[PL] Polska wersja tutaj

Driving on the A4 highway through Silesia, I was wondering many times by Saint Anne Mountain. Why this lonely mountain is on this flat area and why the highway had to cross this mountain at the top. When I heard that there is a Nazi amphitheater there, I decided that I must visit this place once.

Chelmberg

Chelmberg (polish Góra Chełmska) is a former name of St. Anne Mountain. This is the remnant of a volcano that was here 27 million years ago. There are deposits of nephelineite and lime that were mined here in the 18th century. It is the remains of these quarries that became the basis for the construction of the amphitheater.

Amphitheater History

During the Third Silesian Uprising, there were fierce clashes between Polish insurgents and Freikorps - German paramilitary units. Many victims died on both sides, and the area remained within Germany.

In 1934, after Hitler came to power, NSDAP took over this area and began building an amphitheater and a mausoleum designed to commemorate the fallen Germans during the Third Silesian Uprising. Of course, like everything in the Third Reich amphitheater it had to be great, and and was designed for 30.000 person.

Above the amphitheater was mausoleum with Germans soldiers who died in 1921. The Mausoleum survived until the end of the war.

Amphitheater in the Nazi times / by wikimedia

In 1945, when the war was over, the German mausoleum was dismantled and the remains sent to rebuild Warsaw. Then a competition for a new monument was announced - this time commemorating the Polish victims of those fights. The competition for the design of the monument was won by Xawery Dunikowski, during the work the concept changed and the monument was no longer meant only to commemorate the insurgents - but all who fought for the Polishness of Silesia.

Finally, the monument commemorated everything from Niemcza in 950 [sic], to the Red Army ... Well, that was the realities of communism in the People's Republic of Poland.

Amphitheater now

Visit this amphitheater is an interesting idea for people who interested in the history. It is a reminder of those sick times.

Two hours is enough for visit this place, but not far away is the Basilica of St. Anne, and a geological reserve.

Sources:

• Wikipedia
• Information boards
• own knowledge

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