Light fortification from years 1937 – 1938
Defence base of a small but strong country
- In 1937 a construction of a light fortifacation of a new kind was began. The head of Directorate of fortification works, div. Gen. Karel Husarek, planned building more than 15 thousand of such objects in Czechoslovakia.
- Unlike the fortifications built on higher grounds intended for direct firing in 1936, Řopíky were a revolutionary solution. Using firing sectors of the side shot of overlapping and sophisticated location on the ground close together, formed tight line which had to repel or hinder the progres sof the enemy.
- The front wall was the strongest fortress in the building. Together with the lateral projections loopholes protecting from direct intervention and provided backfill strengthened the resistence against the building of the then firing heavy weapons.
- The second strongest wall – resistant to air strikes was the joist of the building. Grassing and completed masking hindered indentification of the object during an air strike. Together with camouflage paint, natural materials such as garlands, etc. on other walls should the whole complex blend in with surroundings.
General Husarek engaged in constructing fortifications of Czechoslovakia in March 1935, thus became the supreme commander of the Directorate of fortification works. Thanks to his results he was appointed vice of headquarters in October 1935 and in June 1936 he was promoted to Major General. In late 1937 he resigned from this function and remained director of the fortification works. In November 1937 he prepared a detailed plan of fortification, which is known as the Husarek program. This program was planned to be completed in the 50s.
Palebné výseče řopíků
