Boyen Fortress
Medals available at the Museum and in the Powder Magazine and Carriage House!
History of Boyen Fortress
Boyen Fortress in Giżycko was built between 1843-1855 as a structure blocking the strategic isthmus between lakes Niegocin and Kisajno. In early April 1843, King Frederick William IV ordered the start of construction. A design was prepared for building an earth-and-brick barrier fort in the shape of a hexagon directly near the town on the so-called Giżycko Island.
The fort was to be accessed through four gates: Giżycko Gate, Kętrzyn Gate, Powder Gate and Water Gate, with the whole surrounded by a 2303-meter-long Carnot wall. The cornerstone ceremony on September 4, 1844 marked the beginning of proper fortress construction.
In 1846, it was decided to honor one of the supporters and initiators of the project, General von Boyen, by naming the fortress after him. The bastions were named Hermann, Ludwig, Leopold (after the general’s given names) and Schwert, Recht and Licht (after symbols from the general’s coat of arms – Sword, Law and Light).
The fortress was prepared for a garrison of about 3000 soldiers. The Giżycko garrison was established in 1859. From 1889, a commandant’s office operated in Giżycko, while in 1902 Boyen Fortress became an artillery depot.
From a defensive strategy perspective, the Masurian Great Lakes line played a crucial role. On the eve of WWI, natural terrain features and fortifications built around Boyen Fortress were meant to block the advancing Russian army in East Prussia until decisions were made on the western front. At this time, the Giżycko fort also played an important role in mobilizing troops in Masuria. After mobilization when most troops left Giżycko, about 4000 soldiers remained under Colonel Busse’s command. These forces conducted numerous raids against advancing Russian units and then successfully defended Boyen Fortress against Russian attacks in August 1914.
After WWI, the fortress was repurposed to include a hospital among other functions. On the eve of WWII, Boyen Fortress was one of the German army’s assembly points in East Prussia for the invasion of Poland. The “Lötzen” Fortress Brigade was part of Army Group “North” advancing toward Mława and Modlin, participating in battles including at Wizna. During the war, the fortress housed an Abwehr center training soldiers from General Vlasov’s army who had switched to the German side. During the January 1945 attack on the city, the fortress was abandoned without a fight.
After 1945, Boyen Fortress came under Polish Army control, which used it in limited ways. In the 1950s, decisions were made to locate several food industry enterprises there, causing transformations, significant damage, and construction of new buildings completely unsuited to the site’s character. This situation lasted until the early 1990s when most of these facilities were closed. Since then, Boyen Fortress has become a popular tourist destination.
