Mausoleum of Struggle and Martyrdom

Discover the haunting reality of the Nazi police's operations during the occupation of Warsaw at the former Gestapo headquarters, where you can see claustrophobic cells, interrogation rooms, Nazi uniforms, and authentic testimonies on display.

In 1941, one of the darkest chapters in Warsaw's history unfolded as Nazi forces entered the Polish capital. The Gestapo, the secret police in service of the Nazis, became a potent tool of the new regime.

The current headquarters of the Polish Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs was once the Gestapo headquarters in Warsaw during World War II. Within these walls, many atrocities unfolded, vividly narrated with realism and rawness in this museum, offering crucial insights into the history of Warsaw.

The Gestapo Museum in Warsaw

The former Gestapo headquarters in Warsaw meticulously reconstructs the various chambers where the Nazi police carried out arrests, interrogations, and executions of those suspected of opposing the regime.

Within the cell walls, actual inscriptions from Polish prisoners during World War II are displayed. Detainees, often shackled, could spend months confined in these cells, enduring extensive interrogations and torture based on the severity of their alleged crimes.

This memorial of struggle and martyrdom features an exact replica of the Gestapo chief's office in Warsaw, showcasing the uniform, documents on the desk, and various tools and weapons used for detainee torture.

The former headquarters also encompasses rooms where detainees endured inhumane conditions while awaiting interrogation. Crowded into cramped spaces, they often went days without food or sleep.

A poignant section of the museum presents real testimonies from survivors of Gestapo imprisonment, along with personal narratives of Poles arrested by the Nazi police for aiding their compatriots.

A bit too sinister for some

Although real atrocities were committed in the former Gestapo headquarters, we feel that the museum may not be appropriate for all audiences. Some may feel that it too realistically recreates the suffering and inhumane acts that took place in these rooms.

The lighting in the museum is very dim and creepy, and throughout the visit, you can hear people screaming as they are being tortured, which is quite sinister. While all this may make the museum more realistic, it also makes it somewhat unpleasant.