Poznań Fortress, known in German as Festung Posen (Polish: ''Twierdza Poznań'') was a set of fortifications in the city of
Poznań
Poznań () is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John ...
(German: ''Posen'') in western
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...
, built under
Prussian
Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an e ...
rule in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It represents the third largest system of its kind in Europe.
The first set of fortifications was a tight defensive ring around central Poznań, including the main
citadel
A citadel is the core fortified area of a town or city. It may be a castle, fortress, or fortified center. The term is a diminutive of "city", meaning "little city", because it is a smaller part of the city of which it is the defensive core.
In ...
called
Fort Winiary
Fort Winiary was part of ''Festung Posen'' ("Fortress Poznań"), a system of defensive fortifications around the Polish city of Poznań.
Origins
Fort Winiary was first constructed under Kingdom of Prussia, Prussian rule in the 19th century. ...
(now the ''Cytadela'' park). Construction of these fortifications began in 1828. Later, beginning in 1876, an outer defensive ring was built around the perimeter of the city, consisting chiefly of a series of "forts", which mostly still survive.
The term ''Festung Posen'' was also used by the
Nazi German
Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
occupiers during the
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, after ...
's advance in the closing phases of the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, to refer to Poznań's status as one of the "strongholds" ( ''Festungen'') which were to be defended at all costs. It fell in the
Battle of Poznań (1945)
The Battle of Poznań (Battle of Posen) during World War II in 1945 was an assault by the Soviet Union's Red Army that had as its objective the elimination of the Nazi German garrison in the stronghold city of Poznań (Posen) in occupied Poland. ...
, with Fort Winiary the last point of resistance.
Initial planning
Poznań (''Posen'') came under
Prussian
Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an e ...
rule with the
Second Partition of Poland
The 1793 Second Partition of Poland was the second of three partitions (or partial annexations) that ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth by 1795. The second partition occurred in the aftermath of the Polish–Russian War ...
in 1793. Its medieval city walls were obsolete by that time, and were mostly taken down in the early 19th century to facilitate the city's growth. The Prussian authorities first made plans to build new fortifications in December 1815.Biesiadka, Gawlak, Kucharski, Wojciechowski, p. 19 The city lay on the shortest route from the border with
Congress Poland
Congress Poland, Congress Kingdom of Poland, or Russian Poland, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland, was a polity created in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna as a semi-autonomous Polish state, a successor to Napoleon's Duchy of Warsaw. It w ...
(and hence with the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...
) to
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
, and was also an important point on the route from
West Prussia
The Province of West Prussia (german: Provinz Westpreußen; csb, Zôpadné Prësë; pl, Prusy Zachodnie) was a province of Prussia from 1773 to 1829 and 1878 to 1920. West Prussia was established as a province of the Kingdom of Prussia in 177 ...
to
Silesia
Silesia (, also , ) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at around 8,000,000. Silesia is split ...
; therefore, according to General
Karl von Grolman
Karl Wilhelm Georg von Grolman(n) (30 July 1777 – 1 June 1843) was a Prussian general who fought in the Napoleonic Wars.
Biography
Grolman was born in Berlin. He entered an infantry regiment at the age of thirteen years, was commissioned as an ...
, its fortification would show that Prussia had no intention of giving up those lands, and would defeat the "continuous intrigues and plotting" on the part of the Poles.Karl von Grolman's report of 22 May 1817 A preliminary plan sketched by Grolman on 9 July 1817 provided for fortification of Winiary Hill north of the city, as well as the area of St. Kazimierz's Church in Śródka to the east. Army engineers added to these plans a
weir
A weir or low head dam is a barrier across the width of a river that alters the flow characteristics of water and usually results in a change in the height of the river level. Weirs are also used to control the flow of water for outlets of l ...
on the river
Warta
The river Warta ( , ; german: Warthe ; la, Varta) rises in central Poland and meanders greatly north-west to flow into the Oder, against the German border. About long, it is Poland's second-longest river within its borders after the Vistula, a ...
(''Warthe''), which would enable the river to be used as part of the defences.Biesiadka, Gawlak, Kucharski, Wojciechowski, p. 20
Building was planned to begin in 1817, but initially no funds were available for the work (due to the costs of fortifying
Cologne
Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western States of Germany, state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 m ...
and
Koblenz
Koblenz (; Moselle Franconian language, Moselle Franconian: ''Kowelenz''), spelled Coblenz before 1926, is a German city on the banks of the Rhine and the Moselle, a multi-nation tributary.
Koblenz was established as a Roman Empire, Roman mili ...
). Planning continued, however: in 1823 Grolman proposed a line of defences surrounding the left-bank (main) portion of the city, with additional fortifications 500–1000 metres in front of the main line.
In 1827, Johann von Brese, then working in the War Ministry's engineering section, was instructed to prepare a detailed plan. The result, dated 23 March 1828, included the large fort on Winiary Hill, fortifications on the cathedral island ( Ostrów Tumski) and the right bank, and the core defensive line surrounding the left-bank city. The plan was approved by General
Gustav von Rauch
Johann Justus Georg Gustav von Rauch (1 April 1774, in Braunschweig – 2 April 1841, in Berlin) was a Prussian general of the infantry and Minister of War from 1837 to 1841.
Life
Gustav von Rauch was born as the eldest son of the later ...
(chief inspector of forts), and then presented by General Karl von Hake to King
Frederick William III
Frederick William III (german: Friedrich Wilhelm III.; 3 August 1770 – 7 June 1840) was King of Prussia from 16 November 1797 until his death in 1840. He was concurrently Elector of Brandenburg in the Holy Roman Empire until 6 August 1806, wh ...
, who approved it in principle, asking Rauch to make some improvements.Biesiadka, Gawlak, Kucharski, Wojciechowski, p. 21 These were agreed on 18 June 1828 by a committee of officers headed by Rauch, and then supplemented by Rauch himself (it was due to Rauch that Grolman's proposed additional line in front of the main defences was excluded from the plans). The king gave his final approval on 14 August 1828, ordering Hake to begin construction with the Winiary fort and the weirs on the Warta and on the Wierzbak (''Wierzbach'') stream.
