»A Piece of the Fatherland«

Hans Dllgast's architectural activity in Toru during the German occupation of Poland illustrates how architecture functioned as both practical infrastructure and a tool of Nazi ideology.His designs integrated Gothic and Heimatschutz elements to project a selective German historical narrative while erasing Polish cultural presence.Urban planning initiatives included monumental public buildings, a stadium, and adaptive reuse of historic structures, aligning with policies of Germanization, propaganda, and occupation.Dllgast's work relied on forced labor, expropriation, and administrative authority, reflecting the broader social and political dimensions of wartime architecture.The professional experience gained in occupied territories informed his postwar career in Munich, particularly in conservation and reconstruction projects such as the Alte Pinakothek, where he combined historical preservation with modern interventions.The case underscores the enduring influence of occupation-era expertise and ideological entanglement in architectural practice