Toruń Fortress

Toruń Fortress (Festung Thorn), built in 1872-94 by Kingdom of Prussia, located in Toruń (now in Poland) is one of the largest fortresses in Central and Eastern Europe. The fortress complex - a chain of forts surrounding the city, as well as numerous smaller fortifications supplementing it - was to defend the eastern border of Prussia (with the Russian Empire). Despite much planning and investment [pl icon / en icon [http://www.torun.pl/portal/index.php?strona=zw_fort The Toruń Fortress] at torun.pl] the fortress did not play a significant role in the First World War nor in any later conflict. [pl icon [http://www.turystyka.torun.pl/index.php?strona=199 Description] at Toruński Serwis Turystyczny]

History

The city of Toruń ( _de. Thorn) was an important town located near the border between Prussia and Russia (it was located just north of the border which run from south-west to north-east, in the north along the Drwęca tributary of Vistula river which passes through Toruń). With the improvements in artillery techniques (introduction of rifled barrels and smokeless powder), the old city walls from 18th century no longer provided sufficient protection for the town.

The Prussian government started the construction of fortifications in 1872, at first using French prisoners of war taken during the Franco-Prussian War. The goal was to build a chain of forts surrounding the town of Toruń. Initially five main forts and two medium-size ones were to be built. In the period between 1877-1884, at first forts II and XI were constructed, then forts IV, V, VII, XV, XIII, IX. However the continuing changes in artillery and siege techniques (introduction of an anti-building shell in 1883) rendered some of the plans for the fortress obsolete even before it was finished. For that reason the importance of the main artillery forts was lessened in favor of infantry forts; some artillery forts were redesigned into infantry forts and increasing number of smaller fortifications was being constructed. Over time the number of objects to be built increased. In the years 1888-1893 more forts were added - forts III, VI, VIII, X, XII, and XIV. The last to be constructed was fort I and it was the most technically advanced one. Within 32 years about 200 fortifications were constructed. Primarily it consisted of seven main forts, six medium-size ones, six artillery batteries, 32 infantry shelters, and 52 mid-field shelters (used for artillery and ammunition sheltering).

Toruń Fortress complex would be constantly modernised by the Prussian government, for the last time in 1914 - just before the First World War started. Majority of forts were equipped with wing artillery batteries, armor artillery batteries between forts XI, XII, XII and XII, XIII, XIV, and experimental artillery battery in fort XI. Additionally new observation points for infantry and artillery were added. The exits from those constructions were of labyrinthine structure, which protected the interiors from the blast waves of explosions.

The fortress was commissioned by Prussian government; it would cost over 60 millions German gold marks until 1914. About 30% of Toruń's infrastructure was related to the Fortress, and about 25% of city's population were employed by the fortress. Despite that investment, it was never besieged by Russian forces and took no significant part in the World War I. After the war it became a part of the Second Polish Republic. In 1971 the Fortress was officially declared a monument by the Polish government.

During World War II, some of the forts were used by the Germans as POW camps, collectively known as Stalag XX-A.

The complex

The Toruń Fortress complex is composed of fifteen forts and various smaller fortifications. Currently the most modern breakdown of its elements gives 15 forts (seven artillery and eight infantry); there are also many smaller fortifications.

References

:General:
*pl icon / en icon [http://www.torun.pl/portal/index.php?strona=zw_fort The Toruń Fortress] at torun.pl
*pl icon [http://www.turystyka.torun.pl/index.php?strona=199 Description] at Toruński Serwis Turystyczny:Inline:

External links

* [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/download.php?Number=412512&t=k&om=1 15 forts as seen from satellite] (Google Earth)
*pl icon [http://www.sweb.cz/fortif/9_02/en_torun1.html Photos]
* [http://www.his.uni.torun.pl/~wn/twierdza/twierdza.htm Twierdza Toruń / Festung Thorn] on the pages of historical department of University of Toruń
*pl icon At Toruń's Fortification Friends page::::* [http://www.torun.tpf.pl/twtordol.htm List of fortress elements with modern photos] :::* [http://www.torun.tpf.pl/torun/mapydol.htm Maps] :::* [http://www.torun.tpf.pl/slajdy/slajdorzut.htm Modern photos] :::* [http://www.torun.tpf.pl/zdjeciastare.htm Vintage photos] :::* [http://www.torun.tpf.pl/torun/pocztadol.htm On postcards]
* [http://www.gps-practice-and-fun.com/stalag-20a.html Stalag 20A Thorn on the map]