Feb-2025
Best WW2 & Cold War Museums on our Baltic Region + Poland Trip
We love history and the purpose of our Baltic Sea Region and Poland trip was to learn more about WWII and Cold War history. If you are considering a trip of your own, below is a brief review of the fascinating museums we visited. (There are obviously so many more, but the history is heavy and the kids could only handle a few in each city.)
KGB Prison Cells | Tallinn, Estonia
Built in 1912, the building has had a remarkable role in the recent history of Estonia. Arrested Estonian politicians, civil servants, intellectuals, veterans of the War of Independence, as well as ordinary people were beaten and tortured there. Many were then sentenced to death or imprisonment. The prison cells built in the basement have remained a symbol of communist terror to this day. Visitors can explore the basement comprised of two corridors, six prison cells, and a cell for punishment.
Kiek in de Kök Museum and Bastion Tunnels | Tallinn, Estonia
The mysterious passages in Tallinn’s earthwork fortifications were built along with the bastions in the 17th and 18th centuries to conceal the movement of soldiers, ammunition, and other equipment from the enemy. During World War II, the tunnels were equipped with toilets, three-level metal bunk beds, and all other necessary equipment to provide accommodation for people during a nuclear war.
The Corner House (Previous KGB Headquarters) | Riga, Latvia
The military forces of the Soviet Union occupied Latvia on 17 June 1940. The building at Brīvības and Stabu became the Latvian headquarters of the KGB. With time, the building gained the nickname “Corner House”. This was the place of interrogation and incarceration of Latvian citizens who the occupying regime considered to be enemies of the state. During Soviet occupation, the KGB initiated 48 000 criminal cases for “anti-Soviet offences”. When Latvia regained its independence, the KGB was declared a criminal organization and abolished in Latvia
Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camps | Oświęcim, Poland
Auschwitz, also known as Auschwitz-Birkenau, opened in 1940 and was the largest of the Nazi concentration and death camps. Located in southern Poland, Auschwitz initially served as a detention center for political prisoners. However, it evolved into a network of camps where Jewish people and other perceived enemies of the Nazi state were exterminated, often in gas chambers, or used as slave labor. Some prisoners were also subjected to barbaric medical experiments led by Josef Mengele. During World War II , more than 1 million people, by some accounts, lost their lives at Auschwitz.
Museum of Life in the Polish People’s Republic | Warsaw, Poland
This museum is dedicated to showcasing the everyday life and experiences of people living under the communist regime of the Polish People’s Republic (PRL) between 1945 and 1989, displaying everyday objects, propaganda, and stories to illustrate the realities and absurdities of life during that era; offering a unique perspective for younger generations who did not experience this period firsthand
Museum of the Second World War | Gdansk, Poland
This massive and modern museum is dedicated to telling the story of World War II: weaving together major events, experiences of individuals involved, and the lasting impacts of the conflict, often including exhibits on the war’s causes, key battles, the Holocaust, and the lives of soldiers and civilians on all sides. It aims to educate visitors about the historical significance and consequences of this pivotal period in history.
Neon Museum | Warsaw, Poland
Situated within a complex of old industrial buildings, this museum is devoted to the preservation of the iconic neon signs of the pre-WWII and communist era. Inside the museum, around 100 large, fully lit pieces are on display.
Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory | Kraków, Poland
During World War II, Oskar Schindler employed Jews who were threatened with extermination. In 1944, together with his accountant, he prepared the famous “Schindler’s List”, on the basis of which he bought and then transported over 1,100 Jewish workers to the territory of today’s Czech Republic, thus saving them from extermination. The place itself was popularized by 1993 film “Schinler’s List” by Stephen Spielberg picturing Oskar Schindler saving Jews during World War II. The museum is located in the original factory building.
Submarine Vesikko | Helsinki, Finland
The Vesikko was a Finnish submarine that served in World War II. It was originally built for Germany but was purchased by Finland and used in the Winter War and Continuation War.
NOTE: Time of Year Visited: June 2024
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