Editing Royal Castle, Warsaw (section)

== History ==
{{main|History of the Royal Castle, Warsaw}}
=== Overview ===
The history of the castle dates back to the 14th century when the first Castle Tower was constructed, and the fortified complex was initially used as the residence of the [[Duchy of Masovia|Masovian]] dukes. In the early 1600s, it was designated to replace [[Wawel Castle]] in [[Kraków]] as the seat of the king, [[Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Parliament]] (Chamber of Deputies and Senate), and the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]. The medieval [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] structure was remodeled into Italian [[Mannerist architecture|mannerism]] by architects [[Matteo Castelli]] and [[Giovanni Battista Trevano]]. The [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] easternmost wing was designed by [[Gaetano Chiaveri]] and completed in 1747.

=== Castle in the Middle Ages ===
[[File:VarsaviaCastelloCorteAlaGotica.jpg|thumb|right|Medieval wall of the ''Curia Maior'']]

In 1339, the [[Papal Legate]] in [[Warsaw]]<ref name="Suchodolska" /> heard a case brought by the King of [[Kingdom of Poland|Poland]], [[Casimir III the Great]], against the German [[Teutonic Order]]. He claimed that they had illegally seized a slice of Polish territory — the [[Pomerania]] and [[Kuyavia]] regions. The documents in this case are the earliest written testimony to the existence of [[Warsaw]]. At that time a fortified town surrounded by earthen and wooden [[defensive wall|ramparts]], and situated where the Royal Castle now stands, it was the seat of Trojden, [[duke of Masovia]]. At the end of the 13th century, during the Duke Conrad's rule, the wooden-earthen [[Gord (Slavic settlement)|gord]] called "Small Manor" ({{langx|la|Curia Minor}}) was erected. The next duke, [[Casimir I of Poland|Casimir I]], decided to build the Great Tower ({{langx|la|Turris Magna}}), possibly one of the first brick building in Warsaw.

In the middle of the 14th century, the Castle Tower was built, and its remains up to the first storey have survived to this day. During the reign over Masovia by Duke [[Janusz I of Warsaw|Janusz I the Elder]], the ''Curia Maior'' (Big Manor) was erected between 1407 and 1410.<ref name="Suchodolska" /> Its façade, which was still standing in 1944, was [[Planned destruction of Warsaw|knocked down by the Germans]], but has been rebuilt since then. The character of the new residence and its size (47.5 m/14.5 m) decided the change of the buildings status, and from 1414, it functioned as a Prince Manor.

=== Renaissance period ===
[[File:Plan Castle Warsaw 17th.jpg|thumb|left|The Royal Castle in Warsaw after the extension c 1600. Plan from the beginning of the 17th century.]]

When the [[Duchy of Masovia]] was incorporated in the [[Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)|Kingdom of Poland]] in 1526, the edifice, which until then had been the Castle of the Dukes of Masovia, became one of the royal residences.<ref name="Wrede" /> From 1548 onwards Queen [[Bona Sforza]] resided in it with her daughters [[Isabella Jagiełło|Izabela]], who became Queen of [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungary]], [[Catherine Jagiellon|Catherine]], later to become Queen of Sweden, and [[Anna Jagiellon]], later [[Queen of Poland]].<ref name="Wrede" /> In 1556–1557 and in 1564, the King of Poland, [[Sigismund II Augustus]], convened royal parliaments in [[Warsaw]]. They met in the castle.<ref name="Gessner" /> Following the [[Lublin Union]] (1569), by which the [[Polish Crown]] and the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] – were united as a single country, Warsaw Castle was regularly the place where the [[Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|parliament]] of the Two-Nations State met.<ref name="Wrede" /> In 1569–1572, King Sigismund II Augustus started alterations in the castle, the architects being [[Giovanni Battista di Quadro]]<ref name="dziedzictwo" /> and Giacopo Pario.<ref name="Wrede" />