Construction of the inner fortifications
On 14 March 1828 Captain Moritz von Prittwitz und Gaffron, who had been a member of Rauch's committee, was appointed chief of construction of ''Festung Posen''. In May, he and five subordinate officers began marking out the outline of the first fortifications – the defensive barracks of the Winiary fort (later the
reduit
A reduit is a fortified structure such as a citadel or a keep into which the defending troops can retreat when the outer defences are breached. The term is also used to describe an area of a country, which, through a ring of heavy fortifications o ...
). Building began on 23 June 1828 (the fort would be completed in 1839). Fortification also soon began north of
Poznań Cathedral
The Archcathedral Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul in Poznań is one of the oldest churches in Poland and the oldest Polish cathedral, dating from the 10th century. It stands on the island of Ostrów Tumski north-east of the city centre.
His ...
and in the south-western part of the main defensive line. Work was carried out by the 5th Pioneers Division, re-stationed from Glogau (
Głogów
Głogów (; german: Glogau, links=no, rarely , cs, Hlohov, szl, Głogōw) is a city in western Poland. It is the county seat of Głogów County, in Lower Silesian Voivodeship (since 1999), and was previously in Legnica Voivodeship (1975–1998) ...
). Following the Polish
November Uprising
The November Uprising (1830–31), also known as the Polish–Russian War 1830–31 or the Cadet Revolution,
was an armed rebellion in the heartland of partitioned Poland against the Russian Empire. The uprising began on 29 November 1830 in W ...
against Russia in 1830, the unfinished fortifications were manned temporarily for defensive purposes.Biesiadka, Gawlak, Kucharski, Wojciechowski, p. 22
In 1829–1832 the ''Große Schleuse'' weir was built on the Warta. In October 1832 the main stream of the Warta was moved westwards, the former stream being closed off with an overfall weir (''Große Überfall''), connected to a seven-span defensive bridge. In 1832–1837 the ''Kleine Schleuse'' on the Wierzbak was built.Biesiadka, Gawlak, Kucharski, Wojciechowski, p. 23 The ''Dom Schleuse'' weir on the east side of Ostrów Tumski was built in 1834–1838, with the ''Dom Flesche''
lunette
A lunette (French ''lunette'', "little moon") is a half-moon shaped architectural space, variously filled with sculpture, painted, glazed, filled with recessed masonry, or void.
A lunette may also be segmental, and the arch may be an arc take ...
to the north. On 1 October 1834 Festung Posen was classified as a "Fortress Second Class", and completed parts of the fortifications were armed. Around 1837–1838 the ''Magazin Cavalier'' and ''Ziegel Flesche'' were built south of Fort Winiary.Biesiadka, Gawlak, Kucharski, Wojciechowski, p. 24 Work also proceeded on the right bank, where there were to be two forts connected by embankments. The northern embankment, containing Bydgoszcz Gate, was completed in 1839.
On 16 March 1839 the king ordered a renewal of work on the fortifications, which had been suspended. Brese produced working plans on 1 February 1840, and the king approved an annual budget of 300,000
talar Talar դալար is a Western Armenian name for females. It's meaning is symbolic of the Evergreen Tree.
The talar or talaar ( fa, تالار) is the throne hall of the Persian monarch that is open to the public. It includes a throne carved ...
s. Work began again in March 1840, under a new director, Reichel (replaced by Lange in the 1850s).Biesiadka, Gawlak, Kucharski, Wojciechowski, p. 25 Bastions III and V were first to be built. Work was interrupted in 1848 due to the Greater Poland Uprising and "
Spring of Nations
The Revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Springtime of the Peoples or the Springtime of Nations, were a series of political upheavals throughout Europe starting in 1848. It remains the most widespread revolutionary wave in Europea ...
". Later Bastions IV, VI, II and I were constructed, and in 1860–1861 connecting roads were built, as well as a number of brick
blockhouse
A blockhouse is a small fortification, usually consisting of one or more rooms with loopholes, allowing its defenders to fire in various directions. It is usually an isolated fort in the form of a single building, serving as a defensive stro ...
s. This completed the ring (''
enceinte
Enceinte (from Latin incinctus: girdled, surrounded) is a French term that refers to the "main defensive enclosure of a fortification". For a castle, this is the main defensive line of wall towers and curtain walls enclosing the position. For ...
'') around the left-bank city. Each of the six bastions had a large
caponier
A caponier is a type of defensive structure in a fortification. Fire from this point could cover the ditch beyond the curtain wall to deter any attempt to storm the wall. The word originates from the French ', meaning "chicken coop" (a ''capon'' ...
shielded by embankments connected to the ''cavaliers''. There was also a separate caponier on Grobla (Graben) island, beyond the ''Graben Schleuse'' weir.Biesiadka, Gawlak, Kucharski, Wojciechowski, p. 26
Work also continued on the right bank, with the ''Reformaten Fort'' completed in 1842, and the Warsaw Gate in 1845, as well as the ''Cybina Cavalier'', ''Cybina Schleuse'', ''Cybina Flesche'', and ''Fort Rochus'' (and adjacent embankments) to the south. The section containing the Kalisz Gate was last to be built.Biesiadka, Gawlak, Kucharski, Wojciechowski, p. 27
Around 1850 it was decided to make an independent fortress on Ostrów Tumski. Canals were built east and west of the island, partly for flood prevention (''Vorfluth Canal'' I and II), completed by 1864. Defences were built in the second half of the 1850s: ''Dom Redoute'' at the southern end of the island, embankments on the east and west sides of the island, and ''Dom Lünette'' in the north-west. Around 1862 the moat of ''Dom Redoute'' was completed.
In 1864 the Poznań Fortress was declared completed and reclassified as a fortress "of the first class". King
Wilhelm I
William I or Wilhelm I (german: Wilhelm Friedrich Ludwig; 22 March 1797 – 9 March 1888) was King of Prussia from 2 January 1861 and German Emperor from 18 January 1871 until his death in 1888. A member of the House of Hohenzollern, he was the f ...
issued a decree renaming many of the elements of the fortifications in honour of Prussian generals.
