THE HEROIC ACT OF DEFENDING WESTERPlATTE
WORLD WAR II'S
FIRST DRAMATIC BATTLE

They were ordered to defend themselves for only 12 hours - they fought risking their lives for 6 nights and 7 days.

SEPTEMBER 1

At 4:30am the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein was ready for battle. The alarm sounded. At 4:43 am the ships journal reads ’Battleship is set to attack Westerplatte (Schiff geht zum Angriff auf Westerplatte vor). At 4:45am a storm of bullets starts World War II. At 4:50am Major Sucharski contacts the navy commander in Gdynia. The message was short and tragic:

At 4:45am September 1st battleship Schleswig-Holstein starts bombing Westerplatte. The bombing lasts.