East Bohemia>Military history

Military history

Czechoslovak fortifications, including bunkers, forts, and cabins, were constructed in the years 1935-1938 as part of the country’s defence system, particularly against the Nazi threat. The Munich Agreement of 1938, which forced the country to relinquish a large part of territory to Nazi Germany, put an end to the construction project; hence, the country lost its system of fortifications. On your journeys today along the Polish border you will come across a great amount of evidence from that period; many of these objects are accessible to the public. They often shelter original equipment meant for the nation’s defence.

The heaviest fortified area of both Czechoslovakia and Europe was the territory around the town of Králíky, which features the well-preserved and accessible artillery fort Bouda Nové okno . Military demonstrations with historical equipment are held here annually in the second half of August. Military history buffs will surely not want to miss the important military demonstration event held annually in the first half of August in Mladějov .

Additional important military forts in Eastern Bohemia include Dobrošov Nové okno in the Kladsko borderlands and Hanička in the Orlické Mountains.

In addition to monuments from the Second World War the region also holds landmarks from older military conflicts. One of the most important was the Battle at Hradec Králové on 3.7.1866 Nové okno , when the Prussian army annihilated Austrian troops.

A site unique on a global scale is the Josefov Fort Nové okno from the second half of the 18th century. This extensive 45 km defensive labyrinth of underground corridors was built by Emperor Josef II to defend the borderlands against the bellicose Prussians.

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Military monuments

Babí - Light object, Model 37, Type D2
The garrison was put into operation in 1938.
Address: 54931, Hronov
Bouda - artillery stronghold
At present, the biggest museum of existing Czechoslovak forts in the territory of the Czech Republic is in the artillery stronghold of Bouda, which was part of a fortification system build in 1935-38.
Address: Těchonín
Březinka - wooden infantry blockhouse

