10 II 1920 |
Versailles Treaty Article 180 - "Fortification system in the south and east of Germany has to stay in state from 1918" (prohibited from building new ones). International Allied Inspection Committee in Koenigsberg. |
01 XI 1921 | "Musterwürfen für ständigen Befestigungsanlagen" - first post-war projects for passive shelters, for one and two squads of infantry. Reinforced concrete walls were 1,5 - 1,0m and the ceilings were 0,8m. |
1923 | "Analysis of operating - mutual situation of Poland and German" - Reichswehr command related to the building of new fortifications and the modernization of old fortresses. |
1925 |
Allied Inspection Committee suppressed. Modernization of old positions in the regions of Szczytno-Ortelsburg, Gizycko-Loetzen and Koenigsberg. |
21 XII 1925 | "Grundsätze für Ausbau von Ruckhalt-und Armierungs zogen" - sappers instructions, new types of combat-shelters, with embrasures for HMG type 08 in reinforced concrete walls. |
01 II 1927 |
"Paris - Conference" - permission to build new fortifications in the triangle area of central East Prussia, the so-called "Lidzbark Triangle" (Mragowo-Morag-Bagrationowsk). |
1928-30 |
First fortification works in the area of "Lidzbark Triangle" (LT). |
1930-31 |
"Stellungsausbau" - different types of new combat-shelters with embrasure in armoured plate 80 mm thickness (for 30 degrees sector of fire). Special gun-carriages for HMG 08. |
1932 |
"Weisungen für dies Vorbereitung der Reichsverteidigung" - Plan of defence for eastern German with Grenzwacht (borderguard) and Police, based on fortifications on the western border with France, Belgium, Holland. |
16 VIII 1933 | "Bau ständiger Befestigungsanlagen" - new classes of resistance "A, A1, B, B1, C, D" |
III 1934 |
Hitler accepts extension of equal defence-system on Polish border. Anti-infantry coiled barbed wire around structures, new fire arms: HMG-34 on a new gun-carriage, flame-throwers, anti-tank guns, mortars. |
21 V 1935 |
Hitler refused all of the Versailles Treaty resolutions that restricted German armaments and fortifications. Projects included new 6- and 3 embrasures cupolas with a special gun-carriage for the MG-34, new cupolas for artillery observation. Began the of building in eastern front of "Gizycko Fortified Region" (GFR). |
1936 |
Large projects in East Prussia including the "Mazurian Channel" and "RAB Koenigsberg-Berlin Highway" masked the mass-import of cement and reinforcing steel for fortifications. Projects included standard-shelters, series B1-X. Electrification of shelters for lighting, ventilation & communication. First fortification works in "Limes Position" (later "Westwall"). |
1937 |
"Pionierbauprogramm" - instructions for the building of standardization shelters and equipment. Building emphasis shifted to the westerly front of the GFR. |
3 VI 1937 |
Dissertation of X Department OKH about insufficient extension of eastern defence lines. Projects of border positions and strong points (executed in 10-15% in interwar period) with of mobilization - instruction, "Armierung". |
IV-V 1938 |
"Limes-Programm" - Hitler decided to transfer most of fortification works to the west. The "Olsztynek Position" (OP) in East Prussia was built. New types of combat-shelters for anti-tank guns in existing positions (GFR, LT, OP). |
12 V 1938 |
Periodic building stoppage near the Polish border. This is related to the Austrian situation and the Czech-Sudeten annexation. |
X-XI 1938 | Hitler's inspection in Czech fortifications. Decision is to enlarge the standard-thickness of reinforced concrete to 2 metres - class "new B" (Bneu) in German shelters. New projects include shelters of the "Regelbau 100" series. 40-20-10 cm of reinforced concrete or 150-100-50 cm of concrete to be used. The most important builder was the TODT organization. |
09 VI 1939 |
"Bezeichnung der Anlagen der Landesbefestigung" - OKH's instructions in matter of nomenclature of objects, qualification "Panzerwerk" for objects B1 and up with armoured cupolas (for East Prussia numeration Pz.W. 1-100 numbers). |
X-XII 1939 | "Westwall-Bauprogramm" New shelter simply series "Regelbau 500" (including periscopes). Mobilization-positions in Eastern Prussia (Ilawa, Pisz, Gardeja, Olecko). |
1940 | First fortifications built near the USSR new border: "Gumbinnen Position", "Mazurian Border Position", "Galinde (Pisa) Position". |
14 V 1941 | End of fortification works on the USSR border. [Fortress Memel, Gumbinnen Position, Mazurian Border Position, Galinde Position, Narew Position, Warsaw Position, Vistula-San Position, Galizien Position]. New German headquarters in case of war against USSR: "Anlage Nord" [Gierloz-Rastenburg], "Anlage Mitte" [Konewka-Jelen near Lodz], "Anlage Süd" [Stepina-Strzyzow near Rzeszow]. |
1942-43 | "Atlantikwall-Bauprogramm". New projects of shelters - series "Regelbau 600" including "Ringstands" for circuitous HMG-fire. |
1944 |
The Germans prepare a list of useful shelters for storage of precious documents, treasures, arts etc. (before allied air raids). |
I 1944 |
General Guderian's memorial, relating to renovated eastern fortifications (ineffective). |
08 III 1944 |
Hitler's "Order No 11" relating "Feste Plätze" (fortified zones), equivalent of former fortresses with especially "well-chosen soldiers and commanders". New German field fortifications so-called "Ostwall" near Dniepr River (in Belorussia and Ukraine) with different types of new reinforced steel-shelters "Panzernest" (for HMG), "Panzerstand" (with Tank-turret) & "Panzerunterstand" (for infantry). |
15 VII 1944 | Gauleiter of East Prussia Erich Koch obtained Hitler's agreement to renovate old fortifications (from interwar period), the so-called "Kochwall" (line Memel- Niemen River- Augustow- Biebrza River- Narew River). Project of city-fortress "Wellenbrecher" to divid the Soviet Tank troops. Simplified versions of "Ringstands" - "Kochbunkers". |
21 VII 1944 | Guderian appointed the Chief of General Staff OKH. New fortifications in occupied Poland so-called "OKH-Positions": a1, a2, b1, b2, b3, c, d1, d2, e (Nibelung-Line), and city-fortress: Krolewiec, Memel-Klajpeda, Gdansk-Gdynia, Gizycko-GFR, Torun, Warsov, Poznan, Pila, Wroclaw, Opole, Kolobrzeg, Glogow, Opole, Kostrzyn, Szczecin. |
23 X 1944 | Instructions of Red Army Engineers staff detailed the quick destruction of captured German fortifications. |
II 1945 |
Russian and Polish sappers destroyed captured German fortifications in East Prussia, Pomerania and Silesia. Only most interesting shelters and one typical shelter in every sector preserved. |
1948 |
Polish Command catalogs the remaining structures for planned mobilization zones. |
1949-1956 |
Polish sappers clearing grounds of mines and misfires. |
1960 |
Remaining structures adapted for civilian protection, or toxic materials depots. |
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