Later alterations to the central ring of fortifications mainly resulted from the introduction of new types of armaments and ammunition, and the building of railway and tram lines.Biesiadka, Gawlak, Kucharski, Wojciechowski, p. 31 In 1869–1872 the north-eastern fortifications were rebuilt to allow the building of a railway to
Toruń
)''
, image_skyline =
, image_caption =
, image_flag = POL Toruń flag.svg
, image_shield = POL Toruń COA.svg
, nickname = City of Angels, Gingerbread city, Copernicus Town
, pushpin_map = Kuyavian-Pom ...
(Thorn). Powder stores were built and strengthened; in 1873–1874 the embankments around powder stores were widened. In 1875–1877 wooden bridges were mostly replaced with steel, and the gates in the fortifications were also strengthened. ''Ritter Thor'' was built in 1881–1882 to improve access to the city's new rail station.
By the 1890s the outer ring of forts had been built around the perimeter of the city, and much of the inner ring began to be demolished (see below). However the main forts remained in use. In 1910 reinforcement work took place at Fort Winiary, Fort Steinäcker and Cavalier
Aster
Aster or ASTER may refer to:
Biology
* ''Aster'' (genus), a genus of flowering plants
** List of ''Aster'' synonyms, other genera formerly included in ''Aster'' and still called asters in English
* Aster (cell biology), a cellular structure shap ...
.
Elements of the left-bank fortifications
The following were the main elements of the ring of fortifications on the left bank of the
Warta
The river Warta ( , ; german: Warthe ; la, Varta) rises in central Poland and meanders greatly north-west to flow into the Oder, against the German border. About long, it is Poland's second-longest river within its borders after the Vistula, a ...
(listed in anti-clockwise order):
*''Fort Winiary.'' The main fort, lying north of the city as it was then, and popularly known as Poznań's
citadel
A citadel is the core fortified area of a town or city. It may be a castle, fortress, or fortified center. The term is a diminutive of "city", meaning "little city", because it is a smaller part of the city of which it is the defensive core.
In ...
; converted after World War II into the Cytadela park. For details of its construction and history, see Poznań Citadel.
*''Kleine Schleuse'' ("Little Lock"), a
weir
A weir or low head dam is a barrier across the width of a river that alters the flow characteristics of water and usually results in a change in the height of the river level. Weirs are also used to control the flow of water for outlets of l ...
built in 1832–1837 on the Wierzbak (''Wierzbach'') stream which flowed eastwards towards the Warta (this part of the stream is now combined with the Bogdanka and flows in underground drainage pipes). The weir was connected to the western end of Fort Winiary's
reduit
A reduit is a fortified structure such as a citadel or a keep into which the defending troops can retreat when the outer defences are breached. The term is also used to describe an area of a country, which, through a ring of heavy fortifications o ...
to the north, and to Fort Adalbert (Hake) to the south.
*''Fort Adalbert'', renamed ''Fort Hake'' in 1864. Built in the 1830s on the north side of the hill containing St. Wojciech's ( St. Adalbert's) church.
*''Ziegel Flesche'' ("Brick Lunette", named for a brickworks on the Wierzbak), later ''Waldersee Flesche'', a
lunette
A lunette (French ''lunette'', "little moon") is a half-moon shaped architectural space, variously filled with sculpture, painted, glazed, filled with recessed masonry, or void.
A lunette may also be segmental, and the arch may be an arc take ...
situated somewhat west of the fortifications running south from Fort Adalbert, being connected to them by a long
gorge
A canyon (from ; archaic British English spelling: ''cañon''), or gorge, is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosion, erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales. Rivers have a natural tenden ...
. Built in the late 1830s.
*''Magazin Cavalier'', a fortified embankment between Fort Adalbert and Bastion VI, built 1837–1838.
*Bastion VI, renamed ''Bastion Waldersee'' in 1864. It stood close to the junction of today's ''Al. Niepodległości'' and ''ul. Solna''; the western line of fortifications generally follows today's Al. Niepodległości and ''ul. Kościuszki''. Between Bastion VI and Bastion V was Cavalier VI (''Cavalier Bonin'' from 1864).
* Bastion V, renamed ''Bastion Tietzen'' in 1864, north of where the '' Zamek'' ("Imperial Castle") building now stands. Connected to Bastion IV by Cavalier V (''Cavalier Stockhausen''). To the west was an additional
caponier
A caponier is a type of defensive structure in a fortification. Fire from this point could cover the ditch beyond the curtain wall to deter any attempt to storm the wall. The word originates from the French ', meaning "chicken coop" (a ''capon'' ...
close to the then railway station, now built in under the ''Rondo Kaponiera''
roundabout
A roundabout is a type of circular intersection or junction in which road traffic is permitted to flow in one direction around a central island, and priority is typically given to traffic already in the junction.''The New Shorter Oxford En ...
at the western end of
Święty Marcin
Święty Marcin ("Saint Martin"), in full ''ulica Święty Marcin'' ("Saint Martin Street"), is a main central street in the city of Poznań in western Poland. It runs from south of the old town district, westwards past the church of St. Mart ...
.
* Bastion IV, renamed ''Bastion Colomb'' in 1864. Stood partly on the site of the park on ''ul. Powstańców Wielkopolskich'' west of Al. Niepodległości. A
blockhouse
A blockhouse is a small fortification, usually consisting of one or more rooms with loopholes, allowing its defenders to fire in various directions. It is usually an isolated fort in the form of a single building, serving as a defensive stro ...
survives; it was excavated and restored in 1998, and now houses a pub. Between Bastion IV and Bastion III was Cavalier IV (''Cavalier Strotha'').
* Bastion III, renamed ''Bastion Grolman'' in 1864 and ''Reduta Przemysława'' after World War I. Connected to Bastion II by Cavalier III (''Cavalier Rohr''). It stood close to today's ''Plac Andersa''. Bastions and Cavaliers I–III formed the southern edge of the fortifications, with a partial
moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that is dug and surrounds a castle, fortification, building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive ...
in front.
