​​Kostrzyn Fortress Museum

​​In January 1945, the Soviet Army advanced from the east, gaining considerable ground. The then named city of Küstrin was an important target on the River Oder because a railway line and a road led directly to Berlin via the bridges. The German forces once again declared Küstrin a fortress. They made makeshift additions to the historic defences and assembled a garrison of around 10,000 men to hold off the enemy for as long as possible while they captured the town and occupied the bridges.

​The first Soviet Army units reached Kostrzyn on 31 January. In the following weeks, bridgeheads were set up under fierce German resistance and the city was sealed off except for a small corridor. However, it could not be taken.

​On 6 March, the Soviet Army began a simultaneous attack from several sides, which was to lead to the complete elimination of the fortress. On 22 March, the Soviet bridgeheads were successfully brought together and the Küstrin fortress was cut off from supplies. German attempts to relieve the fortress were unsuccessful, and Hitler's personal intervention did nothing to change this. From 24 March, the old town was bombed so heavily that no building survived. In the days that followed, the fortress was finally captured and replacement bridges were built for transport and the railway. As early as 25 April, the first train rolled over the bridges towards Berlin.

​The German forces had expanded their defences on the Seelow Heights, around 10 km away. The last major battle of the Second World War took place there from 16 to 19 April 1945. On 8 May 1945, Nazi Germany capitulated and the national borders in Europe were redrawn. As a result of Poland's shift to the west, Küstrin became Kostrzyn nad Odrą. The new town was rebuilt. The area of the old town was left to its own devices in the new German-Polish border region and was "forgotten" for almost 50 years. It was only after 1989 that some areas of the fortress began to be opened up, with ruins of old houses, paved streets and pavements coming to light under the earth fillings.

​Today, the Kostrzyn Fortress Museum in Kostrzyn nad Odrą is a uniquemonument, also known as the "Pompeii on the Oder". It is an impressive reminder of war and its consequences. Exhibitions tell the story of the fortress and information boards help visitors to tour the former old town centre of Küstrin.