Dr Bauer’s House at 28 Lipowa Street remains one of the most important material testimonies to the Moravian Colony. The residential building, transformed into a field hospital during the Napoleonic Wars, became a place of extraordinary dedication and heroism demonstrated by the congregation’s physician, as well as a witness to blood tragically shed in the name of saving human life.
The Moravian Colony in Kruszyn (formerly Gnadenberg)
Present-day Kruszyn consists of four settlements: Duży Kruszyn, Mały Kruszyn, Świeborowice and Godnów (Gnadenberg). The first three settlements have medieval origins, while Godnów was established in the 18th century as an enclave for the religious community of the Moravian Brethren.
The Moravian Brethren formed the majority of the population in pre-war Gnadenberg. In the town they established, the settlers formed a religious and economic community.
All its members, regardless of gender, age, nationality or social background, were equal and obliged to contribute through their work to increasing the common wealth; they could also use it to meet their basic needs. The community guaranteed its members assistance and care in the event of illness or disability, and education for children.
Most residents were highly qualified craftspeople, which contributed to the settlement’s high standard of living and modern administrative and social solutions.
The Building’s History
The building was constructed as part of Gnadenberg’s planned Baroque development. It was not a representative edifice. Together with the adjacent buildings, it served as the residence of another physician, surgeon Hoffman. Naturally, the doctor’s house also served as a clinic for the community.
“The sources do not specify whether the house originally served communal or private purposes, but its context indicates a central medical role for the settlement,” adds Grzegorz Przystarz.
Dr Bauer: Hero of the Year of Terror
However, the most important period in the history of the house on today’s Lipowa Street is associated with the work of the congregation’s surgeon, Dr Bauer. Bauer came to Gnadenberg in 1807 at the Brethren’s request, as the congregation’s physician. Although he did not initially plan to stay permanently, after purchasing surgeon Hoffman’s house he soon married and settled there for good.
1813: Year of Terror
The building soon became an emergency centre during the most difficult moments of the Napoleonic Wars. As French and Russian troops passed through Gnadenberg, while soldiers looted homes and devastated the settlement, Dr Bauer remained there. His wife fled with their two young daughters to Gnadenfrei. Faced with the horror, Bauer did not abandon those in need.
The Doctor’s Field Hospital
Dr Bauer’s House was converted into an improvised field hospital where wounded soldiers from both sides of the conflict were treated. The doctor worked valiantly from morning until late at night, caring for wounded and ill soldiers.
The field hospital was filled with more than 60 sick and wounded people. Straw was spread on the floors of both storeys, including the attic, to provide accommodation for the wounded. Openings were made in the upper sections of the roof to serve as windows, with the aim of improving ventilation and hygiene.
The House of Blood
The most moving and symbolic testimony associated with this place is the bloodstains that remained visible on the floors.
“Moravian chronicles record that dark bloodstains were still visible on the floor of the house in 1945, more than 130 years after the events,” says history enthusiast Grzegorz Przystarz. “Historical records emphasise that no kind of brush could remove these stains, making the house a lasting monument to suffering and sacrifice,” adds the regional historian.
The Fever Epidemic
Dr Bauer also played a key role in combating the fever epidemic (Nervenfieber-Epidemie) that struck Gnadenberg shortly after the war in 1813. His practice also covered nearby localities.
In 1854, the heroic doctor celebrated the 50th anniversary of receiving his doctorate, receiving numerous decorations and the title Königlich-Sanitätsrat (Royal Medical Councillor). He died in Gnadenberg on 10 July 1858 after a long illness. He was remembered as a man who faithfully and impartially served those in need.
The house at 28 Lipowa Street in Kruszyn is not merely a historic building. It is the House of Blood (Haus des Blutes)—a witness to heroism and sacrifice in wartime and the central site of medical care in the forgotten colony of the Moravian Brethren—a testament to medical commitment, human determination and the difficult yet invaluable effort to save lives.