Wilczy Szaniec (Wolfsschanze)

Wilczy Szaniec (the Wolf's Lair) was the secret German military headquarters on the Eastern Front during World War II, hidden in the forests near Gierłoż. Today it's an extensive complex of dozens of massive concrete bunkers, partly blown up by retreating troops in 1945. A museum and marked trails with information boards explain the site's history, including the failed assassination attempt on Hitler on 20 July 1944. It's among the most visited historical sites in Masuria and a fitting destination for an educational trip from accommodation near Kętrzyn.