The ''Curia Maior'' was altered so as provide a meeting place for the Parliament, with premises for the Chamber of Deputies (''Sejm'' – delegates of the gentry) on the ground floor (''the Old Chamber of Deputies''), and the Senate Chamber (where the Senators debated in the presence of the King) on the first floor. This was one of the first attempts in Europe to create a building that would be used solely for parliamentary purposes.<ref name="Wrede" /> The parliamentary character of the ''Curia Maior'' is stressed by the paintings of the facade – the coats-of-arms of Poland, of Lithuania, and of the various regions from which the delegates were elected. A new [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance style]] building, known as the "Royal House", was erected next to the ''Curia Maior''.<ref name="Wrede" /> The king resided there when the parliament was in session.

=== Vasa period and the Deluge ===
[[File:Zamek Królewski w Warszawie - 01.jpg|thumb|[[Władysław IV|Władysław]]'s Tower]]
[[File:Opera Hall Castle Warsaw.jpg|thumb|Władysław's Opera Hall]]
[[File:The Royal Castle 1, Warsaw.jpg|thumb|left|The Royal Castle in 1656]]

The next alterations to the castle were made in the reign of [[Sigismund III Vasa]], who transferred the royal residence from [[Kraków]] to [[Warsaw]].<ref name="Wrede1"/> In 1598–1619, the castle was enlarged. [[Giovanni Trevano]] was in charge of the reconstruction.<ref name="Wrede1"/> His plans were probably amended by the Venetian architect [[Vincenzo Scamozzi]].<ref name="perelki" />

Between 1601 and 1603, Giacomo Rodondo<ref name="Wrede1"/> finished the new northern wing. From 1602 Paolo del Corte<ref name="Wrede1"/> was doing stonework. Later after 1614, when Matteo Castelli<ref name="Wrede1"/> took the lead, the western wing was built (from today's [[Castle Square, Warsaw|Plac Zamkowy]] side) as chancelleries and a marshals office.<ref name="dziedzictwo" /> The southern wing was built at the end. In that way, five-wings in a [[Mannerist architecture and sculpture in Poland|mannerist]]-early baroque style were built. In 1619, the New Royal Tower ({{langx|la|Nova Turris Regia}}), also called Sigismund's Tower, was finished. It was 60 meters high and was placed in the middle of a newly built west castle 90 meters in length. At the top of the tower, a clock with gilded hands and copper face was placed. The new tower's spire was 13 meters high and had glided knobs and a copper flag at the top.

On 29 October 1611 in the Senator's Chamber, Tsar [[Vasili IV of Russia]], who had been captured by the hetman [[Stanisław Żółkiewski]], paid homage to the Polish king Sigismund III Vasa.

Sigismund III and his successors of the [[House of Vasa|Vasa dynasty]] — [[Władysław IV Vasa]] and [[John II Casimir Vasa]] — collected many rich works of art in the castle, such as oriental fabrics, tapestries, and numerous paintings by such famous artists as [[Titian]], [[Paolo Veronese|Veronese]], [[Jacopo Bassano|Jacopo]] and [[Leandro Bassano]], [[Tintoretto]], [[Palma il Giovane]], [[Antonio Vassilacchi]], [[Tommaso Dolabella]], [[Guercino]],<ref name=Tarandaite/> [[Guido Reni]],<ref name=Tarandaite/> [[Joseph Heintz the Elder]],<ref name=Tarandaite/> [[Bartholomeus Spranger]],<ref name=Tarandaite/> [[Roelant Savery]],<ref name=Tarandaite/> [[Rembrandt]],<ref name=Tarandaite/> [[Pieter Soutman]], [[Peter Danckerts de Rij]], [[Peter Paul Rubens]],<ref name=Tarandaite/> [[Jan Brueghel the Elder]],<ref name=Tarandaite/> [[Daniel Seghers]], [[Georg Daniel Schultz]] and sculptures by [[Giambologna]], [[Giovanni Francesco Susini]] and [[Adriaen de Vries]]. These splendid works of art were either destroyed or plundered during the invasions of Poland by Sweden and Russia during the [[Deluge (history)|Deluge]], in 1655–1657.<ref name="Wrede1"/> The Swedes took all the priceless pictures, furniture, tapestries, the royal library, the crown archive, numerous sculptures, whole floors and royal flags.<ref name="dziedzictwo" /> In the castle they had a military ''Lazareth'' field hospital, which additionally contributed to the devastation of the buildings.<ref name="Wrede1"/> A few months later armies destroyed the rest, plundering most of the copper elements and tearing up the rest of castle's floor.<ref name="Wrede1"/>

