Some time ago we have published articles about polygonal (Vol. 6) and fortal (Vol. 9) fortess Torun. Now we bring a final article describing this strongest fortress of German kaiserdom on the East. It is noticed on modernizing the fortress on the end of 19th century and begining the 20th century with main focus on forts with armoured turrets. Germans have built here two armoured batteries with eight turrets for howitzers calibre 150mm, fort with turret for gun calibre 100 mm, armoured fort with four turrets for howitzers calibre 210 mm and a battery of cannons on shielded carriages. Though it is not of so extension as the Metz fortress, you can find here many objects for great variety of armoured turrets and guns, in many cases they are in a great condition too. The article is suplied with many high quality plans and crosscuts from M. Wojciechowski and also many photos.

An original turret for gun calibre 105 mm near road to Poznan. It is installed on the test bunker and the only one of this type in East Europe! Photo by W. Nowosad.

Molotov Line is a name for fortifications made by Soviets on their new border with Germany after 1940. There is still lack of research on them, however they belong to fortifications of modern conception (according to 1940's). The article targets so shortly on general history of this type of fortifications, so describing particular fortified sector Rawa Ruska. A brief part of the article is also dedicated to the war stories from sector Rawa Ruska in 1941, using bunkers by partisans afterwards and also post W.W.II fates are ment. As a part of the article we bring great amount of high quality plans and photos.

An infantry casemate with antitank cannon in fortified point "Nowe Brusno". In most left embrasure is missing an armoured plate with loophole. Photo by J. Sadowski.

The Slovak National Revolt against Germans began on August 29th, 1944 and it was one of the biggest military act organized during the W.W.II in the Germans' rear. Slovak riser's army was reacted for a quite long time in mountain terrain. Newly built fortifications facilitated their resistance. Until now this fortifications have been quite unknown among bunkrologists. Author of the article has been researching them, mainly directly in terrain.
The article notices on organizing the construction of the fortified line, which consisted mainly from obstacles and field fortifications, but also from small concrete pillboxes and dug-in tanks. It is suplied by variety of plans and photos.

An pillbox for anti-tank cannon near road on the north edge of Myto pod Dumbierom village. Photo by J. Vanecek 2001.

Before W.W.II there were ideas in Czechoslovakia to develop a variety of armament for fortifications, but due to a lack of time, some of them were realized with delay and then stored, because after 1938 maked no sense their installing on original planned places. Among those things were also a unique rotary turret for two howitzers calibre 100 mm and rotary turret for heavy MG type 37. Author in his article describes post war fates of these two turrets accenting on army plans for their next use. Last project was to build a detached bunker in west part of Czechoslovakia and this project is also noticed in article with plans and crosscuts. Unfortunately, at time of that project there was lack of money for such purposes, so in 60's army decided to scrap them.

A crosscut of the planned bunker KOR for artillery turret RO from Czechoslovakian pre-W.W.II. fortifications. An entrance passage mouths directly into upper floor. Drawn by M. Dubanek 2002.

There are more German bunkers in the Czech Republic than that one described in our magazine, Vol.8. Authors of the article have found another interesting bunker from 1940's located in active army area Dedice and it probably served for practise. Unlikely from the described bunker in Hradistko, this one is similar rather to ordinary German bunkers called "panzerwerk". But it has installed no armoured plates in embrasures or steel domes, all is made from concrete here. Though it can be find just in inaccessible army territory, authors think it is one from the most interesting discovery in fortifications in Czech Republic nowadays.

A rear side of the German test bunker in army area Dedice. You can see an entrance and atypical embrasure for its defence. A brick house on the top has been built after W.W.II.. Photo by J. Vanecek 2002.