Waligóra Bunker near Węgierska Górka

In the woods on the slope above Cisiec, a short walk from the centre of Węgierska Górka, stands a moss-covered concrete block with dark gun embrasures. This is "Waligóra", a large bunker of the September 1939 defence line – an artillery casemate whose two guns covered the approaches to the neighbouring bunkers.

History

"Waligóra" is a large single-storey artillery casemate of resistance class C, a bunker whose guns were positioned to fire across the ground in front of other fortifications. The crew of one officer, three NCOs and 17 privates was commanded by Lieutenant Leopold Galocz. It was armed with two 75 mm field guns, a heavy and a light machine gun and flare launchers.

During the fighting the bunker was lightly damaged by artillery fire. Out of ammunition, the crew withdrew late in the evening of 2 September with soldiers of the Border Protection Corps battalion "Berezwecz" to Oczków. In autumn 1939 the Germans fired at the bunker from close range with a gun while shooting a propaganda film, then stripped out all its equipment and its gas-tight and armoured doors. In the 1960s the Polish Army used it as a command post during manoeuvres. It was listed as a monument on 28 September 2021.

What to see

• The concrete bunker set into the slope, with its gun embrasures.
• The interior – you can explore it freely, though it is partly flooded and unlit.
• An information board by the entrance.

Tripto tip

Bring a torch and shoes that can get wet – it is dark and damp inside. There have been plans to turn it into a second part of the battle museum, but for now it is open without staff. Half an hour is enough. Combine it with the "Wędrowiec" bunker, which houses the museum.