15th September 2007, early autumn comes with a chilly breeze over people who gathered at the
place, putting them to a test of time, strength and patience... Nervously shifting from one foot to
another, newcomers wonder if it is worth waiting... freezing. They decide to hold out. "Codename
Arbeitsamt"- where's the name from? Thoughts and questions tumbling in their heads gradually
become crystallized into answers which are given during discussions with so called "surface staff" of
Codename Arbeitsamt. Local secret hidden for more than 60 years comes to light. Checking the list,
verifying the number of guests - these are the formalities that invited guests have to undergo. Suddenly
bewilderment! Surprise present in guests' faces, buzz of voices and the talks perish when detonation
noise can be heard from underground. Concurrent roar of the planes explains everything - it is an air
raid. And so that is. As planned, the first public showing of documentary newsreel of Inowroc³aw during
the first days of World War II and of Nazi occupation is to be started! This moment has been awaited by
everybody since the date of the show was decided upon. Different cars' number plates start to show up
in the parking lot. These are the guests who arrived from other provinces to join Inowroc³aw's
townsmen and watch the exhibition. The order of the queue must be guarded as more and more
people are coming to the place. We approach the tent. Its presence in this place soon becomes
understandable. Hidden underneath the camouflage netting the tent spreads over the steps leading
down Stairway? Over the shoulder one can easily see it is deep... All of a sudden, the sound of air raid
alarm can be heard from under the tent s patch! Its sound or rather roar urges everyone to look for
shelter in nearby site to protect from approaching and threatening air raid. Calm and ordered the group
descends into the shelter, namely the air raid shelter... At the end of the steps guests are welcomed by
a guard dressed in Wehrmacht uniform. Behind him there is a characteristic plate with the name of
Kanonierstrasse Street. As it will turn out later, it is one of the exhibits connected with town s occupation
history. It must be said that the visitors are greatly impressed! The guide asks them to group in the first
part of the corridor. Although it is 1,9 m high, everybody instinctively bows their heads to avoid the
contact with the ceiling. Brick walls of the corridor are covered with exhibition of documents,
photographs, plans connected with Inowroc³aw's history but that is not all. Among many documents
places like Lubeka, £ód¼ and Kalisz and many more can be found. Each of them presents different story,
individual drama of a man, families... Each of them is a kind of a gate into the past which we enter led
by the guide who tells the guests that they are in an exceptional place - one of its kind in Poland! That
is local masterpiece of architecture! Another part of the corridor, other attention-grabbing views of old
Inowroc³aw or should it be called Hohensalza as this was the name of the town during Nazi occupation.
The guests are led to a bigger room. Precisely speaking, they enter only its quarter. Unexpectedly,
without any warning the lights go out! Silence... Only the thud of hearts intensifying incredible
atmosphere breaks the silence...Then an approaching plane can be heard! The roar of the detonation
accompanies the swish of the air torn apart! It is bombardment! The walls shake as well as the bodies
of the visitors who experience different feelings underground. So this is how people felt during air raids?
Contemporary emotions lack fear; however, everybody is impressed! It lasted only a minute but how
long this minute seemed to be! The lights go on again. Some of the people sigh with relief. Smiles come
back to their faces; first comments; first impressions get exchanged.
The group moves on into next rooms...
