NorthWest Exploration Forum  
FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read
Go Back   NorthWest Exploration Forum > Site Reports > Rest of the World
Reload this Page Miedzyrecz Nazi Fortifications
Rest of the World Sites outside the UK.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Miedzyrecz Nazi Fortifications
(#1)
Old
Navigator's Avatar
Navigator is Offline
Member
 
Posts: 41
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Westhoughton
Default Miedzyrecz Nazi Fortifications - 16-04-2011, 00:49

Visited this massive bunker complex with a Polish Collaegue and was extremely impressed with this phenomenal piece of nazi engineering. The place was massive and we spent a good 6 hours looking around before the torch batteries started letting us down. Following extract from Wikipedia to give some history :-

The Międzyrzecz Fortification Region (German: 'Ostwall or Festungsfront im Oder-Warthe Bogen', Polish: Międzyrzecki Rejon Umocniony) is a fortified military defence line in Western Poland, between Oder and Warta rivers.

Built in 1934-1938, it was the most technologically advanced fortification system of Nazi Germany, and remains one of the largest and the most interesting systems of this type in the world today. It consists of around 100 concrete defence structures partially interconnected by a network of underground tunnels. Some of the forts and tunnels are available for visiting.

The most interesting part is the central section, which begins in the south with the so-called Boryszyn Loop near the village of Boryszyn and extends about 12 km to the north. In the central section the bunkers are interconnected with an underground system of tunnels, 32 kilometres long and up to 40 metres deep. In the underground system there are also railway stations, work shops, engine rooms and barracks.

It is also the largest European underground bats refuge, giving shelter to some 32,000 bats of 12 species in the wintertime.

The design works of the fortified defence line started in Germany in 1932. The first stage, until 1935, included constructing of water obstacles and 12 light bunkers. Adolf Hitler visited the construction site in the end of 1935. The end of works was scheduled for 1951.

When the Soviet army reached the defence line in the course of the Vistula–Oder Offensive in January, 1945, its advance was so rapid that the Germans did not have enough time to man the line adequately. It took only 3 days for it to be broken.



Typical surface structure - Lookout tower in background is modern construction to watch for forest fires.





Turret - Note :- these pock marks made by Polish artillery practice in more recent years.



Another bunker fan











These holes for demolition charges and were spaced evenly throughout the tunnel system





Artillery piece



Intact switchgear







Entire complex reinforforced on the surface with anti-tank traps
Reply With Quote
(#2)
Old
buddah's Avatar
buddah is Offline
Howfen lot
 
Posts: 694
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: westhoughton Nr. bolton
Default 16-04-2011, 09:33

Very cool !!!


smoke me a kipper ill be back for breakfast
Reply With Quote
(#3)
Old
tristanjay's Avatar
tristanjay is Offline
Administrator
 
Posts: 6,258,037
Join Date: Jan 1970
Location: Liverpool, London, Yorkshire, North Wales
Default 16-04-2011, 09:56

Ive seen some amazing stuff on the net, just too much to see in europe this included.
Reply With Quote
(#4)
Old
Snake Oil's Avatar
Snake Oil is Offline
Donuts-я-Us
 
Posts: 512
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Atherton
Default 16-04-2011, 14:12

very cool! ...and a nice find with the lizard too
Reply With Quote
(#5)
Old
The-Village-Idiot's Avatar
The-Village-Idiot is Offline
Senior Member
 
Posts: 356
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: In the pines
Default 17-04-2011, 12:37

Great set of pictures yet again
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.6
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
vBulletin Skin developed by: vBStyles.com
© 2008-2015. Photographs and text are copyright and the property of the poster unless otherwise stated, and should not be used without express written permission.
Any opinions stated by users of this forum are NOT those of the site owners, each poster takes FULL responsibility for their own posts.