Wilhelmshaven is a town on the North Sea coastline in northwestern Germany (Lower Saxony). It was founded in the second half of the 19th century (official name since 1869, municipal rights since 1873) as a harbour for the Royal Prussian Navy. It played an important military role during the First and Second World Wars. As a Kriegsmarine base, it was the target of intense Allied air bombing, especially between 1943 and 1945.
The fighting in the Wilhelmshaven area took place in the spring of 1945 as part of the last offensive carried out by the Allied forces on the Western Front. From 24 April, the Allied forces – supported by Polish troops – fought fiercely in battles, taking control over more fortified points, crossings and canals. On 4 May 1945, the Poles approached parts of the city with the fortified outer defence lines, which were converted into a fortress. They then tried to capture the first ring right away, without any artillery support. The Germans managed to repulse the attack.
At the same time, the German command's conviction of total defeat became a reality, leading to the decision to surrender the Third Reich troops operating in the area and end military operations in northern Germany on 5 May 1945. Polish soldiers from the 2nd Armoured Regiment and the 8th Rifle Battalion entered Wilhelmshaven. By the order of Gen. Stanisław Maczek, Colonel Antoni Grudziński accepted the surrender of the German forces on the same day.
6 May 1945 is also given as the date of capturing Wilhelmshaven, which is when soldiers of the 1st Armoured Division took control over and manned all points in the area, beginning the occupation of the town and harbour (and flying Polish flags).
According to the command's estimates, 37 Polish officers and 567 non-commissioned officers and privates died in the fighting.
In a municipal cemetery (Aldenburg district), there are three stone crosses at a mass grave of nearly 300 prisoners, mainly from the nearby German camp called "Banter Lager" (administratively part of the Neuengamme concentration camp). There is a symbolic gravestone with the names of the Polish victims of the camps in honour of the Poles. The capture of the naval base at Wilhelmshaven by General Maczek's soldiers is commemorated by one of the plaques at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw.