Wałbrzych – it is truly a city of secrets… One of the most mysterious buildings in this city, which is still underestimated as a travel destination, is the Mausoleum located in the Stary Zdrój district.
Monumental architecture
The original German name of this interesting building is Schlesier Ehrenmal, i.e. the Silesian Mausoleum. It was designed by architect Robert Tischler, work on it was completed in 1939. It was officially built to commemorate the victims of World War I: 1,780 fallen residents of Wałbrzych, approximately 177,000. Silesians, 25 Nazi fighters and all victims of mining disasters. Mausoleums of this type were built in many places during the Third Reich. Monumental buildings were then built, the architecture of which referred to the ancient buildings of Sumer or Babylon. It was a style beloved by Nazi notables. The mausoleum in Wałbrzych is the only one in Europe preserved to this day.
City of the Dead or SS Temple?
This building is popularly called Totenburg (city of the dead). The term “SS Temple” also stuck to it, but it is not justified in the sources. However, the building was closely associated with Nazism. It was established a few years after Adolf Hitler visited Wałbrzych as part of his campaign for the parliamentary elections (July 22, 1932). Interestingly, this visit ended in disgrace, as few residents of the then Waldenburg came to the official meeting with the head of the NSDAP. The majority of the population of Wałbrzych did not sympathize with Nazism. At that time, the city was an important center and had a strategic character for the organization. This is probably why it was decided to build this monumental building here. Its shape, reminiscent of ancient temples, was intended to remind the inhabitants of then Wałbrzych of the power of the Third Reich.
My feelings
The building impressed me as a ruin, a reminder of an era when Germany was gripped by widespread madness. It is located in a deserted place, among the overwhelming greenery on the top of Niedźwiadek Mountain. Locals associate this place with concerts and picnics that took place here. Over time, the building deteriorated, becoming a meeting place for truants and hooligans. From time to time, there are ideas for the development of Totenburg (e.g. building the Museum of the History of Lower Silesia), but for now the facility is still deteriorating. I recommend visiting this place on your own or with a guide – e.g. as part of my trip Secrets of the Third Reich in Lower Silesia.
Totenburg – photo gallery
The photos were taken in May 2021.
