Bailiffs seize Hitler's 'Wolf's Lair' where the Führer plotted his sick world domination and even survived an assassination attempt
- The former military headquarters in the Masurian woods, near Ketrzyn (formerly Rastenburg), in Poland was where the Führer spent much of Second World War
- The Wolf's Lair was Hitler's first Eastern Front military headquarters in WWII
- Built for the start of Operation Barbarossa - the invasion of the Soviet Union
- Company managing the property has failed to pay rent due to the Government
Bailiffs have seized control of Adolf Hitler's 'Wolf's Lair' after the current owners failed to pay their rent.
The former military headquarters in the Masurian woods, near Ketrzyn (formerly Rastenburg), in Poland, is where the Führer spent much of the Second World War plotting his domination of the planet.
The company managing the property failed to pay rent due to the Government organisation and did not properly cooperate with Poland's Ministry of Culture on its plans for the historic property.
The company managing the property failed to pay rent on the former military headquarters in the Masurian wood
Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini are pictured at the former military headquarters in the Masurian woods, near Ketrzyn (formerly Rastenburg), in Poland
Local forestry official Zenon Piotrowicz said: 'We brought in bailiffs, with the help of the police and the security company, to take over the Wolf's Lair, and also the hotel rooms and restaurant located there.'
The Wolf's Lair was Hitler's first Eastern Front military headquarters in WWII. It was built for the start of Operation Barbarossa - the invasion of the Soviet Union - in 1941.
The top secret, high security site lies five miles east of the small town of Ketrzyn. The Fuhrer's bunker was located in the heavily-guarded central complex.
On 20th July 1944, German colonel Claus von Stauffenberg left a briefcase full of explosives in the Führer's office.
The plan was to kill Hitler and replace him with a government which would negotiate a truce with the Allies, ending the war.
Stauffenberg was a trusted member of the Führer's inner circle and it was unthinkable that he would plot against him - but then he did.
He claimed he needed to make a phone call and left Hitler's conference room after leaving the bomb.
It exploded at 12.42pm but Hitler was only bruised and burned.
Colonel von Stauffenberg's fate was thrown back into the spotlight due to 2008 movie Valkyrie starring Tom Cruise.
The Wolf's Lair was Hitler's first Eastern Front military headquarters in WWII. It was built for the start of Operation Barbarossa - the invasion of the Soviet Union - in 1941
Hitler in Rastenburg with officers (front, Adolf Galland) of the air force after a conferring of orders
Pictured are Wilhelm Keitel, Rudolf Schmundt, Rudolf Schmundt, Adolf Hitler and Julius Schaub at the site
Despite the security, the most notable assassination attempt against Hitler was made at the Wolf's Lair on 20th July 1944 by Claus von Stauffenberg and other conspirators
The apparent purpose of the assassination attempt was to seize political control of Germany and its armed forces from the Nazi Party and to make peace with the western Allies.
However, a staff officer had moved the briefcase shortly after von Stauffenberg’s departure which is why Hitler was protected from the blast.
Von Stauffenberg was captured and executed alongside three conspirators and all their relatives were sent to concentration camps.
A total of 200 were executed as a result of the assassination attempt.
The top secret, high security site lies five miles east of the small town of Ketrzyn. The Fuhrer's bunker was located in the heavily-guarded central complex
Croatian Head of State (Poglavnik) Ante Pavelic (left) welcomes Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz (right) at the Wolf's Lair in 1944
Adolf Hitler with Croatian Head of State Ante Pavelic at the Fuhrer's headquarters in 1944
Pictured is Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in Rastenburg with Joseph Goebbels and Heinz Linge
Hitler first arrived at the Wolf's Lair on June 23, 1941. In total, he spent more than 800 days there until his final departure on November 20, 1944
Hitler first arrived at the Wolf's Lair on June 23, 1941. In total, he spent more than 800 days there until his final departure on November 20, 1944.
In the summer of 1944, work began to enlarge and reinforce many of the Wolf's Lair original buildings but the work was never completed because of the rapid advance of the Red Army.
On January 25, 1945, the complex was blown up and abandoned 48 hours before the arrival of the Soviet forces.
(The Mail, UK)
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