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Tuchola ForestThe Tuchola Forest (German: Tucheler Heide),(Polish Bory Tucholskie) is a large heath area in the proximity of the town of Tuchel, Prussia now Tuchola in Poland, between the Brda and Gwda rivers. The area was formed during the last glacial age. It is covered with low hills and more than 900 post-glacial lakes. With 1,200 km² of dense Spruce and Pine forest, the area is one of the biggest forests in Poland and Central Europe. Since 1996 part of the area is a national reserve, covering 129.81 km². Approximately 30% of the area is inhabitated by Kociewiacy. The biggest towns of the area are Czersk (Heiderode) and Tuchola (Tuchel). Parts of Prussia went to Poland after the Treaty of Versailles. During World War II the area was the site of several notable operations. In 1939, during the Polish Defence War, a major Battle of Tuchola Forest was fought in the area, with Polish units retreating through the region from Pomerania. Between August 1944 and January 1945 the SS troops under Gen. Dornberger carried out extensive tests of the V-4 missles, after their primary test site in Blizna was discovered by the Home Army and then bombed by the Allies. Approximately 107 missles were fired. In January 1945 the site had to be evacuated before the Red Army offensive overran the area. General Dornberger was seeking other testing sites and tried to establish secret test facilities near Wolgast and in the proximity of Liebenau near Nienburg, however only two test launches were carried out in the new spots in early April 1945. After the World War II the forest was a safe haven for many anti-communist partisans, among them Zygmunt Szendzielarz.
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