* Bastion II, renamed ''Bastion Brünneck'' in 1864. Connected to Bastion I by Cavalier II (''Cavalier Witzleben'').
* Bastion I, renamed ''Bastion Röder'' in 1864, close to the west bank of the Warta. Running east from it onto the then island of Grobla (''Graben'') was Cavalier I (''Cavalier Boyen'').
*''Graben Schleuse'' or ''Grabendamm'', within Cavalier I, an overfall weir on the branch of the river west of Grobla. It regulated the water level in that branch and in the moat of the southern fortifications.
Elements of the right-bank fortifications
The following were the main elements of the fortifications on the right bank of the Warta:
* ''Fort Rochus'', renamed ''Fort Rauch'' in 1864, and ''Fort św. Rocha'' (later ''Reduta Marcinkowskiego'') after World War I. It guarded the southern end of the right-bank fortifications, close to today's St. Roch bridge. There was a
caponier
A caponier is a type of defensive structure in a fortification. Fire from this point could cover the ditch beyond the curtain wall to deter any attempt to storm the wall. The word originates from the French ', meaning "chicken coop" (a ''capon'' ...
to the west of the fort, on the river bank. The gunneries survived the demolitions in the 1920s.
* ''Cybina Cavalier'', renamed ''Cavalier Aster'' in 1864, on the south bank of the Cybina stream, near what is now the western end of
Lake Malta
Lake Malta, known also as the Maltański Reservoir,Gołdyn R., Kozak A., Kostka K. 1994. Causes of changes in the water quality of the restored Maltański Reservoir in Poznań. In: Gołdyn R. (ed.) Protection of the water of the catchment area of ...
. In 1869–1870 a powder store (no. 6) was built there, and in 1872 a powder laboratory. The cavalier was reinforced in 1910.
* ''Cybina Flesche (Lünette)'', built 1845–1846, renamed ''Lünette Aster'' in 1864, and ''Reduta (Warownia) Rusa'' after World War I. Lay to the east of Cavalier Aster, in the area of today's Lake Malta.
* ''Cybina Schleuse'' ("Cybina Lock"), on the Cybina by Cavalier Aster. The southern gate was filled in after World War II, but the northern one remains in use (it has been extended). It lies under ''ul. Jana Pawła II'', and is visible when the river water level is low.
* ''Reformaten Fort'', renamed ''Fort Prittwitz-Gaffron'' in 1864, and ''Reduta (Warownia) Reformatów'' after World War I, completed 1842. Built on the hill next to the liquidated abbey by St. Kazimierz's Church in Śródka, on today's ''ul. Podwale''. The lower floor of the reduit is still in existence.
Fortifications on Ostrów Tumski
The following were the main elements of the fortifications on Ostrów Tumski (the cathedral island):
*''Dom Schleuse'' ("Cathedral Lock"), a weir and bridge built in 1834–1838 on the eastern branch of the Warta (called Cybina). The lock was demolished after World War I, but the west bridgehead survives (on the eastern edge of Ostrów Tumski, close to the cathedral).
*''Nördlicher Dom Cavalier'' ("North Cathedral Cavalier"), completed in 1832, north of the cathedral. In 1861 a powder store was built, with a capacity of 51 tonnes.
* ''Domwerk II'' (previously ''Hauptwerk No II'' or ''Dom Lünette''), a fortified position at the western end of the North Cathedral Cavalier.
*''Fort Radziwill'' (originally ''Dom Redoute'' or ''Domwerk I''), renamed ''Reduta (Warownia) Radziwiłła'' after World War I, built in the late 1850s at the southern end of Ostrów Tumski. It had a moat (completed in 1862). The fort survived the demolitions of the 1920s.
*''Dom Flesche'', later ''Fort Steinäcker'', a lunette some way north of the cathedral, built in the 1830s. In 1836 an embankment was made in front, also shielding a new access road. In the early 1870s the river's eastern branch (Cybina) was made to take a more northerly course, placing Fort Steinäcker on Ostrów Tumski. The fort was reinforced in 1910. After World War I it was renamed ''Reduta (Warownia) Lecha''.
*''Fort Roon'', built at the eastern end of the Great Lock (initially there was a smaller fort there, called ''Brückenkopf''). It was renamed ''Reduta (Warownia) Czech'' after World War I. The reduit survives, situated on the site of the
cogeneration plant
Cogeneration or combined heat and power (CHP) is the use of a heat engine or power station to generate electricity and useful heat at the same time.
Cogeneration is a more efficient use of fuel or heat, because otherwise- wasted heat from elect ...
in the north of Ostrów Tumski, and can be seen from the east bank of the Warta.
*''Große Schleuse'' ("Great Lock"), a weir also serving as a bridge, built on the main branch of the Warta in 1829–1832, just to the east of Fort Winiary. Later the weir gate was widened to allow larger ships to sail into the city. The weir was demolished after World War I, but the bridgeheads can still be seen.
Gates
Gates had to be built to allow access into and out of the area enclosed by the ring of fortifications. The following four gates, in the northerly parts of the fortifications, were built in the 1830s:
* ''Schillings Thor'' (known in Polish as ''Brama Szelągowska''), between Fort Winiary and the Great Lock, on the road to the settlement of Szeląg (Schilling), now ''ul. Szelągowska''.
* ''Kirchhofs Thor'' ("Churchyard Gate", Polish ''Brama Cmentarna''), between the Little Lock and the cemeteries on the south-western slope of Fort Winiary (where the military cemeteries are situated today). The gate gave access to the road to
Oborniki
Oborniki (german: Obornik) is a town in Poland, in Greater Poland Voivodeship, about 30 km north of Poznań. It is the capital of Oborniki County and of Gmina Oborniki. Its population is 18,176 (2005).
History
Oborniki was granted town ri ...
(today's ''Al. Armii Poznań''). In 1889–1894 it was replaced by a blockhouse on the railway which had been built there.
