A few weeks ago I spent a little time in Poznan, Poland. My reason for being there wasn’t really urbex’y, so I didn’t really get that much time to look around. I did devote one day though, and despite failing to get any internals of much due to my being there in the middle of the day, and there being loads of people around, I have a few shots and write ups to share 
My splore day was an interesting one. A total lack of organisation (and good dose of stupidity!) on my part led to me trekking about 30 miles through forest in totally unsuitable clothes to find these places. My map reading skills fail, so I soon left roads behind, and a few hours later found myself, totally knackered, in the middle of the Biedrusko military zone. Thankfully, the first soldier I came across didn’t shoot me, but pointed me in the direction of a bus stop and muttered a bus number to me in Polish. I did eventually get home that night!
So, some mini splore reports for you:
MORASKO CHURCH/NORDHEIM MANOR:
Morasko region covers a large but little urbanised area to the North of the city of Poznan. Much of it is covered by the Morasko Meteorite Nature Reserve, a large forested area covered with depressions thought to be ancient meteorite craters.
A mansion was built in Morasko in 1783–1786, in late Baroque style. Between 1857 and 1887 (with the region now under Prussian rule) the mansion was extended and a park was laid out around it. At the beginning of the 20th century Morasko was given the German name Nordheim, a name which the manor retains to this day. The west part of the mansion is now in disrepair, while the east part is used as a convent by the Missionary Sisters of Christ the King.
In 1945 Morasko became the Catholic parish seat. The former Protestant church became the parish church, the Church of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist (it was larger and in a better state of repair than the Catholic church). The former Catholic church became disused and remains so to this day.
This building seems to be a church as well, but I can find nothing about it
OWINSKA:
Owinska is a small village again within the district of Poznan. The first derelict building you come across is the Palace, situated within the ‘English Park’. It is the work of the celebrated Berlin architect Friedrich Schinkel, and is built in classical style. It looks to have been derelict for some time.
Futher into Owinska, hidden within the trees, is a site with a rather darker history. I have taken the history in italics below from www.deathcamps.org.
Owinska’s Mental Home was the oldest hospital for mental ill people in the Wielkopolska region.
The German army occupied Owinska in mid-September 1939. The mental home was taken over by the Gau-Selbstverwaltung of Poznan. A Nazi commissioner was put in charge of the mental home. The new chief demanded a list of all Owinska patients and forbid discharging anyone from the hospital. The staff was told that Owinska mental home should be closed and all patients transferred to other hospitals.
The SS Sonderkommando Lange was ordered to Owinska for exterminating all patients.
In the second half of October 1939, the first patients were picked up by military trucks, under surveillance of SS men. 1-3 trucks left Owinska Mental Home every day. The staff of the hospital didn't know where they went and why.
At first all men were deported, followed by the women, finally 78 children were sent to death on 11 November 1939. Until 30 November 1939 the Owinska Mental Home was empty, apart from a few persons for economic affairs.
A lot of the patients were killed in a primitive gas chamber at Fort VII in Poznan. Later mobile gas chambers (gas vans) drove the people to Murowana Goslina. During the drive all victims were killed by exhaust fumes.
Each incoming truck at Fort VII held around 25 persons. After their arrival they were brought into a gas chamber which was installed in a bunker in the court of Fort VII. The closed door was sealed with clay. The prisoners had to stay in the gaschamber when the SS installed gas cylinders with (probably) carbon monoxide besides the entrance. When all victims were dead, a special group of regular prisoners were forced to open the door and to remove the killed persons. The corpses were loaded onto trucks and driven away.
The names of the victims are still unknown because all documents have been destroyed obviously. The Fort VII commanders were: SS-Sturmbannführer Herbert Lange (10-16 October 1939), SS-Hauptsturmführer Hans Weibrecht (16 October 1939 until June or July 1940), SS-Hauptsturmführer Kühndel (summer 1940 until 1941) and SS-Obersturmführer Hans Walter (1943 until 1944). Between 1941 and 1943, the camp was led by these men (commanders or deputies): Langes, Mollendorf, Wagner and Werner.
During the war Owinska Mental Home was converted into barracks for SS men. In course of the German army's retreat the building was burned down partially in the summer of 1944. The hospital never has been reactivated.
For many prisoners Fort VII was a temporary prison. Later they were brought to other concentration camps, mainly to Auschwitz, Dachau, Ravensbrück and Groß-Rosen. The last remaining prisoners were sent to the Zabikowo camp.
Most probably the Nazis killed around 10,000–15,000 persons at Fort VII by torture, executions and gassing. Only 479 victims can be proved. Today Fort VII is a memorial of martyrdom
INDUSTRIAL UNIT:
I came across this place in central Poznan as I was walking to what became my local shop. I know nothing about it, and it isn’t overly interesting, although provided a couple of nice photo opportunities.
