Fort I "Salis Soglio"

Created on the basis of source materials by - Author: Tomasz Trojnar

The construction of the fort "Salis-Soglio" in the village of Siedliska started on November 16th, 1883, and the fort was completed in 1886. It is a single-rampart artillery fort, which was originally intended to be fully armored, but to in order to reduce costs two armored towers were abandoned in favor of outdoor armored artillery positions. The fort is named after its builder, baron Daniel Salis Soglio. The Fort was built on the plan of the bastion of the dry moat. In the fort there are four main courtyards, which are placed at the barracks: courtyard szyjowy, center, right and left. In one, located m.in .: room accommodations for the crew of the object, 2 kitchens, 2 wells, infirmary, guardhouse of arrest, food stores and telephone exchange. For equipment provided for in the first, not the truncated version of the four cannon 12cm installed in two towers Gruson, 7 cannon 12cm M.61, M.61 six 15cm guns, 4 mortars and 12 cannons 24cm 12cm M.59. Towers Gruson, reduction of costs for the construction have been converted into 4 pieces 12 cm M.61 guns in open fire positions. Ammunition supplied shafts 6 lifts amunicyjnymi, and cannons were transported by elevator partition. Defense moat was done with three Kaponier.

The fort is just one part of the Siedliska Group, which also includes an additional line of forts intended to support the foreland of Fort I. These supporting forts (now situated in Ukraine) are: ”Łysiczka”, I/2 “Byków”, I/3 “Pleszowice”, I/4 “Maruszka Las”, I/5 “Popowice”, I/6 “Dziewięczyce”.

During the first and second siege of the Przemyśl Fortress, Fort I supported the fire of the Siedliska Group, which was the scene of fierce fighting. Additionally, the headquarters of the perimeter defense VI/2 was stationed in the fort.

On 12-16 September 1914, after losing the battles of Rawa Ruska, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th armies of General Conrad retreated in a western direction under the security of the fort's guns. On 5-8 October 1914 soldiers in the trenches of Siedliska group, repelled numerous attacks by Russian troops massed under general Dmitry Shcherbachev. The Fort was partially blown up during the surrender of the fortress in 1915 and partly demolished after 1945.

Creator of the text: Jacek Dzik

Bibliography and references:

Forester Franz - Twierdza Przemyśl, Warszawa 2000 r.
Idzikowski Tomasz - Forty Twierdzy Przemyśl, Przemyśl 2001 r.
Idzikowski Tomasz - Twierdza Przemyśl
Mini przewodnik, Przemyśl 2005 r.
Różański Jan - Forty Twierdzy Przemyśl, Przemyśl 1980 r.

The author of photos: Dariusz Strycharski