Romanian fortifications

[Dr_V]

QUOTE

Victor: On the seaside there are still many wartime pillboxes, of different sizes and shapes. Most were however small armored firing positions for MGs.

The seaside strongpoints, frquently refeared to as "casemates", are in their majority small concrete structures designed to host MGs covering the beaches. There are thaugh some (there were more numerous, but some were demolished since) deffensive costal positions of a larger design, probably hosting cannons (costal artilery, not field guns). I don't know the calibre of those guns, I've hared oppinions varying from 76mm to 203mm, but judjing the structures I've seen I don't think they were bigger than 102mm at most.

There are also a few big mounds (like small isolated hills) around Constantza and near Cape Midia that some locals claim to have been bunkers for large costal batterys during WW2. The story goes that in the 60s the earth/concrete structures were starting to collapse and were burried because "they were a danger for the kids and people venturing inside". But I couldn't find any official record to verify those claims, so it might be only a local legend.

[dragos03]

Near Vama Veche there is a big mound that still has a door (but the interior collapsed). Also, in 2 Mai i stayed in a house built over a big bunker (now basement of the house) and the owners said there was a German coastal battery there.

My grandfather who was an Engineer Leutenent was involved in the last, desperate attempts to consolidate the Carol line (he was assigned to build an airfield in the area). According to him, this line was a joke.

Bucharest also had a belt of defensive forts and fortified artillery positions, built before the first World War. Many of them still exist today (like the big "3/4 Fort" in Baneasa forest or the Jilava prison who was initially converted from such a fort).

[Carol I]

QUOTE

Bucharest also had a belt of defensive forts and fortified artillery positions, built before the first World War. Many of them still exist today (like the big \"3/4 Fort\" in Baneasa forest or the Jilava prison who was initially converted from such a fort).

Will it be possible to see photos from any of the surviving forts? I'm just curious since I have heard of these forts, but never saw any.

[Chandernagore]

QUOTE

Bucharest also had a belt of defensive forts and fortified artillery positions, built before the first World War.

Were they still operational and/or of any use by the time of WWII ?

[Carol I]

QUOTE

Were they still operational and/or of any use by the time of WWII ?

I think that by the time of WWI they were already outdated from the point of view of combat usefulness. Not completely unexpected as they were in fact designed according to the concepts of late 19th century warfare.

[petru]

None of the forts around Bucharest was in use in WWI. They were stripped of weapons, especially heavy artillery which was in shortage at the beginning of the war. The German didn’t know that, and in 1916 expecting a siege of Bucharest they brought in heavy artillery.

[dragos03]

I am a journalist and i will try to write an article about the forts next month. I will post any pictures i make.

[dragos]

At the beginning of August 1944, the FNB fortified alignment was organized the following manner:
- 115th Fortifications Detachment between Oituz Pass and Marasesti (50 km), with some 500 casemates
- 106th Fortifications Detachment between Marasesti and Namoloasa (50 km), with some 550 casemates
- 121st Fortifications Detachment between Namoloasa and Galati, on the southern bank of lower Siret (60 km), with some 550 casemates.

[daveh]

dragos 3 any pics would be great and if possible a link to your article

[jirka vrba]

To denés - thank you for link

We was there.
And result of our short "strike":

http://www.valka.cz/galerie/displayimage.p...?album=94&pos=3

Pictures will be later.
Objects are destroyed.

Does somebody know some details - number of objects, weapons history ...

We saw on one side of object two main embrasures (?each for one machinegun?) and one auxiliary one.

To daveh -

1) There was made only 268 weapons L1 in Czechoslovak republic. To Rumunia was sent 1 weapon with serial number 205. There was some negotiations of the contract - first in june 1939 of 100 psc. and then in october 1939 - ?1940 of 253 psc. but without results.

If somebody want some data, drawings etc... I can send it.



In Fortress Eupora there is schema of rumunian fortifications - on this schema is fortificetions between Oradea and Arad and west of Deva - Only fortification, we saw, was nearby Oradea.

[jirka vrba]

How can I instert a picture? - Where is album here?

- If you want to see my grawing you must registry on czech forum www.valka.cz and go to galleries...

[Andy]

I am from romania,and I live in Costantza.There is a zone in Romania called "Poarta I" or Gate I.Around there,there is a region called the "Port's Valley",where you can find German and Romanian bunkers.Near the train station,there is a huge bunker.A friend of mine entered one of this bunkers and found German guns,ammo etc.Near Navodari,there is a German coastal battery,huge,if I remember correctly,it has 280mm guns.I don't know how to pin-point it,but I know it was called "Tirpitz",like the ship.

[Dr_V]

Andy can you make some photos of the bigger bunkers? And if you think it's safe enough maybe even get inside? ( :!: be very carefull, old ammo is extremely dangerous and unstable, even without detonation caps)

Is (or was) the area surveilled by the authoritys? Do you know about any study made by museums or the Army? I find it hard to believe that such sites are left to decay and even harder that any ammo is left unchecked. Can you tell us more?

[Victor]

When I was much younger and used to go regularily to the seaside with the parents, we went to the beach in Mamaia near an umbrella and beach chairs run by a relative. It was IIRC vis-avis Hotel Dacia. There was a large pillbox on the beach near it. Last time I saw it, the fortification was half sunk, as the sea has advanced lately. Does anyone else know this pillbox?

[Andy]

The authorities don't do much about this cazemates,bunkers or pillboxes.They cover the entrance ,and sometimes take out the ammo,Dr_V.But that is about it.There is a cazemate,near to the Traian street,and it was closed,but know it's open.As for that big bunker,called the Tirpitz,they took the ammo and the guns out,and at the "Muzeul Marinei Romane",they displayed a communication apparatus used in the Tirpitz.There is a simple way to recognize the Tirpitz...It's 280mm guns(a couple of them) have their muzzles sticking towards the sky.I don't know if they closed it or not,but I remember it like this:it was very big:),and it had 4-meter thick comcrete walls.I know that pillbox..The last time I was in Mamaia,I saw they were turning a cazemate into a restaurant...it's true!I haven't got evidence,but I've heard about to stupid kids playing with a grenade without it's pin on the Port's Valley,luckily,nothing happened to them,the grenade didn't explode,and I've seen a guy who was holding a 75mm shell in his hands.It was fired,it's detonator was removed and there was no explosive in it.Also,a couple of guys from... (what are does army guys who find bombs?)found a 500kg bomb on the port's valley.There a lot of bunkers:on the Trei Papuci beach(two of them blown up)one at the Modern Beach(I heard it has a tunnel which links to two more cazemates at the Casino)and another one under the Casino(!).I've seen it's windows.There is one at the entrance of Constantza port,one near Zorile Restaurant(You can barely see it but it's corner is sticking out of the ground,and another one(huge-the size of a house)in Constantza port.There are three more on the Port's Valley,and one of them was searched by experts:they found a couple of MG42s in it and ammo,and one is supposed to have an electric chair...They all have scopes.
I need some information!Have those scopes night vision,and what are those pool-like concrete constructions near the cazemates?