* ''Mühl Thor'' ("Mill Gate", ''Brama Młyńska''), by Fort Adalbert, on the road leading to a mill on the Wierzbak, roughly today's ''ul. Przepadek''.
* ''Bromberger Thor'' ("Bydgoszcz Gate", ''Brama Bydgoska''), in the fortified embankments east of the Cathedral Lock, on the road to
Bydgoszcz
Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...
(Bromberg), now ''ul. Bydgoska'' in Śródka. The gate and the fortified section containing it were completed in 1839.
The following other gates were built in later periods:
* ''Wilda Thor'' ("Wilda Gate", Polish ''Brama Wildecka''), built from 1841 between Bastions II and III, on the road to Wilda (today's ''ul. Półwiejska'', near the junction with ''ul. Krakowska'').
* ''Berliner Thor'' ("Berlin Gate", ''Brama Berlińska''), built 1843–1850 between Bastions IV and V, widened in 1867–1869, adapted for
tram
A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...
traffic in 1880. This was the city's main gate, on the line of St. Martin's Street (
Święty Marcin
Święty Marcin ("Saint Martin"), in full ''ulica Święty Marcin'' ("Saint Martin Street"), is a main central street in the city of Poznań in western Poland. It runs from south of the old town district, westwards past the church of St. Mart ...
), leading to the roads to
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
and
Głogów
Głogów (; german: Glogau, links=no, rarely , cs, Hlohov, szl, Głogōw) is a city in western Poland. It is the county seat of Głogów County, in Lower Silesian Voivodeship (since 1999), and was previously in Legnica Voivodeship (1975–1998) ...
(Glogau) and to the original rail station in Jeżyce (on the site of today's Old Zoo).
* ''Warschauer Thor'' ("Warsaw Gate", ''Brama Warszawska''), built 1845, on the road to the Komadoria district and to
Warsaw
Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...
, in the region of today's ''Rondo Śródka'' roundabout.
* ''Warthe Thor'' ("Warta Gate"), on the right bank close to Fort Rauch, giving access from outside the fortifications to the Berdychowo neighbourhood and the ferry to Grobla.
* ''Kuhndorfer Thor'' (''Brama Kundorfska''), later ''Königs Thor'' ("King's Gate", ''Brama Królewska''), built c. 1849–1852, on today's ''ul. Libelta'', then the road leading to the settlement of and westward to Jeżyce.
* ''Graben Pforte'', built 1853–1856, a small gate giving access from Grobla (Graben) to the ferry to Berdychowo.
* ''Eichwald Thor'' (''Brama Dębińska''), not part of the original plans, but built after 1855, leading to Dębina (Eichwald), near the southern end of today's ''ul. Garbary''.
*''Kalischer Thor'' ("Kalisz Gate", ''Brama Kaliska''), on the right bank, at the northern side of Fort Rauch, on the road to
Kalisz
(The oldest city of Poland)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = ''Top:'' Town Hall, Former "Calisia" Piano Factory''Middle:'' Courthouse, "Gołębnik" tenement''Bottom:'' Aerial view of the Kalisz Old Town
, image_flag = POL Kalisz flag.svg ...
. It was retained as a monument when most of the fortifications were demolished after World War I. It stood on today's ''ul. Berdychowo''.
* A gate built c. 1865 near Bastion IV, for a rail siding leading inside the ring, near today's ''ul. Taylora''.
* ''Ritter Thor'' ("Knight's Gate", ''Brama Rycerska''), built 1881–1882 in Cavalier Strotha (at the southern end of today's ''ul. Ratajczaka''), leading to the sidings of the new rail station.
Construction of the outer forts
The
Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855)
The siege of Sevastopol (at the time called in English the siege of Sebastopol) lasted from October 1854 until September 1855, during the Crimean War. The allies ( French, Sardinian, Ottoman, and British) landed at Eupatoria on 14 September ...
and that of
Dybbøl
Dybbøl is a small town with a population of 2,339 (1 January 2022)Danish War of 1864 showed the concept of a tight ring of fortifications to be outdated, as it could be broken relatively easily by modern artillery. The ring was also weakened by the need for railway lines to pass through it.Biesiadka, Gawlak, Kucharski, Wojciechowski, p. 124 This led the Engineering Committee of the Chief Inspectorate of Forts to consider, in the 1860s, the possibility of modernization. It was decided to build an outer ring of artillery forts, spaced at 2–6 km, and 6 km from the existing inner ring.Biesiadka, Gawlak, Kucharski, Wojciechowski, p. 129
Following work by the ''Landes-Verteidigungs-Kommission'' and a report from Field Marshal von Moltke concerning the Franco-Prussian War, King Wilhelm issued a decree on 5 November 1871 ordering the commission to prepare plans for necessary changes to fortifications in the united
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
. A further decree of 24 June 1872 reduced the number of fortress cities to 49. Festung Posen was among 17 strongholds which were to be modernized so as to be able to withstand a siege.
Preparations for new building had begun in 1869, resulting in two preliminary plans. One provided for 11 main forts and 8 intermediate forts (''Zwischenwerk'') at a radius of 6–7 km, the other for 6 main and 3 intermediate forts at a radius of 3 km.
Decrees of 24 June 1872 and 29 May 1873 laid down plans for fortifications in the Empire and permitted the confiscation of land for that purpose. A preliminary plan was completed on 1 June 1873, containing 8 main forts and 3 intermediate forts. This was presented to the Commission by a decree of 31 March 1874; the Commission completed its work on the plan on 7 April 1874, and it was approved by the War Ministry in a decree of 17 November 1874. The final plans were approved 24 February 1876, providing for 9 main forts (designed by
Hans Alexis von Biehler
Hans Alexis von Biehler (16 June 1818 – 30 December 1886) was a Prussian general. He designed fortifications in many famous locations. Beginning in 1873, he saw fort construction in Cologne, Strasbourg, Poznań, Toruń, Königsberg, Ingolstadt, ...