The majority of the preserved castle furnishings from the Vasa period found their place in the collection of the [[Visitationist Church|Visitationist Monastery]] in Warsaw as donations from the last Vasa, John II Casimir and his French-born wife [[Marie Louise Gonzaga]].<ref name=Fryz/>

In 1628, the first [[Polish opera]] – ''Galatea'', was staged at the Castle. The great opera hall (double-storied, over 50&nbsp;m long), which existed at the Royal Castle,<ref name="Wrede1"/> was demolished by Swedes and Germans and rebuilt in the 1660s by King John II Casimir.<ref name="opera" />

=== Late Baroque period ===
[[File:Jauch Royal Castle in Warsaw.jpg|thumb|right|Reconstruction design of the Royal Castle, {{Circa|1700}}.]]
[[File:Design Chiaveri Warsaw.JPG|thumb|right|Design of the Eastern wing by G. Chiaveri.]]
[[File:Senate Chambre Warsaw 18th.JPG|thumb|right|Senate Chamber at the Royal Castle, 1720.]]
[[File:Envoy chambre Warsaw 17th.JPG|thumb|left|''The New Chamber of Deputies'' at the Royal Castle in the end of the 17th century.]]

In 1657, the reconstruction of the castle started, under the Italian architect Izydor Affait's guidance. Because of the lack of money, the following Polish king, [[Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki|Michael I Korybut]] did not decide on radical rebuilding, just limiting himself to rebuilding destroyed buildings. Because of the bad conditions of the residence, he had to move to [[Ujazdów Castle]] in 1669. Until 1696, when the next Polish king, [[John III Sobieski]], died, no serious works were done. They only limited work to current inspections of the building's condition. Sessions of [[Sejm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth|Parliament]] continued to be held in the castle, as well as various State occasions, such as when the [[House of Hohenzollern|Hohenzollern dukes of Prussia]] paid homage to the kings of Poland and occasions when the king received the ambassadors of foreign countries.

After choosing [[Augustus II]] in an election in 1697, the castle again began to deteriorate. A new conflict with [[Charles XII of Sweden]] significantly limited the king's budget. Despite problems, in 1698 Augustus II commissioned a residence reconstruction project. In 1700 it was done by Johann Friedrich Karcher, who came from abroad.<ref name="saxons">{{cite web  |url = http://swiadectwo1.republika.pl/royal_castle.html |title = Zamek Królewski za Sasów |access-date = 23 July 2008|language=pl}}</ref> On 25 May 1702 the Swedes re-seized the Royal Castle in Warsaw, creating a hospital with 500 beds, and into the Chamber of Deputies and ministers' rooms, they placed a stable.<ref name="saxons" /> During the Polish army's siege in 1704 the castle was retaken.<ref name="saxons" /> However, it was soon retaken once more by Sweden's army.<ref name="saxons" /> In 1707, by virtue of the peace treaty between Augustus II and Charles XII of Sweden, Russian allied troops entered Warsaw, and Tsar [[Peter I of Russia]] settled in the castle.<ref name="saxons" /> After two months, Russian forces were removed from Warsaw, taking with them works of art from the castle, including [[Tommaso Dolabella]]'s pictures, which included two that were very important for Russians: ''The Defense of Smolensk'' and ''Russian Tsar Vasili IV compelled to kneel before Polish King Sigismund III of Poland''.<ref name="saxons" /> Władysław IV's Opera Hall was completely devastated and was never restored.<ref name="opera" />

