Czechoslovak border fortifications

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T-S 73 Polom

The Czechoslovak government built a system of border fortifications, sometimes called the Beneš Wall, from 1935 to 1938 as defensive countermeasure against the rising threat of Nazi Germany that later materialised in German offensive plan called Fall Grün. The objective of the fortifications was to prevent the taking of key areas by an enemy (not only Germany, but also Hungary) by means of a sudden attack before the mobilization of Czechoslovak army could be completed, and to enable effective defence until the allies (France and possibly the Soviet Union) would help.

The fortifications consisted of "Heavy Objects", which means either isolated Infantry Blockhouses (Casemates) or Artillery Forts (connected infantry and artillery casemates, artillery and mortar turrets, etc.) similar to the French Maginot Line, and "Light Objects" (pillboxes), designated vz. 36 (model 36, the so-called French type) and a more modern vz. 37 (model 37), besides a system of obstacles (e.g. barbed wire, Czech hedgehogs, anti-tank ditches and walls, and also natural obstacles).

In 1941-42 the first stage of construction was planned to be finished, whilst the full system should have been completed by early 1950s. At the time of the Munich Agreement in September 1938 only about 20% of the heavy objects and 70% of the light objects were completed. The Germans used these objects to plan and execute attacks against the Maginot Line and Belgium's forts. Their total number was about 10,000.

[edit] Current state

K-S 5 U potoka

Today almost all of the light objects are freely accessible. Some of the heavy objects are also accessible, others may be rented or sold to enthusiasts. Certain number was turned into museums and very few into depots. The "Hanicka" Artillery Fort was being rebuilt into modern shelter for the Ministry of Interior between 1979 and 1993, but declared unneeded in 1995. A museum has been created here. Some objects became subjects of German penetration shells or explosives testing during the World War II and are heavily damaged. By the end of the World War II Germans had removed many armoured parts like domes, cupolas and embrasures. Following during the after-war period, many of remaining armoured parts were scrapped as a result of a loss of their strategical value and general drive for steel.

Many of the open museums are located between Ostrava and Opava, close to the present Polish border (German boarder pre WW2).