(WWI ROUTE APP)

WWI FORTIFICATION BUILDING: WWI GERMAN MILITARY BLINDAGE (HQ)

Blindage is a battlefield cover designed to protect against powerful fire strikes. All shelters were built according to a typical scheme, only the sizes of the barrels differed. There were two entrances on the edges of the facade wall, with a row of small windows between them. Inside, the building was divided into living quarters by several concrete floors. The interior spaces were designed with the building's users in mind. Armored units on duty had one or two stoves, wooden benches, and bunks. Walls could be used to store weapons and food supplies. The rooms intended for the officers, communication units, and dressing room had whitewashed walls, had electric lighting, and sometimes water brought from the nearest well.

The massive structure here is built by taking advantage of the unevenness of the terrain and is embedded in a small ravine. On the outer wall of the structure, you can see the marks of the board formwork. Protruding rebar can be seen in the corners and interior of the object; in this structure, the largest amount of reinforcement was used during construction, compared to other bunkers or armories. You can see gutters (metal troughs) in the roof structure . This is an example of a passive fortification structure. Passive buildings are not designed for active defense. They are designed to protect soldiers and ammunition from destruction by artillery fire. Passive structures are hiding places for temporary shelter of soldiers, shelters, command posts of battalions and regiments, ammunition storage, toilets, wells, etc. Command posts differ from hiding places intended for soldiers by observation posts (domes), they were equipped with several rooms. There are traces of whitewash on the walls inside this object. Designation of the object as a former command post. This shield is registered in the Register of Cultural Values.

Material used in the stand:

Vladimir Orlov "Fortification of the 20th century in Lithuania"

Valdas Rakutis , Titas Tamkvaitis "Research study of the First World War"

Material of the register of cultural values.

This information stand has been prepared with the financial support of the European Union. Zarasai Tourism and Business Information Center is responsible for the content of this stand. Under no circumstances can it be assumed that it reflects the opinion of the European Union.