Thanks for looking in guys!
-RR
My splore day was an interesting one. A total lack of organisation (and good dose of stupidity!) on my part led to me trekking about 30 miles through forest in totally unsuitable clothes to find these places. My map reading skills fail, so I soon left roads behind, and a few hours later found myself, totally knackered, in the middle of the Biedrusko military zone. Thankfully, the first soldier I came across didn’t shoot me, but pointed me in the direction of a bus stop and muttered a bus number to me in Polish. I did eventually get home that night!
So, some mini splore reports for you:
MORASKO CHURCH/NORDHEIM MANOR:
Morasko region covers a large but little urbanised area to the North of the city of Poznan. Much of it is covered by the Morasko Meteorite Nature Reserve, a large forested area covered with depressions thought to be ancient meteorite craters.
A mansion was built in Morasko in 1783–1786, in late Baroque style. Between 1857 and 1887 (with the region now under Prussian rule) the mansion was extended and a park was laid out around it. At the beginning of the 20th century Morasko was given the German name Nordheim, a name which the manor retains to this day. The west part of the mansion is now in disrepair, while the east part is used as a convent by the Missionary Sisters of Christ the King.
In 1945 Morasko became the Catholic parish seat. The former Protestant church became the parish church, the Church of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist (it was larger and in a better state of repair than the Catholic church). The former Catholic church became disused and remains so to this day.
This building seems to be a church as well, but I can find nothing about it
OWINSKA:
Owinska is a small village again within the district of Poznan. The first derelict building you come across is the Palace, situated within the ‘English Park’. It is the work of the celebrated Berlin architect Friedrich Schinkel, and is built in classical style. It looks to have been derelict for some time.
Futher into Owinska, hidden within the trees, is a site with a rather darker history. I have taken the history in italics below from www.deathcamps.org.
Owinska’s Mental Home was the oldest hospital for mental ill people in the Wielkopolska region.
The German army occupied Owinska in mid-September 1939. The mental home was taken over by the Gau-Selbstverwaltung of Poznan. A Nazi commissioner was put in charge of the mental home. The new chief demanded a list of all Owinska patients and forbid discharging anyone from the hospital. The staff was told that Owinska mental home should be closed and all patients transferred to other hospitals.
The SS Sonderkommando Lange was ordered to Owinska for exterminating all patients.
In the second half of October 1939, the first patients were picked up by military trucks, under surveillance of SS men. 1-3 trucks left Owinska Mental Home every day. The staff of the hospital didn't know where they went and why.
At first all men were deported, followed by the women, finally 78 children were sent to death on 11 November 1939. Until 30 November 1939 the Owinska Mental Home was empty, apart from a few persons for economic affairs.
A lot of the patients were killed in a primitive gas chamber at Fort VII in Poznan. Later mobile gas chambers (gas vans) drove the people to Murowana Goslina. During the drive all victims were killed by exhaust fumes.
Each incoming truck at Fort VII held around 25 persons. After their arrival they were brought into a gas chamber which was installed in a bunker in the court of Fort VII. The closed door was sealed with clay. The prisoners had to stay in the gaschamber when the SS installed gas cylinders with (probably) carbon monoxide besides the entrance. When all victims were dead, a special group of regular prisoners were forced to open the door and to remove the killed persons. The corpses were loaded onto trucks and driven away.
The names of the victims are still unknown because all documents have been destroyed obviously. The Fort VII commanders were: SS-Sturmbannführer Herbert Lange (10-16 October 1939), SS-Hauptsturmführer Hans Weibrecht (16 October 1939 until June or July 1940), SS-Hauptsturmführer Kühndel (summer 1940 until 1941) and SS-Obersturmführer Hans Walter (1943 until 1944). Between 1941 and 1943, the camp was led by these men (commanders or deputies): Langes, Mollendorf, Wagner and Werner.
During the war Owinska Mental Home was converted into barracks for SS men. In course of the German army's retreat the building was burned down partially in the summer of 1944. The hospital never has been reactivated.
For many prisoners Fort VII was a temporary prison. Later they were brought to other concentration camps, mainly to Auschwitz, Dachau, Ravensbrück and Groß-Rosen. The last remaining prisoners were sent to the Zabikowo camp.
Most probably the Nazis killed around 10,000–15,000 persons at Fort VII by torture, executions and gassing. Only 479 victims can be proved. Today Fort VII is a memorial of martyrdom
INDUSTRIAL UNIT:
I came across this place in central Poznan as I was walking to what became my local shop. I know nothing about it, and it isn’t overly interesting, although provided a couple of nice photo opportunities.
Thanks for looking in guys!
-RR