The reconstruction according to Karcher's plans began from 1713 to 1715.<ref name="saxons" /> In 1717 the Parliament Hall was completely rebuilt.<ref name="saxons" /> It was used to serve the Saxon rulers as a coronation hall. During the following years, between 1722 and 1723, the other castle halls were converted-under the direction of architect [[Joachim Daniel von Jauch]], the new Senate Chamber was built, and all the furnishings moved from the old to the new location, including among others: 60 Polish provincial emblems, panelling, mouldings and ''[[lesene]]''.<ref name="saxons" /> On 31 May 1732, a fire broke out in the castle destroying the west elevation and part of the Sigismund's Tower and the exterior façade sculptures, known as [[Armature (sculpture)|armature]].

The next reconstruction project of the Royal Castle appeared after [[Augustus III]] was elected to the Polish throne in 1733. New plans, which were formed in 1734 and developed in 1737 by architect [[Gaetano Chiaveri]], saw among other things, the reconstruction of the castle's façade on the [[Vistula]] side in the [[Rococo architecture|rococo style]], which was meant to form a new so called Saxon elevation and also the conversion of the north-east part with the Altana Tower, where it was planned for 3 two-storey [[avant-corps]] (risalto) to be built on.<ref name="perelki" /><ref name="saxons" /> The reconstruction work according to these plans was carried out with various intensity between 1740 and 1752. During the period of 1740–1747, the façade on the Vistula side was reconstructed in the late baroque style (architects: Gaetano Chiaveri, Carl Friedrich Pöppelmann, Jan Krzysztof Knöffel).<ref name="saxons" /> One of the best sculptors who did work on the castle in this period was [[Jan Jerzy Plersch]], who made the royal decorative frames, mouldings and statues called the Famous Figures, which held the royal crowns on the top of the middle [[risalto]], of the Saxon elevation, on the Vistula side. The last reconstruction work of this period was finished by late 1763, after the death of Augustus III, when Plersch made the last sculptures and frames with province emblems for the Parliament Hall.<ref name="saxons" />

=== Enlightenment period ===
[[File:Senate Chamber design Warsaw Louis.JPG|thumb|left|Reconstruction design of the Senate Chamber at the Royal Castle, V. Louis.]]
[[File:Stanislai.PNG|thumb|left|Apotheosis of King Stanisław II Augustus in the Ballroom, André le Brun, ca. 1780.]]

The most splendid period in the history of the Castle was during the rule of [[Stanisław II Augustus]] (1764–1795).
This monarch collected exquisite works of art, many of which have survived to this day. He recruited first-rate architects such as [[Jakub Fontana]], [[Domenico Merlini]], [[Jan Chrystian Kamsetzer]], and [[Jakub Kubicki]], to work on the castle, as well as splendid painters such as [[Marcello Bacciarelli]], [[Bernardo Bellotto]], [[Franciszek Smuglewicz]], [[Kazimierz Wojniakowski]], and [[Jean-Baptiste Pillement]] and eminent sculptors such as [[André-Jean Lebrun]] and Jakub Monaldi, and famous French artists such as the architect [[Victor Louis]].<ref name="dziedzictwo" /> The total reconstruction of the castle planned by the King did not come to fruition, but the interior was changed to the neoclassical style – although this, known in Poland as the ''Stanisław Augustus style'', was rather different from [[neoclassicism]] in the rest of Europe.

[[File:Reconstruction design Castle Warsaw Fontana.JPG|thumb|Reconstruction design of the Royal Castle in Warsaw by [[Jakub Fontana|J. Fontana]]]]
[[File:Kazimierz Wojniakowski, Uchwalenie Konstytucji 3 Maja.jpg|thumb|In 1791, the ''Great Sejm'' (or ''[[Four-Year Sejm]]'') of 1788–1792 and Senate adopt the [[May 3rd Constitution]] at the Royal Castle.]]

