- Joined
- Jun 15, 2010
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Miedzyrzecki Rejon Umocniony 'What?' I here you cry! Lets just keep it simple shall we, as my Polish has been proven only good after several shots of 70% homemade wodka!!
So, The MRU bunkers were built by the Germans (not the Polish) as a defence against the Red Army at the start of WWII.
The bunkers tunnel network originally ran for around 30km although many are now blocked off/sealed/collapsed.
The planning started between 1932 to 1936 and work commenced in 1937/38 and was expected to be completed in 1951.
Unfortunately for the Germans, the Soviet Army were so quick to advance, the Germans barely had a chance to fully man the complex and the Soviets took the fortifications in only 3 days at the start of 1945!
When The Germans knew of the Russian incoming advance, they hid local artifacts and other important items inside the tunnels and destroyed the area at both ends, locking them inside. You could still see the points where dynamite was screwed in to the walls.
The Russians found these artifacts and took them back to their country. After the war, a fraction of these items have been returned to Poland.
A Great thanks goes out to our guide & his family for putting up with 2 non Polish speaking Englishmen!!
We couldn't have asked for a better few days.
Outside defences (all German/French/Czech defences seem to have the same type of upper bunker design)...
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. Here a canon was placed looking over the road below
9. Looking down from the top of one bunker destroyed during the war
10.
11.
12.
13. Going in...
Underground...
14.
15.
16.
17.
18. Me in one of the very (very, very, very) long tunnels...
19. An inner tunnels defence window for an automatic weapon incase of an intruder...
20.
21.
22.
23. Part of the main tunnel system with space for 2 narrow gauge tracks...
24. Toilets...
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30. To finish off the 7 hours we spent underground we enjoyed a beautiful sunset...
D-UK
So, The MRU bunkers were built by the Germans (not the Polish) as a defence against the Red Army at the start of WWII.
The bunkers tunnel network originally ran for around 30km although many are now blocked off/sealed/collapsed.
The planning started between 1932 to 1936 and work commenced in 1937/38 and was expected to be completed in 1951.
Unfortunately for the Germans, the Soviet Army were so quick to advance, the Germans barely had a chance to fully man the complex and the Soviets took the fortifications in only 3 days at the start of 1945!
When The Germans knew of the Russian incoming advance, they hid local artifacts and other important items inside the tunnels and destroyed the area at both ends, locking them inside. You could still see the points where dynamite was screwed in to the walls.
The Russians found these artifacts and took them back to their country. After the war, a fraction of these items have been returned to Poland.
A Great thanks goes out to our guide & his family for putting up with 2 non Polish speaking Englishmen!!
We couldn't have asked for a better few days.
Outside defences (all German/French/Czech defences seem to have the same type of upper bunker design)...
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. Here a canon was placed looking over the road below
9. Looking down from the top of one bunker destroyed during the war
10.
11.
12.
13. Going in...
Underground...
14.
15.
16.
17.
18. Me in one of the very (very, very, very) long tunnels...
19. An inner tunnels defence window for an automatic weapon incase of an intruder...
20.
21.
22.
23. Part of the main tunnel system with space for 2 narrow gauge tracks...
24. Toilets...
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30. To finish off the 7 hours we spent underground we enjoyed a beautiful sunset...
D-UK
