the war. Showcasing how war wasn’t some idea/thing happening hundreds or thousands of miles away but changed the lives for millions. In the photo on the left: the threat of bombardments made for compulsory darkening of windows and/or the need to move into bunkers as shown here in addition to dealing with the fear and anxiety for civilians. One thing that most don’t consider is that hunger is not only a product of war but often is a deliberate policy tool used by occupying powers – death by starvation wasn’t limited to the concentration camps.

• The Holocaust: Detailed focus on the genocide of Jews, with photos, artifacts, and survivor testimonies.

• (LEFT PHOTO) One of the most poignant captions that I read was for these photos: “People like us” Nearly six million Jews were killed during the Second World War. This unimaginable figure conceals individuals with unique faces, feelings, and stories, which were interrupted violently and unexpectedly. The photos come from a variety of sources. They show victims of the Holocaust who came from many countries, ordinary people like us.
• (MIDDLE BOTTOM PHOTO) Prisoner Transport Train: A reconstructed train car that transported victims to labor and extermination camps.

The Long Shadow of War (Post-1945)

“The third and final narrative of the exhibition is a block entitled ‘The Long Shadow of War’. It combines the story of the end of the war – the fall of the Third Reich, the(liberation of Europe and at the same time the subordination of a large part of it to the Soviet Union, and the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan – with a narrative about the consequences of the war.

There is a big emphasis on the human toll of the war and not just the loss of lives in battles continued. The museum uses recreated environments to bring history to life with one amazing example being this street vignette that one visits in the pre-war narrative. In this narrative, you walk through it again but as a street destroyed by war, complete with ruined buildings, shops, and personal belongings scattered in the rubble. I know that I am not the only one that has been really struck by this scene as it is one that I have seen often in others’ photos of Gdańsk and this museum. Looking back on this now, I can also see how the museum serves as a cautionary tale/history lesson that we cannot forget but a symbol of human resilience – that we are able to rebuild from these moments.

And so there’s still so much more to explore in the museum – please do visit in you find yourself in Gdańsk.

WHAT I SPENT

• Ticket: $7.27/29 ZŁ
• Audio guide: $3/12 ZŁ
• TOTAL $10.27