History of the Przemyśl Fortress

The Przemyśl Fortress is an amazing expression of technical thought that enchants everyone who visits it. During its construction aroused great interest, and it is now fast growing popularity with people who are interested in the military technology of World War I. The Przemyśl Fortress is known throughout Europe, and the cultural heritage of the city of Przemyśl is seen as one consistent element in the landscape of the battlefield with a unique fortification system.

To understand the fortress it's necessary to trace the evolution of its architecture, conception, and the process of its construction, expansion and modernization- all this since its inception, the day when it fell, up until the present day - when it became an inseparable part of the landscape, and a historical monument, inherent in this landscape and the city.

The first concepts and references mentioning a desire to build fortifications in Przemyśl have their origin in the nineteenth century soon after the town fell into in the hands of the Habsburgs. The first documents and records of are from a memorandum of Habsburg Archduke John in 1810, in which he recommended the fortification of Przemyśl.

Another document initiating the concept of fortifying the city is a report by engineer Michael Cichocki, which is the analysis and expert appraisal indicating the possibility of building the first fortifications in Przemyśl. During his stay in Galicia in 1819, Archduke John of Austria stopped for three days in Przemyśl, asserting his thesis from from 1818 that city II class fortress should be built in the city.

Przemyśl was recognized as the most second most important target for the construction of fortifications and fortifications after Kraków. This is recorded in the report of the Central Committee of the fortification set up by Franz Joseph in 1849. Przemyśl originally became a fortified camp, which started the construction of field fortifications, and forts around the city along the main roads.

The need to build fortifications around Przemyśl on a larger scale, is described in the study of Heinrich Hess from 1856 and in work / memorandum of General Franz von John in 1868. In 1871, a decision was made to fortify the city, and in 1873 the city was bestowed the rank first class fortress. A Construction Directorate established for the Fortress, though initially the funds for the construction of fortifications were quite modest, which resulted in slow pace of work.

Other works were dependent on increasing tensions in Europe and the political situation. The worsening of relations between Austria and Russia resulted in the acceleration of work, starting in 1878. In the first stage, most of the fortification sites were partially wooden, and they were later gradually with concrete.

Initially, during the first phase of construction of the Fortress, it consisted of two circuits: the first circuit or core and ring forts called the second circuit. After the modernization the center of the fortress was the core reinforced with seven new artillery forts and supporting circuit consisting of 15 forts. For the entire fortification system were introduced field batteries, stationary batteries and powder magazines.

From 1878 up to 1883 the architect of the expansion plan of the fortifications was a Swiss engineer, Baron Daniel Salis-Soglio. In the same year the War Department appointed the first commander of the Fortress - Major Anthony Werner. In the years 1886-1888 Przemyśl became a ring fortress - all upgrades were already carried out under the guidance of a new director, Major. Eng. Maurice Brunner. All the work has focused on the north side and the south-east side, where in addition to six new auxiliary forts in Sieldliska, the whole system of fortifications was supplemented additionally field forts, and the whole work was divided into 8 groups of fortresses - there are also two new types of forts - such as main forts and a small armored infantry fort.

The first maneuvers in the fortress took place in 1892, and the first use of tethered observation balloons in took place 1896. Between 1900-1907 only minor modifications and modernization of forts and other defensive works was carried out.

In the final form of the Przemyśl fortress consisted of a core, an inner ring and an an outer ring. These were mainly fortifications, fortifications, defensive lines and monuments from the time of World War I, which is currently located in the District and City Przemyskie Przemysl and its surroundings, which currently can be found in the City and County of Przemyśl, and the Przemyśl area.

The core consists of 28 trenches, 3 batteries, eight forts, two gates to Sanok - Lower and Upper, Krównicka Gate and a powder magazine in Ostrow".

Within the first ring, called the internal support, there are 2 forts, one earthwork, a mid-point of resistance, and 5 batteries.

Within the outer ring of the Fortress are 32 forts, 13 field points of resistance, 6 ramparts, 14 batteries, and field barracks at Optyń and Ivanova Gora. List of objects belonging to the outer ring Fortress:

Fort I "Salis Soglio" – and further facilities associated with the Siedliska Group of forts, which is mainly a fortress, field fortifications, defensive lines and monuments of the First World War which are now located in Ukraine, in the area include the villages: Szeginie, Popowice, Drohobycz, Byków, and Cyków. List of the main objects falling into the Siedliska group: forts (in the area of today's Ukraine): I/1 "Łysiczka", I/2 "Byków", I/3 "Pleszowice", I/4 "Maruszka Las", I/5 "Popowice", I/6 "Dziewięczyce".

