Currently, the Riese complex is a monument that can be visited. This project was once started but never completed. Why did the Germans choose these particular areas to build the complex? We present a brief history of work on the implementation of the Riese project.
Genesis of the Grand Project
The idea behind creating the project was simple. The goal was to relocate armaments production to the Sudeten territories. And that is exactly what happened in 1943. This was because the Allies were intensifying their bombing raids on Germany’s armament areas. The Riese project was created in connection with the plan to establish a new headquarters for Adolf Hitler.
Plans were made to create large bunkers and underground structures. The code name for this project was precisely the word „Riese,” which in the language of our western neighbor means „giant.” Initially, hundreds of thousands of prisoners of war were called upon for this operation and placed in several labor camps. However, the results of their work on the project did not satisfy Hitler. Therefore, control was transferred to Organisation Todt.
Construction plans envisioned creating a network of complicated tunnels under the castle and on its outskirts. Implementation of the entire project was extremely costly. To this day, it is not known exactly how much money was spent on this purpose. The complex, by the standards of the time, was built with the greatest precision. The best specialists were selected.
Scale of the Project
Twenty-eight thousand tons of cement were used to construct tunnels and structures of a strategic nature. The entire project was never completed because the Red Army entered these territories. Even before its arrival, many elements of the construction were completely destroyed to conceal the construction plans.
Work on the project covered several thousand square kilometers. The project’s concept was to carve tunnels into mountain rocks. The entire Riese complex mainly comprised seven facilities. These are Jawornik, Włodarz, Rzeczka, Osówka, Gontowa, and Książ Castle.
Książ Castle is currently under the care of the Laboratory of the Institute of Geophysics. It is claimed that due to the underground work of Nazi Germany, the castle lost its original charm. For the purposes of constructing the project, the beautiful floors, walls, and halls of the mentioned castle were destroyed. However, it was not completely destroyed.
The Riese Complex Today
Currently, the Riese complex is recognized as a historical monument. A larger part of the discussed site can be visited. However, three facilities out of the seven known so far are inaccessible to visitors. One of these inaccessible elements is Książ Castle itself.
The castle is the subject of research conducted by the Laboratory of Geophysics. Construction design plans were never found. Therefore, it is not known whether all the points that were being built were meant to be connected to each other. Currently, there are many hypotheses on this subject.
The only detailed information could be found in Schmelcher’s reports, who was the designer of Hitler’s main headquarters. They indicate that there were not seven headquarters, but nineteen of them. This testifies to the fact that most of them are still hidden and undiscovered. It is evident that history still conceals many secrets here.