) and 3 intermediate ones. An act of the Reichstag of 30 May 1873 allocated over 7 million
talar Talar դալար is a Western Armenian name for females. It's meaning is symbolic of the Evergreen Tree.
The talar or talaar ( fa, تالار) is the throne hall of the Persian monarch that is open to the public. It includes a throne carved ...
s for the project (the fifth largest amount granted for fort modernization). French prisoners-of-war were also used as free labour.
The main forts were built in a ring of diameter 9.5 km at regular intervals of 3–4 km, forming a defensive line about long, located 2.0–4.5 km from the inner ring. Gaps in the ring at the Bogdanka and
Warta
The river Warta ( , ; german: Warthe ; la, Varta) rises in central Poland and meanders greatly north-west to flow into the Oder, against the German border. About long, it is Poland's second-longest river within its borders after the Vistula, a ...
valleys were filled with intermediate forts (Forts IVa and IXa in the Warta valley, and VIa between the Bogdanka and Wierzbak). The easternmost Fort III, quite distant from the others, was reinforced by three permanent artillery batteries. All the forts were to be connected by a road network, based on a circular road a few hundred metres behind the forts, and radial roads leading to the inner ring. Large shooting ranges were built at Komandoria and Główna in the north-east of the city, and two training grounds at Górczyn and Karolin.Biesiadka, Gawlak, Kucharski, Wojciechowski, p. 130
Work began in 1876, with the marking of the boundaries of the fort sites (with stones marked F.G. for ''Festungs-Grenze''). Work then began with the forts on the Berlin road, to make up for the weakening of the inner ring caused by the new railway station. Next the southern and eastern forts were built. The northern Forts V and VI, were built last, and were modified by the addition of a second embankment.
Each fort took about four years to build, the last (Fort V) being completed in 1886. The circular road was completed in the same period.
New missiles using
nitrocellulose
Nitrocellulose (also known as cellulose nitrate, flash paper, flash cotton, guncotton, pyroxylin and flash string, depending on form) is a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose through exposure to a mixture of nitric acid and ...
, introduced in 1883, were shown in tests at
Kummersdorf
Kummersdorf is the name of an estate near Luckenwalde, around 25 km south of Berlin, in the Brandenburg region of Germany. Until 1945 Kummersdorf hosted the weapon office of the German Army which ran a development centre for future weapons as ...
to be effective against standard fortifications. A still stronger explosive material – melinite – was introduced in 1886 by France and 1888 by Germany. As a consequence, the commission worked from 1885 to 1887 on strengthening the Prussian fort system. The conclusion was that the artillery had to be more distributed rather than being concentrated in forts, and the forts themselves were to be defended from attack from all sides, serving as strong points of infantry resistance, largely using
machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic, rifled autoloading firearm designed for sustained direct fire with rifle cartridges. Other automatic firearms such as automatic shotguns and automatic rifles (including assault rifles and battle rifles) a ...
s. The role of linear fortifications was reduced to a minimum.
A decree of 10 December 1888 ordered a review of the fortification system, leading to a decree of 9 May 1889, in which Festung Posen was one of the 17 fort systems "of the highest importance" designated for modernization. A decree of 13 May 1887 had already provided for expansion of the fortified areas around Poznań,
Metz
Metz ( , , lat, Divodurum Mediomatricorum, then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand E ...
and
Strasbourg
Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...
, and work in Poznań began the same year. Over a few years the intermediate forts Ia, IIa, IIIa, Va, VIIa and VIIIa were built, completed in 1896 according to official records.
Thus a regular ring was formed, with alternating main and intermediate forts, spaced at around 2 km. Between Forts VIa and VII was a permanent battery (''Bogdanka''), of a similar size to the intermediate forts. The ring was reinforced by 43 shelters for infantry, ammunition and artillery, mostly in the north between Forts IV and VIII. South of Fort III a weir was built on the Cybina. A peacetime powder store was built on the Warsaw road near Fort IIIa, as well as two new shooting ranges near Forts IIIa and VII. At the same time all main forts and the three oldest intermediate forts underwent modernization. The work required an increase in the size of the Poznań garrison, which led to the building of a barracks complex in the area of today's ''Bukowska'' and ''Grunwaldzka'' streets.
A further change in concept was laid down in a decree of 23 January 1900. Festung Posen was again placed in the highest category, this time of "large fortresses". It needed to be strengthened following the removal of the inner ring on the left bank. New shelters were built in the southern and eastern sections, ten for infantry, three for artillery and three for ammunition. Other modernization work also took place, completed around 1907. With rising political tensions, a decree of 15 May 1913 ordered the construction of new forts to create a wider ring, but this never occurred. However over a hundred shelters of various types were built around existing forts.
The perimeter forts and their present-day state
The main forts in the outer ring are as follows:
*Fort I (Röder). Built 1878–1880, lies on ul. Książęca in Starołęka. In 1944 converted to a
Focke-Wulf
Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG () was a German manufacturer of civil and military aircraft before and during World War II. Many of the company's successful fighter aircraft designs were slight modifications of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. It is one of the ...
aircraft factory, with rail access from Poznan-Starołęka station. Still partly used industrially.
*Fort II (Stülpnagel). Built 1878–1882, lies on ul. Obodrzycka in Żegrze ( Rataje). In 1944 converted to a Focke-Wulf factory, with rail connections and a siding.
*Fort III (Gröber). Built 1877–1881. Lies within the New Zoo. Barracks were to be converted into a dolphinarium; the roof was removed, but the project not completed.
*Fort IV (Hake). Built 1878–1882. Lies in Karolin, on ul. Bałtycka. Was on the site of an ammunitions factory during World War II, after which it was demolished. Some fragments remain.
*Fort V (Waldersee I). Built 1879–1883. Lies on ul. Lechicka, by Osiedle Wichrowe Wzgórze in
Winogrady
Winogrady is a part of the Stare Miasto district of the city of Poznań in western Poland. It is situated north of the ''Cytadela'' park (the former Poznań citadel). The name refers to the vineyards which formerly existed in the area – histo ...