During 1766–1785 on the basis of Jakub Fontana's plans,<ref name="Gessner"/> the southern wing of the castle, which was burnt on 15 December 1767 was rebuilt (2 destroyed floors, a new elevation on the south side with three avant-corps or [[risalti]], the division of the façade by ''lesene'' and pilasters with Ionic capitals).<ref name="perelki" /> Between 1774 and 1777, the monarch's private apartments were furnished.<ref name="perelki" /> They consisted of the Prospect Room (with landscapes by [[Bernardo Bellotto|Canaletto]]), the chapel, the Audience Chamber, and the Bedchamber, while between 1779 and 1786 the Senate Apartments were completed, consisting of the Ballroom, the Knights Hall, the Throne Room, the Marble Room, and the Conference Chamber.<ref name="dziedzictwo" /> These rooms contained pictures and sculptures depicting great events in Poland's history, as well as portraits of Polish kings, generals, statesmen and scholars (including [[Copernicus]] and [[Adam Naruszewicz]]).<ref name="Gessner"/> In 1777, a gilded bronze altar presented to King Stanisław II Augustus by [[Pope Clement XIV]], was installed in the new Chapel of the Royal Castle, so-called Saxon Chapel (today's concert hall).<ref name="altar" /> The castle also housed the rich royal collections including 3200 pictures, classical statues, about 100 000 graphics, in addition to medals, coins, and a fine [[Library at the Royal Castle, Warsaw|library]], to house which a separate building was erected in 1780–1784.<ref name="biblioteki">{{cite web |author = Agnieszka Kania; Monika Bryzek |url = http://www.wsp.krakow.pl/whk/biblioteki/poniatow.html |title = Biblioteka Stanisława Augusta Poniatowskiego (Library of Stanisław August Poniatowski) |work = wsp.krakow.pl |access-date = 23 July 2008 |language = pl |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080524084839/http://www.wsp.krakow.pl/whk/biblioteki/poniatow.html |archive-date = 24 May 2008 |df = dmy-all }}</ref> The new library building housed many books, gems, drawings, coins, maps and plans belonging to the monarch. The Royal Library's book collection amounted to 16 000 volumes of various works, 25,525 drawings, 44,842 etchings in 726 bound volumes, overall a number of 70,000 etchings—fancy dress balls were also held in this hall.<ref name="biblioteki" />

Up until 1786 Stanisław II Augustus tried a few times to change the outside decor of the castle and to build an architectural castle square, he was not however successful in carrying out these plans.

During this period, the castle was the place where the ideas of the [[Polish Enlightenment]] first flourished. The King held "Thursday lunches" at the Castle for scientists, scholars, writers, and artists. This was where the idea for the [[National Education Commission]]; one of the first secular Ministries of Education in Europe, was mooted. The castle was the place where the first proposals were made for a [[Szkoła Rycerska|Knights' School]], and for a [[National Theatre, Warsaw|national theatre]]. It was in the Senate Chamber in the Castle that what was known as the "[[Great Sejm]]" (Great Parliament) passed the famous Polish [[Constitution of 3 May]], 1791.<ref name="Gessner"/> During the ceremony the King was carried out to the nearby [[St. John's Archcathedral, Warsaw|church of St. John]]. In honour of this occasion, a marble plaque with [[Ignacy Krasicki]]'s text written on it was set into the wall of the castle.

=== In partitioned Poland and the Second Polish Republic ===
Between 19 and 20 December 1806 and 1–30 January 1807, [[Napoleon Bonaparte]], the French emperor, spent his time at the castle. Here in 1807 he made the decision to form the [[Duchy of Warsaw]], which was to be ruled by the Saxon king [[Frederick Augustus I of Saxony|Frederick August I]], using the Royal Castle as his residence. Prince [[Józef Poniatowski]], Commander-in-Chief of the [[Army of the Duchy of Warsaw]] and [[Marshal of the Empire|Marshal of France]], resided in the [[Copper-Roof Palace]] joined to the castle. After the creation of the [[Congress Poland|constitutional Kingdom of Poland]] (1815), its [[Sejm of Congress Poland|parliaments]] met here at the castle. As kings of Poland, the Russian Tsars [[Alexander I of Russia|Alexander I]] and [[Nicholas I of Russia|Nicholas I]] also resided in the castle when they stayed in Warsaw. During the [[November Uprising]], on 25 January 1831, the Sejm debating in the castle dethroned Tsar Nicholas I as Polish king.<ref name="castles">{{cite web |url = http://www.castles.info/poland/royal-castle-warsaw/ |title = Royal Castle in Warsaw |work = castles.info |access-date = 18 July 2008 |archive-date = 13 January 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100113204859/http://www.castles.info/poland/royal-castle-warsaw/ |url-status = dead }}</ref>

