Alpine Rampart of the Underground Fortress

In the first half of the 20th century, the Kingdom of Italy showed territorial interest in the Adriatic coast towards the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and, after the end of World War I, towards the Kingdom of SHS, later Yugoslavia.

In 1914, the Kingdom of Italy left the Triple Alliance, and in 1915, it secretly signed the Treaty of London with the Entente, which promised it parts of the Croatian Adriatic coast. In return, Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary. After the war, Austria-Hungary disintegrated, and Italy received part of the promised territory.

Finally, the Rapallo Treaty determined the border between the Kingdom of SHS and the Kingdom of Italy, with Rijeka belonging to Italy.

In the 1930s, the Kingdom of Italy began the construction of the Alpine Wall (Vallo Alpino) as a line of defense for its border, with the section towards Yugoslavia known as Vallo Alpino Orientale, stretching about 220 meters.

In contrast, smaller fortifications in the form of small bunkers were constructed as part of the Yugoslav Rupnik Line.

A series of fortifications were built on the heights next to the city, which combined underground logistics with above-ground combat facilities, representing the pinnacle of Italian military engineering.

The fortifications were adapted to the terrain’s morphology and maximized the potential for visual integration into the surroundings. Natural hollows, inaccessible to direct enemy fire, with a camouflaged concrete entrance and a spare exit, were often chosen for this purpose. A corridor or staircase led to the interior of the forts, where sanitary facilities were located, and some forts had doors that sealed hermetically, preventing attacks with poisonous gases, the most feared weapon at the time, and fan air filters. The main part of the fort housed weapon and tool storage, food and water supplies, and a command post with photophone communication to separate, armored, and armed observation posts. A heavy steel armored turret with a loophole protruded above ground, from which soldiers operated heavy machine guns.

The turrets had concrete linings covered with stones and were almost impossible to detect, and the loopholes were protected by additional steel shields. There were usually loopholes next to the turrets as a backup.

The construction of the Alpine Rampart was never fully completed. The war began before it was finished due to Rijeka’s exposure and increasing tensions from the east. Of all the planned fortifications, only two strongholds, Katarina A and Katarina B, were fully completed and equipped. A total of 300 soldiers could operate from both forts. The Monte Lesco underground fortress on Veli vrh was completed, but never equipped and put into operation.

San Giovanni on Rujevica and Dorčići on Drenova were only excavated for underground fortifications and partially concreted.

It was not significantly different with the fortifications on the Sušak side of the city, where the Yugoslav army built only a few small bunkers, while the Italian side planned to build fortifications on Trsat, the hill of St. Križ and in the area of ​​Martinšćica. Trsat’s two forts should have been well equipped, but they remained in the initial stages of construction. Two forts on the hill of Sv. The cross was moved by the construction, but also not completed. The bunkers that monitored the road and water area in Martinšćica, i.e. the eastern approach to Sušak, were equipped with heavy machine guns and anti-tank guns.

After the capitulation of Italy, the Germans take control. German fortifications were different, they were concrete artillery bunkers, usually in groups of three, with a separate command post. Such facilities were built in Urinje, in the center of Sušak, on Turnić.

In 1945, the fortification system remained intact. German soldiers used it to resist partisan forces and failed to destroy it.

The forts on Katarina were never conquered, the soldiers surrendered because they had no choice and were shot above.

Later, the underground facilities were vandalized by the Yugoslavs.

Today, we use the underground forts for guided tourist tours, which are designed as fun tours – reconstruction walks with the most interesting facts from the past and very attractive natural locations and objects. Join us on this unique adventure and discover the secrets of the Alpine wall! Reserve your place today and experience history in a special way.