East Prussian fortififactions 1920-60 (short history)

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

German eastern fortifications till 1928"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"
standardization of armoured plating (for 65 degrees sector of fire), armoured cupolas (2-6 embrasures), doors, measurment of rooms and corridors. Anti-infantry coiled barbed wire on ceilings of combat-shelters. Shelters (classes B1 and up) were completely gas-proof, including anti-gas-sluice and air filters. Basic class of German fortification lines: "Festungfront" - fortified front of the fortress-garisson with supplementary groups of shelters (connected with underground tunnels), armed with HMGs, anti-tank artillery, mortars, flame-throwers [on example: "FF Oder-Warthe Bogen"]. "Stellung" - permanent defence of the fortress-garrison strengthened with dispersal combat-shelters with supplementary sectors of HMG-fire [on example: "Gizycko Fortified Region", "Lidzbark Triangle", "Pomeranian Position", "Odra Position", "Westwall-Sigfriedline"]. "Sperrlinie" (Sperrausbau) - lines of hinderances strengthening only the weak points (roads, bridges) with single combat-shelters [for example: "Nieslysz-Obra Line"]. "Feldausbau" - field fortifications were strengthened with passive-shelters for infantries [for example: "Olsztynek Position" and "Szczytno Position"], fortification plans also included so-called "mobilization-positions" (in case of war).

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

German eastern fortifications before WW2Hitler'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

German eastern fortifications till VI 1941End 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
German eastern fortifications in 1944Guderian 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.

Script Copyright © Cezary Markiel. 2000-2003 All Rights Reserved
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