[[File:Conference room without paintings 19th.JPG|thumb|right|Conference Room at the castle without paintings that were stolen by the Tsarist army.]]

In 1836, the voivodeships of Congress Poland were abolished and replaced by [[guberniya]]s. During that time, the Royal Castle became the residence of the Tsar's governor [[Ivan Paskievich]]. Paskievich charged Ludvik Corio – a Russian Colonel and architect – with designing new elevations and façades (the west, south, and east parts). However, the Russian authorities were not satisfied with the new designs, and Corio was told to prepare another design – one that would refer to Kubicki's solutions (and his co-workers Lelewel and Thomas). Finally, Corio rebuilt all the elevations and façades in the [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical style]], but the Saxon Elevation was left the same. After the death of Paskievich in 1856, all the next governors resided in the Royal Castle's Chamberlain's Room. The Russian officials occupied rooms on both floors of the west and north wings of the castle. The governors were heavily guarded by the [[Imperial Russian Army|Russian army]]. Unfortunately, the living space that was assigned to these soldiers was the Parliamentary Hall, Library, and barracks under the castle. As a result, these were left devastated.

After the [[January Uprising]] in 1863, the Russian army totally destroyed the Royal garden on the Vistula side (which was transformed into the [[military parade]] square), building a few barracks made of brick for stables and [[Cossacks]]' barracks. In 1862–1863, some maintenance work was done in the Royal Castle under the supervision of Jerzy Orłowicz, Ludwik Gosławski and Potolov. In 1890, the Saxon Elevation was rebuilt under the supervision of a builder January Kiślański, when the arcades of both viewing galleries, dating back to the Augustus III period, were deformed. The last repair works, which cost 28,000 [[rubles]], during the reign of Russia, were in 1902 in the rooms which had been occupied by the Russian army.

During the [[First World War]], it was the residence of the German military governor. After Poland regained her independence in 1918, the castle became the residence of the [[president of Poland]]. It was restored under the guidance of Kazimierz Skórewicz (1920–1928) and [[Adolf Szyszko-Bohusz]] (until 1939). Under the terms of the peace treaty signed with [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Soviet Russia]] at [[Peace of Riga|Riga in 1920]], works of art and other precious things, including all the castle furnishings, which had been taken away to Russia, were brought back to Poland. As a result, it was possible to restore the historic rooms to their appearance in the reign of [[Stanisław II Augustus]].

=== During World War II ===
{{multiple image | direction = vertical | width = 160
|align    = right
|image1   = The Royal Castle in Warsaw - burning 17.09.1939.jpg
|caption1 = Royal Castle in flames following German bombardment, 17 September 1939.
|image2   = Castle Warsaw 1941.JPG
|caption2 = Royal Castle in 1941 without roofs, deliberately removed by the Germans to accelerate the devastation process.
}}

On 17 September 1939, the castle was shelled by German artillery. The roof and the turrets were destroyed by fire (they were partly restored by the castle's staff, but later deliberately removed by the Germans).<ref name="destruction">{{cite web |author = Peter K. Gessner |url = http://info-poland.buffalo.edu/classroom/Zamek/zamek.html |title = Warsaw's Royal Castle and its destruction during the Second World War |work = info-poland.buffalo.edu |access-date = 23 July 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080510151546/http://info-poland.buffalo.edu/classroom/Zamek/zamek.html |archive-date = 10 May 2008 |df = dmy-all }}</ref> The ceiling of the Ballroom collapsed, resulting in the destruction of [[Marcello Bacciarelli]]'s ceiling [[fresco]] ''The Creation of the World'' and other rooms were slightly damaged. But immediately after the seizure of Warsaw by the Germans, their occupation troops set to demolish the castle. The more valuable objects, even including the central heating and ventilation installations, were dismantled and taken away to Germany.

