Shelters in Nowa Huta

Shelters in Nowa Huta

Nuclear threat. Shelters in Nowa Huta.

There have been many myths surrounding the shelters of Nowa Huta. One of them says that below the entire district is another, underground city, where it is possible to move around without going out to the surface. One may still meet people claiming to have entered the underground in one neighbourhood and leave it in a completely different one. Also, rumour has it that under the former Światowid cinema (currently the seat of the Museum of Poland under the Communist Regime) there was Nowa Huta’s largest shelter for several hundred people. And, obviously, all shelters in Nowa Huta were, allegedly, to protect against nuclear explosion.

We decided to come to grips with those myths, to tell about the circumstances of constructing the majority of shelters below Nowa Huta – the political climate of the 50s in Poland and abroad, the Cold War, arms race, as well as a real threat of the outbreak of World War 3 and how the authorities used it for propaganda. Although it was beyond doubt that an open conflict between the East and the West was at some points of the 20th c. pretty much real, the authorities deliberately demonised the threat. In the face of a common enemy it was much easier to consolidate the nation and the vision of war allowed to justify the often criminal actions of the Secret Service, aimed at any and all signs of resistance activity, by protection of the country.

Today, for most visitors of the Museum of Poland under the Communist Regime, they are only a historical curiosity. The story of over 250 protective structures located under blocks of flats, schools, kindergartens, health centres or cultural institutions in the heart of Nowa Huta appeals to people’s imagination. Yet, while talking about them, it is difficult to forget about the very current context. The Russian invasion on Ukraine and the helplessness of international institutions (organisations) caused that while we were still working on the exhibition a “new Cold War” was openly mentioned.

Our story becomes, thus, also a warning against paranoia that paralysed international relations worldwide for decades and brought much misfortune. We do hope that it will never come back again.

Share:

Shelters in Nowa Huta

From the beginning of 1952, air raid shelters were being designed in newly erected buildings in Nowa Huta, whereas first structures were constructed in 1953. One of the first was the shelter in an office building in C-32 neighbourhood (currently Zgody neighbourhood) where the District People’s Council had its office (currently City Office of the...
30 Aug
Read more
30 Aug

Shelters in Nowa Huta

From the beginning of 1952, air raid shelters were being designed in newly erected buildings in Nowa Huta, whereas first structures were constructed in 1953. One of the first was the shelter in an office building in C-32 neighbourhood (currently Zgody neighbourhood) where the District People’s Council had its office (currently City Office of the...

Special shelters

First-aid post One of crucial components in the Territorial Air Defence rescue system was proper protection and evacuation of people injured in an attack. The key element thereof were first-aid posts located in shelters under hospitals or health centres. They were to hold registration and segregation of casualties, and provide them with medical aid. These...
30 Aug
Read more
30 Aug

Special shelters

First-aid post One of crucial components in the Territorial Air Defence rescue system was proper protection and evacuation of people injured in an attack. The key element thereof were first-aid posts located in shelters under hospitals or health centres. They were to hold registration and segregation of casualties, and provide them with medical aid. These...

Other Territorial Air Defence structures

Irrespective of the construction of equipment required to protect against air raids, the Territorial Air Defence anticipated the development of other structures which together would create a complex system of civil defence. Another element of the system were decontamination baths. They were being set up in existing public baths and buildings with separate shower rooms,...
30 Aug
Read more
30 Aug

Other Territorial Air Defence structures

Irrespective of the construction of equipment required to protect against air raids, the Territorial Air Defence anticipated the development of other structures which together would create a complex system of civil defence. Another element of the system were decontamination baths. They were being set up in existing public baths and buildings with separate shower rooms,...

Shelters today

Almost from the beginning, the protective engineering in Poland was under-financed. According to the 1970s reports, already at that time the shelters were in bad technical condition. Some of them were unfinished, lacking equipment, with deficient electric and ventilation installations, often worn-out doors, and the rooms were dank and mouldy. The situation was improved with...
30 Aug
Read more
30 Aug

Shelters today

Almost from the beginning, the protective engineering in Poland was under-financed. According to the 1970s reports, already at that time the shelters were in bad technical condition. Some of them were unfinished, lacking equipment, with deficient electric and ventilation installations, often worn-out doors, and the rooms were dank and mouldy. The situation was improved with...

Cold War

Previous article

Communist takeover of Poland

Next article

Change font size

Choose one of three font sizes.

Change site contrast.

Change the background color and font color on the page.

Change the language

Change the language

Polski Polski English English