Westerplatte is where World War II began on September 1, 1939, when the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein opened fire on the Polish garrison. 182 Polish soldiers heroically defended the outpost for 7 days against vastly superior German forces. Today the site features a towering 25-meter monument, ruins of destroyed barracks, a modern Visitor Centre opened in April 2025, and the Elektrownia exhibition in the former power plant. The place carries deep symbolic significance as the site where the largest conflict in human history started. Annual commemorative ceremonies are held on September 1. The surrounding grounds offer a peaceful walk among ruins and memorials with views of the harbor