• Fort II b "Cyków" (Jaksmanice, Medyka county), blown up in 1915, partially demolished between 1920 and 1930 (interfield infantry fort).
• Fort II "Jaksmanice"
• Fort IIa "Mogiłki" (Jaksmanice, Medyka county), bricks and earthworks. Built between 1892-1900, Partially demolished around 1920-1930 (Single-shaft artillery fort - mountain battery positions).
• Fort III "Łuczyce"
• Fort IIIa "Hermanowice-Kolej" (Pikulice, Przemyśl county) Earthworks of a fortified camp from 1854 to 1857, with a reconstructed battery, blown up in 1915, demolished around 1920 to 1930 (close defense fort).
• Fort IV "Optyń"
• Fort V "Grochowce"
• Fort Va "Grochowce-Leśniczówka" (Grochowce, Przemyśl country), bricks and earthworks, built between 1900-1903, blown up in 1915, partially demolished around. 1920-1930 (interfield infantry fort).
• Fort VI "Iwanowa Góra"
• Fort VIb "Lipnik" (Kruhel Wielki, Krasiczyn County), bricks and earthworks., From 1908 to 1910, expanded in 1914, the bunkers were partially demolished approx. 1920-1930 (distributed close defense fort).
• Fort VII "Prałkowce"
• Fort VII 1.2 "Tarnawce" (Ostrów, Przemyśl counry), concrete bricks and earthworks., An earthwork fortified camp from 1854 to 1857, rebuilt in 1880-1887 and 1892-1900 as a battery, partially blown up in 1915, and partially demolished about 1920-1930 and 1985-1992 (armored close defense fort)
• Fort VIII "Łętownia"
• Fort VIIIa "Łętownia-Leśniczówka" (Łętownia, gm. Przemyśl) earthworks,, 1900-1903, blown up in 1915, demolished approx 1920 to 1930 (fort interfield).
• Field Battery Artillery Fortress "Łętownia" (Łętownia, gm. Przemyśl) earthworks, 1914.
• Fort IX "Brunner"
• Fort IXa "Przy Krzyżu" (Ujkowice, Przemyśl county), bricks and earthworks, 1893, blown up in 1915, partially demolished around 1920-1930 and 1966-1967 (interfield armored close defense fort).
• Fort Xb "Zagrodnia" (Ujkowice, Przemyśl county), bricks and earthworks, 1892-1900, Partially demolished around. 1920-1930 (artillery fort).
• Ramparts of the interfield infantry fort X/B1 "Orzechowce" (Ujkowice, Przemyśl county) earthworks, approx. 1890s, demolition of the bunker approx. 1920 to 1930.
• Fort X "Orzechowce"
• Battery coupled to X/B2 "Orzechowce" (Orzechowce, Żurawica county) earthworks,, 1892-1900, demolition of bunkers approx. 1920-1930 (battery coupled to with the fort X).
• Battery Shaft B2 "Orzechowce" (Orzechowce, Żurawica county) earthworks, 1892-1900.
• Battery X / B3 "Orzechowce" (Orzechowce, Żurawica county), bricks and earthworks, 1892-1900, demolition of bunkers approx. 1920-1930 (fixed interfield far defense battery).
• Fort "Orzechowce" (Orzechowce, Żurawica county), concrete and earthworks, 1903-1910, blown up in 1915, partially demolished approx 1920 to 1930 (interfield close defense fort).
• Battery "Pruchnicka Droga" (Orzechowce, Żurawica county), bricks and earthworks,, 1892-1900, demolition of bunkers approx 1920-1930 (battery interfield).
• Fort Xa "Pruchnicka Droga" (Orzechowce, Żurawica county), bricks and earthworks,, 1892-1900 (Armored interfield close defense fort).
• Fort XIa "Cegielnia" (Orzechowce, Żurawica county), bricks and earthworks,, 1894, designed by Maurice von Brunner, blown up in 1915, partially demolished approx 1920-1930 (armored interfield infantry fort).
• Fort XIb "Gaj" (Orzechowce, Żurawica county) earthworks,, 1903-1910, bunker demolished approx 1920 to 1930 (interfield infantry rampart).
• Fort XI "Duńkowiczki"
• Ramparts of XI "Duńkowiczki" (Duńkowiczki, Orły county), earthworks, the rampart of a fortified camp from 1854 to 1857, reconstructed from 1880 to 1887, upgraded in 1914 for close defense, demolition of bunkers approx. 1920 to 1930.
• Fort XII "Werner"
• Remains of the fortress's military airport (Żurawica, Żurawica county), the foundations of the guardhouse and hangars, bricks, 1914, destroyed in 1915.
• Fort XII 1/2 "Żurawica" (Żurawica, Żurawica county) earthworks, nineteenth century, leveled (remains of the artillery fort).
• Fort XIIIb "Bolestraszyce"
• Fort XIII "San Rideau"
• Fort XIII "Zabłocie" (Bolestraszyce, Żurawica county), brick and earthworks, from 1900 to 1903, damaged in 1915, demolition of barracks approx. 1920-1930 (interfield infantry camp).
• Rampart "Hurko" A (Hurko, Medyka county) earthworks, rampart fortified camp from 1854 to 1857, rebuilt in 1914, partially leveled around 1975 (earthwork artillery type FS).
• Rampart "Hurko" B (Hurko Medyka county) lands., rampart fortified camp from 1854 to 1857, rebuilt in 1914, partially leveled approx. 1975 (earthwork artillery type FS).
• Fort XV "Borek"
• Battery coupled to XVa "Borek" (Siedliska, Medyka county) earthworks, 1892-1900.