. Moats were roofed in World War II and used as ammunition stores (later filled in). Front caponier and other fragments survive.
*Fort VI (Tietzen). Built 1879–1883. Lies at the junction of ul. Lutycka and ul. Strzeszyńska in Jeżyce. Used by the military after 1945, survives in good condition.
*
Fort VII
Fort VII, officially ''Konzentrationslager Posen'' (renamed later), was a Nazi German death camp set up in Poznań in German-occupied Poland during World War II, located in one of the 19th-century forts circling the city. According to different e ...
(Colomb). Built 1876–1880 (modernized 1887–1888). Lies on Al. Polska in the Ogrody district. During World War II it was the first
Nazi concentration camp
From 1933 to 1945, Nazi Germany operated more than a thousand concentration camps, (officially) or (more commonly). The Nazi concentration camps are distinguished from other types of Nazi camps such as forced-labor camps, as well as concen ...
set up on Polish territory. Up to 20,000 Poles, mostly from the
Wielkopolska
Greater Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska (; german: Großpolen, sv, Storpolen, la, Polonia Maior), is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief and largest city is Poznań followed by Kalisz, the oldest city ...
region, died there through execution, torture and harsh conditions. It is now a martyrs' museum.
*Fort VIII (Grolman). Built 1876–1882. Lies on ul. Grunwaldzka and ul. Bułgarska, next to the
Lech Poznań
Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań S.A., commonly referred to as KKS Lech Poznań or simply Lech Poznań (), is a Polish professional association football, football club based in Poznań and currently competing in the Ekstraklasa, the nation' ...
football stadium.
*Fort IX (Brünneck). Built 1876–1880. Lies in Świerczewo ( Wilda), on ul. Głazowa. Was fully roofed to provide a large storage area. Survives in good condition, partly used industrially (also contains a disused police car-park). The hills in the park around it are used by cyclists and other recreational vehicle drivers.
The following are the intermediate forts:
*Fort Ia (Boyen). Built 1887–1890 in Minikowo. Moats partly contain water, due to damage to drainage pipes.
*Fort IIa (Thümen). Built 1887–1890 in Chartowo ( Rataje). Restored and used by a nature protection group and scout groups. Moat partially filled.
*Fort IIIa (Prittwitz). Built 1887–1890 in Miłostowo. Steel shutters survive (of a kind not used in other forts). Adapted for use as a crematorium.
*Fort IVa (Waldersee II). Built 1878–1881 at Wilczy Młyn, now on ul. Lechicka. Damaged in World War II, later partially demolished. Maintained by
scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement employing the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpacking ...
groups.
*Fort Va (Bonin). Built 1887–1890 in Piątkowo, now lies south of Osiedle Bolesława Chrobrego. Damaged when stormed by Russian troops in February 1945. Main water tank survived until recently, though has been taken illegally for scrap.
*Fort VIa (Stockhausen). Built 1879–1882 in Golęcin. Damaged in the war, then demolished. Fragments survive.
*Fort VIIa (Strotha). Built 1887–1890 in Marcelin. In industrial use.
*Fort VIIIa (Rohr). Built 1887–1890 in Górczyn (now near Osiedle Kopernika). Well maintained; has been used as a warehouse.
*Fort IXa (Witzleben). Built 1877–1880 in Dębiec. Partly demolished in 1941 during building of a railway. Most of the outer fence survives.
Partial demolition of the inner ring
The inner ring of fortifications was now redundant militarily, and hampered the city's development. Mayor Richard Witting, coming to office in 1891, tried to have it liquidated. The army demanded 18 million
marks
Marks may refer to:
Business
* Mark's, a Canadian retail chain
* Marks & Spencer, a British retail chain
* Collective trade marks, trademarks owned by an organisation for the benefit of its members
* Marks & Co, the inspiration for the novel '' ...
from the city in compensation for the land, finally reduced to 12 million (the city's total budget in 1898 was 3.77 million marks). The amount was eventually paid to the army by the central government, which became the owner of the land. Demolition was confirmed by a decree of Emperor
Wilhelm II
Wilhelm II (Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert; 27 January 18594 June 1941) was the last German Emperor (german: Kaiser) and King of Prussia, reigning from 15 June 1888 until his abdication on 9 November 1918. Despite strengthening the German Empir ...
dated 3 September 1902. The names which had been given to elements of the inner fortifications were transferred to forts in the new outer ring, although some of the forts received new names.
Even before the official decision some demolition work had begun, including the replacement of Cemetery Gate by a blockhouse by the new railway in 1889–1894.
Under the next mayor, Ernst Wilms, in 1903 a Royal Commission was set up to oversee the development of the city, under Joseph Stübben. Efforts were made to put in order the land formerly occupied by the fortifications.
Demolition of the left-bank inner fortifications ended in 1912. There remained only the redoubt of Bastion III Grolman and a blockhouse at Bastion IV Colomb. Fort Winiary, and the fortifications of Ostrów Tumski and the right bank, also remained.
After World War I
In the
Wielkopolska Uprising (1918–1919) Greater Poland Uprising (also Wielkopolska Uprising or Great Poland Uprising) may refer to a number of armed rebellions in the region of Greater Poland:
* Greater Poland Uprising (1794)
* Greater Poland Uprising (1806)
* Greater Poland Uprising (184 ...
the German forces largely stayed in their barracks or took refuge in the forts. The forts were generally taken over by Polish forces by negotiation, sometimes preceded by exchange of fire or brief combat.
The new Polish authorities continued the demolition of the inner fortifications. In 1919 demolition began of the Great Lock and Cathedral Lock, and in 1920 that of the Fort Rauch embankments and the fortifications leading to the Bydgoszcz Gate, and preparations were made for the demolition of Forts Prittwitz and Rauch. A central order of 20 June 1920 forbade the continuation of such work without consultation.
Names of elements of the fortifications were changed or replaced with existing Polish equivalents, while the outer forts returned to their numbering as pre-1902.
