Westerplatte, the location of the start of World War Two on September 1st 1939, Gdansk, Poland

westerplatte gdansk ruins history architecture northern poland military heritage memorial destruction landscape concrete symbolism 1939 resilience warfare remnants cultural site tourism historical significance battle conflict preservation commemoration somber exploration storytelling national identity war artifacts visitor experience remembrance local legacies urban sightseeing educational nature tranquility reflection context atmosphere iconic location