Author: Tomasz Trojnar		Author: Tomasz Idzikowski

The Przemyśl Fortress consisted not only of the fortifications, but also other well thought out and very extensive facilities in the form of ammunition magazines, a network of new roads, power lines, gunpowder magazines, artillery depots, barracks, military hospitals, administrative buildings, etc. There were also four airports: a field airport in Buszkowiczki, a reserve airport in the Bakończyca, and two permanent airports in Hureczko and Żurawica.

Shortly after the outbreak of World War I, the high command of the Austrian troops had installed its headquarters in Przemyśl on 16th August 1914. Until the beginning of the offensive by the Russian army, in September 1914, when the staff headquarters was moved to Nowy Sacz - then issued an order: "Fortress Przemyśl is temporarily left his own forces and should be defended to the last resort." The first shot of the forts fortress was fired on September 17th, when Russian patrols appeared close of the Siedliska Group - a shot was fired out of the fort Popowice. This moment and the day is considered the start of the siege of the Fortress. After 26th September, the town was completely surrounded by the Russian army numbering about 280,000 soldiers. The Fortress was manned by the remaining 130,000 Austrian soldiers. This situation persisted until October 9th when entered the Austrian army entered to the town from Prałkowiec – that were three branches of the Army, which expelled the Russian army behind the San, and the siege ended. Casualties were enormous on both sides, but the fortress remained in the hands of the Austrians. It did not last long because by November 5th the Russian army surrounded the fortress again. The city was then overcrowded - there about 130,000 soldiers, 2,000 Russian prisoners of war, and about 30,000 civilians. The siege lasted until the release order to surrender the fortress and its destruction, by its commander Herman Kusmanka on March 22th, 1915. Before allowing the Russians to capture the fortress, the Austrians blew up the forts, batteries, ammunition magazines, etc. The command to destroy the fortress also applied to communications equipment, weapons, ammunition, cannons, bridges etc. In the pastures in the vicinity of Hurka about 5,000 horses were shot - after all this fortress passed into the hands of the Russians.

On April 23-24 Tsar Nicholas II visited the captured Przemyśl fortress, and the news of her demise spread throughout the world. Victory in the battle "Operation Gorlicka" launched a great counteroffensive by Austrian troops, joined by the Germans, and led to the third siege of the Fortress. After only a few days of fighting, starting on 19 May 1915, and a powerful attack by allied forces, the Russian troops withdrew and surrendered the city on June 2. By the end of the war, the heavily destroyed defensive works and fortifications were no longer of any military significance.

Creator of the text: Jacek Dzik