[[File:Royal Castle Warsaw 1945.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Ruins of the castle in 1945.]]

On 4 October 1939 in Berlin, [[Adolf Hitler]] issued the order to blow up the Royal Castle. On 10 October 1939, special German units, under the supervision of history and art experts (Dr. [[Dagobert Frey]], an art historian at the [[University of Wrocław|University of Breslau]]; Gustaw Barth, the director of museums in Breslau, and Dr. Joseph Mühlmann, an art historian from Vienna) started to demount floors, marbles, sculptures, and stone elements such as fireplaces or moulds. The artefacts were taken to Germany or stored in [[Kraków]]'s warehouses. Many of them were also seized by various [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] dignitaries who resided in Warsaw. The castle was totally emptied. Disobeying German orders, despite the danger of being shot, Polish museum staff and experts in [[art restoration]] managed to save many of the works of art from the castle, as well as fragments of the [[stucco]]-work, the parquet floors, the wood panelling, and more which were later used in the reconstruction. The great service done to Poland by Professor [[Stanisław Lorentz]], in leading this campaign to save the castle's treasures, is well known. [[Wehrmacht]] sappers then bored tens of thousands of holes for dynamite charges in the stripped walls.

In 1944, after the collapse of the [[Warsaw Uprising]], when hostilities had already ceased, the Germans blew up the castle's demolished walls.<ref name="destruction" /> Leveling the Royal Castle was only a part of a larger plan – the Pabst Plan – the goal of which was to build a monumental Community Hall (ger. ''Volkshalle'') or an equally sizable Congress Hall of NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers Party – ger. ''Parteivolkshalle'') in the Royal Castle's place and to replace [[Sigismund's Column]] with the Germania Monument.

A pile of rubble, surmounted by only two fragments of walls, was all that was left of the six-hundred-year-old edifice. On one of these fragments part of the stucco decoration remained, this was a cartouche with the royal version of the motto of the [[Order of the White Eagle (Poland)|Order of the White Eagle]] — "[[Pro Fide, Lege et Rege|PRO FIDE, LEGE ET REGE]]" (for Faith, Law, and King).

=== Reconstruction ===
[[File:Poland-01104 - Castle Garden Side (30397740244).jpg|thumb|270px|The reconstructed Upper Garden of the Royal Castle]]

Immediately after the end of war in 1945, work started on rescuing the surviving fragments of the castle's walls, foundations, and cellars as well as the fire-blackened walls of the [[Copper-Roof Palace]] and the [[Library at the Royal Castle, Warsaw|Royal Library]] building, from further destruction. In 1949, the [[Sejm|Polish Parliament]] passed a bill to rebuild the castle as a monument to Polish history and culture. Meanwhile, special architectural designing offices, under Jan Dąbrowski, Piotr Biegański and [[Jan Zachwatowicz]], drew up blueprints for restoring the framework of the building and furnishing the historical rooms. The decision to start work was postponed several times, but was finally taken on 20 January 1971.<ref name="destruction" /> A Civic Committee was set up. Amid universal applause, it was decided to rebuild the castle from voluntary contributions. Both in Poland and abroad, fund-raising committees were set up.

By May 1975, the Fund had already reached the 500 million [[Polish zloty|zloty]]s. By the same date more than a thousand valuable works of art had been given to the castle by numerous Poles resident both in Poland and abroad.<ref name="destruction" /> Official representatives of other countries have likewise presented to the castle works of art of great artistic and historic value.