Address: 54701, Náchod
Dobrošov - fortress - military fortifications
An unfinished artillery fortress, part of the Czechoslovak border fortifications from 1935-1938, with a tour of the extensive underground areas. The fortress was intended to protect the Náchod valley.
Address: Česká Čermná, 549 21, Dobrošov
First Military-Historical Museum of M. Frost (První vojensko-historické muzeum M. Frosta)
Address: Josefov 105, 551 02, Jaroměř II.
Fort Skutina (Tvrz Skutina) - Military fortification
The Skutina fortress was designed as six structures over the length of 1,350 metres (two of which were to be infantry bunkers, although only one was ever completed) connected by underground corridors with a narrow-gauge railway line. The planned military crew was to consist of 464 troops. The surface of the fortress was to be protected by a continuous line of anti-tank barriers and each structure was also to have its own anti-infantry barriers.
Address: 51782, Sedloňov
Hanička - fortress - military fortifications
The Hanička artillery fort is part of the pre-war fortification system built in the 1930’s mainly against the Germans. The fort takes its feminine name from a nearby settlement. The fort was composed of six defence bunkers connected by hundreds of metres of corridors and halls. The massive halls could hold large amounts of supplies, which were intended to enable troops to battle even if surrounded for a number of months. Construction of the Hanička fort was completed in 1938; however, the majority of internal equipment was missing. In 1938 the fort was surrendered without a fight to Wehrmacht, which then tested the strength of the Czech structures as well as the efficiency of German artillery grenades. Blasting of bells by the state company Kovošrot (Metal Salvage) after the war damaged Hanička far more than the Germans during their six years of occupation. In 1975 Hanička was taken over by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and new defence facilities were built in the underground system under the code name Kahan. The underground was adapted and equipped with modern technology to ensure the survival of a selected elite few. Despite the fact that hundreds of millions of crowns of tax payer money was used on the project, it was never completed.
Address: 51761, Rokytnice v Orlických horách
Hradec Králové - Pouchov - Military cemetery
A military cemetery for three wars: the Prussian-Austrian War of 1866 and the First and Second World Wars.
Address: Pouchov, Hradec Králové
Jaroslav - Infantry cabin N-S 47
The double-sided infantry bunker in the 3rd degree of resistance is part of the right wing of the Skutina fortress. The main portholes were removed and walled in, and only the untraditional porthole of the entrance has been preserved.
Address: 51782, Sedloňov
Josefov - fortified town
Josefov Fort, which hides labyrinth of underground corridors of the length of 45 km, was built from 1780 to 1787 at the instance of emperor Joseph II and was to serve as protection of provincial frontiers against offensive Prussia. Today it is a universal unique landmark of such a kind.
Address: Rudé Armády 109, 551 02, Jaroměř II. Josefov
Kahan III - Museum of pre-war fortifications
An object of the former pre-war fortification system, rebuilt for new warfare methods and research by the army, the Ministry of the Interior, and the needs of the State Secret Security. Reconstruction into a nuclear bomb shelter began in 1986 in the framework of a highly confidential project with the code name Kahan Phase III (the Hanička fortress is part of Kahan I-II); however, the project was never completed. Since 2004 the site functions as a Cold War museum.
Address: Náchod
K-S 12b "Utržený" - artillery observation tower
The three-story artillery watchtower was built as an important observation base for all three artillery forts in the Králicko region: Hůrka, Adam, and Bouda. It belongs among the best-preserved structures in the country. A unique object is the last plated bell in the Králicko region.
Address: Králíky
K-S 14 "U cihelny" - wooden infantry blockhouse
The artillery cabin named K-S 14 is a two-winged building on both sides that dates back to 1936. The building's dominant feature comprises two combat casemates and space for mortar support during battle. In the building's surroundings, an obstacle system is gradually being renewed.
Address: Prostřední Lipka 1, 561 69, Králíky
K-S 8 "U Nádraží" - infantry blockhouse
On both sides heavy border fortification building from 1936. Its main military task was to create a barrage in the direction of the neighbouring buildings and to direct firing from the armoured copula to the forefronts of the Hůrka firing fortress. A secondary task was to cover the railway in the direction of Prostřední Lipka.
Address: Králíky
Lichkov - Military museum
A museum in two separate infantry bunkers, K-S 32 “At the Corner” and K-S 31 "U Besídky" .
Address: Lichkov
Military museum Králíky (Vojenské muzeum Králíky)
The museum is situated directly in the middle of an extensive and extremely massively built zone of the Czechoslovak defence fortifications in 1935-1938. Located in the immediate vicinity are a large number of various types of preserved fortress structures.
Address: Prostřední Lipka 1, 561 69, Králíky
Nízká - Infantry cabin R-S 72
A double-sided infantry bunker built in Arabic resistance with a porthole for a 9 cm mortar as part of the line of heavy fortifications under the 2nd construction sub-division – Kunvald. The two-floor structure was built in the 2nd class of resistance and was to be able to resist strikes by artillery shells up to a calibre of 180 mm.
Address: 51761, Rokytnice v Orlických horách
Odolov - Infantry cabin T-S 26
A structure of the former Czechoslovak defence fortifications from 1935-1938, built in 1938 as part of the Odolovský fortification barrier. The object concerns a two-story, double-sided structure whose main task was to guard and defend the only road across the Jestřebí Mts.
Address: 542 32, Úpice
Pláň - Infantry cabin T-S 20
Preserved double-sided infantry bunker in the 2nd line of resistance with a dummy right porthole for an anti-tank canon.
Address: Červený Kostelec
Pod Kolčarkou - military fortification
Reconstructed light fortification Object No. 37 (A-140N) in the Žaltman section.
Address: Malé Svatoňovice
Průsek - Infantry cabin R-S-87
A finely preserved structure holding the original plated bell. A mortar porthole for 9 cm shells was mounted on the left side. In the sights was Komáří Hill with a lookout and a nearby road.
Address: Říčky v Orlických horách
Ravelin Vo. XIV. (Ravelin No XIV.)
Defense element of Fort Josefov (part of the exterior rampart). Under reconstruction since 1994. All that remains of the ravelin is the outer wall and remnants of the rampart, however the reduit has been preserved completely, an entry leads from it into the underground.
Address: 551 02, Josefov
Sněžné (Německé) - Light object, Model 37
Address: Sněžné
U Křížku - Blockhouse for infantry T-S 5
Double-sided infantry bunker T-S 5, 2nd degree of resistance.
Address: 549 31, Hronov - Zbečník
U Potoka - wooden infantry blockhouse K-S 5
This infantry cabin is one of the biggest of its kind. In the reconstructed interior you will find an exhibition on the Czechoslovak fortification system.
Address: Králíky
Vysoký Kámen - Military-Historical-Technical Museum
A Czechoslovak fortifications area containing three light fortresses and one heavy fortification.
Address: 56166, Těchonín
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