On 27 January 1921 unemployed demobilized soldiers were assigned to continue demolition of Reduta św. Rocha and Reduta Reformatów, aiming to leave only the stone foundations of the slopes, prepared for possible re-use. In July 1921 demolition began of the Cathedral Fort and the embankments of Reduta Rusa. Finally on 30 January 1923 the military authorities agreed to the general demolition of the inner fortifications, which mostly took place between 1924 and 1927. Fort Winiary survived, as did the gunneries at Reduta Marcinkowskiego (formerly Sw. Rocha), Reduta Radziwiłła and Reduta Reformatów, as well as Reduta Czecha, and Kalisz Gate (left as a monument).
The outer forts were generally left unchanged (apart from the undoing of certain work carried out during the war) and continued to form the basis for the city's defence plans. However they were not kept battle-ready, and some were left unattended, where they were used by locals for storage or even housing (which was tolerated by the military).
In the late 1920s and early 1930s the city negotiated with the military to have building restrictions around the outer forts lifted, which was done, although a proposal to transfer the forts to the city for civil defence, and move the military line of defence further out (as the Germans had previously planned), was rejected.
In 1931 a committee renamed the outer forts in honour of Polish patrons, mostly military (I
Krzysztof Żegocki Krzysztof Jan Żegocki (1618 in Rostarzewo – 11 August 1673 in Gościeszyn) was a commander of partisan units which fought with Sweden during 1655–1659. He was also a voivod of Inowrocław (since 1666), bishop of Chełm (since 1670), starosta ...
, Ia General
Krzysztof Arciszewski
Krzysztof Arciszewski (9 December 1592 in Rogalin – 7 April 1656 near Gdańsk (Danzig), Poland) was a Polish nobleman, military officer, engineer, and ethnographer. Arciszewski also served as a general of artillery for the Netherlands and Pola ...
Henryk Dembiński
Henryk Dembiński ( hu, Dembinszky Henrik; 16 January 1791 – 13 July 1864) was a Polish engineer, traveler and general.
Dembiński was born in Strzałków, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. In 1809 he entered the Polish army of the Duchy of Warsa ...
Ludwik Mierosławski
Ludwik Adam Mierosławski (; January 17, 1814 in Nemours, Seine-et-Marne – November 22, 1878 in Paris) was a Polish general, writer, poet, historian and political activist. Took part in the November Uprising of the 1830s, after its fall he emig ...
Michał Sokolnicki
Michał Sokolnicki (1760, in Wierzeja – 1816, in Warsaw) was a Polish nobleman (of Nowina coat of arms), general, military engineer, politician, and writer.
Sokolnicki studied in Warsaw's Corps of Cadets and fought in the Polish–Russian Wa ...
, IX
Edmund Taczanowski
Edmund Taczanowski (1822, Wieczyn – 1879, Choryń) was a Polish general, insurrectionist, member of the Taczanowski magnate dynasty (he was grandson of the famous privateer Maksymilian Taczanowski), and Lord of the estate of Choryń in the p ...
, IXa General Wincenty Axamitowski). These names did not come into wide use.
During the World War II
Nazi occupation
German-occupied Europe refers to the sovereign countries of Europe which were wholly or partly occupied and civil-occupied (including puppet governments) by the military forces and the government of Nazi Germany at various times between 1939 ...
,
Fort VII
Fort VII, officially ''Konzentrationslager Posen'' (renamed later), was a Nazi German death camp set up in Poznań in German-occupied Poland during World War II, located in one of the 19th-century forts circling the city. According to different e ...
gained notoriety as a
Nazi concentration camp
From 1933 to 1945, Nazi Germany operated more than a thousand concentration camps, (officially) or (more commonly). The Nazi concentration camps are distinguished from other types of Nazi camps such as forced-labor camps, as well as concen ...
, where up to 20,000 Poles died. Between 1940 and 1945, Fort Grolman and Fort Rauch formed the nucleus of the
Stalag XXI-D
Stalag XXI-D was a German World War II prisoner-of-war camp based in Poznań in German-occupied Poland, operated in 1940–1945.
Description
Following the invasion of Poland in 1939 and the establishment of the Reichsgau Wartheland, Poznań b ...
PoW
A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610.
Belligerents hold prisoners of war ...
camp. In the later part of the war Poznań was declared one of the stronghold cities ( ''Festungen'') which the Nazis intended to defend at all costs, and so the name ''Festung Posen'' was revived. The outer forts were used to defend the city during the
Battle of Poznań (1945)
The Battle of Poznań (Battle of Posen) during World War II in 1945 was an assault by the Soviet Union's Red Army that had as its objective the elimination of the Nazi German garrison in the stronghold city of Poznań (Posen) in occupied Poland. ...
, and Fort Winiary was the defenders' last point of resistance, the reduit incurring significant damage. After the war the site of Fort Winiary was converted into the
Cytadela
Warsaw Citadel (Polish: Cytadela Warszawska) is a 19th-century fortress in Warsaw, Poland. It was built by order of Tsar Nicholas I after the suppression of the 1830 November Uprising in order to bolster imperial Russian control of the city. ...
park.
See also
*
History of Poznań
Poznań, today Poland's fifth largest city, is also one of the country's oldest cities, and was an important political and religious center in the early Polish state of the 10th century. Poznań Cathedral is the oldest church in the country, contai ...
References
* Jacek Biesiadka, Andrzej Gawlak, Szymon Kucharski, Mariusz Wojciechowski: ''Twierdza Poznań. O fortyfikacjach miasta Poznania w XIX i XX wieku.'', Poznań 2006, Wydawnictwo Rawelin,
* Jarosław Chorzępa: ''Fortyfikacje. Przewodnik po Polsce'', Warsaw-Gdańsk 2005, , second ed. Warsaw 2007,
* Zygmunt Rola: ''Tajemnice wielkopolskich fortyfikacji'', 2004, Wydawnictwo Zysk i S-ka,
* Witold Gostyński, Zbigniew Pilarczyk: ''Poznań. Fortyfikacje miejskie'', Poznań 2004, Wydawnictwo Miejskie,