Pabst Plan

In modern historical works the term is used to denote any of the German World War II plans concerning the destruction and reconstruction of Warsaw.

In its place a new model city was to be created as a seat for the German ruling class of the occupied Polish territories.

It was to house a large Parteivolkshalle ("People's Party Hall") in place of the Royal Castle in Warsaw and serve as a major transportation hub.

After the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, the Germans decided to simply destroy the city in its entirety as an act of vengeance.

German scholars, historians, conservators and professors of architecture, and other experts were enlisted to catalogue all of the most important and culturally significant landmarks of the city, the most exquisite churches and public buildings, and key library collections, artworks, and sculptures.

After the start of military operations and the fall of the capital into German hands the project was updated, incorporating the city's partial destruction in the September offensive of 1939.

The planners also decided to use the destruction caused by bombings and fires during the September 1939 seizure of the city as a pretext for the urbanistic changes.

In reality only 10 percent of the buildings were destroyed in 1939, with total civilian and military losses of around 12,000 killed and 66,000 wounded.

Memorial plaques can be seen throughout Warsaw today commemorating this indiscriminate program of ethnic cleansing of men, women and children.

On 6 February 1940 the German mayor of the city presented an unusual gift to Hans Frank, the Governor-General of the Occupied Polish Territories.