Przemyśl Fortress

Przemyśl fortress
Przemyśl, Poland
Fort I "Salis Soglio" in 1915
Type	Fortification
Site information
Condition	Abandoned
Site history
Built	1854
Built by	Austro-Hungarian Empire
Battles/wars	Siege of Przemyśl
Garrison information
Current commander	None
Past commanders	Hermann Kusmanek von Burgneustädten
Garrison	> 120,000

Przemyśl fortress (Polish: Twierdza Przemyśl; Ukrainian: Перемишльська фортеця) was a series of fortifications constructed at Przemyśl by the Austro-Hungarian Empire from the mid 19th century until the First World War. It was constructed in sections, depending on the diplomatic relations between Austria and the Russian Empire, and saw extensive combat during World War I. Originally captured by the Russian Army, it was recaptured by the German Army in mid 1915. Afterwards the ruined fortifications lost their military significance.

The initial construction plans for 41 entrenchments were drawn up at the beginning of the 19th century; however, good relations between Austria and the Russian Empire meant that construction did not go ahead until 1854 with the outbreak of the Crimean War. 19 of the 41 entrenchments were completed, with nine more under construction when relations again improved in 1855 and construction was halted. Until 1878, no work was undertaken on the fortress.

In 1878, the barracks, magazines and inter-connecting roads were completed, as well as nine earth forts in light of the Bosnian Crisis. Three years later, in 1881, these temporary earth works were converted into permanent solid fortifications, and by 1910 infantry fortifications had been added. When war broke out in 1914, the fortress was further reinforced with trenches, more barracks and artillery emplacements. After the war, with much of its defences destroyed, the fortress fell into disrepair, and no longer had any military significance. The area was fortified again in 1940 with modern bunkers built as part of the Soviet Molotov Line, but these new fortifications had little to do with the original Austro-Hungarian fortress.

On the outbreak of World War I, the fortress was only garrisoned by a small force of five infantry battalions, artillery and sappers. Defence preparations began on August 2, 1914, the civilians were evacuated on September 4, and the Austro-Hungarian Army's HQ followed on September 15. Two days later, on September 17, 1914 the Russian army laid siege to the fortress, sealing it off totally by September 26.