The Environment Babí

After the start of Hitler's power in the year 1933, important danger of a new war conflict and thus also danger of the direct threat of the CSR from the side adjacent of Germany rose.

For the case of this war a unique conception was determined - a strong strategic defense together with the start of our Allies.

It was obviously, the area of Bohemia and Moravia can one particularly defend with the use of the border mountains and forest massifs. The following project was therefore determined: at any price the northern and southern borders should be defended in order to keep them as part of the CSR.

In the year 1934 a definite decision was made. The CSR should defend their boundaries and the fortresses garrisoned with the existing garrisons. The most powerful line of defense should be developed at the northern boundary of the state, in the area between Ostrava and Trutnov.

The primary goal of the fortresses was to destroy the impact of the armored and motorized units of armed German forces as quick as possible. The enemy had to get heavy losses. In this way it was possible to get the necessary time to mobilize the own army and win the inland battles.

When plans were made to build fortresses during the first halve of the thirties, the area of Trutnov was in the foreground of the attention of the general staff of the Czechoslovakian army at that time. At the northern side of Trutnov is a broad mountain yoke, creating a natural national gate into the Czech Republic. From this national gate a further reaching through way from Zaclér bends over the village of Babí and then bends to Trutnov. This place was already known in the Middle Ages. It was decided to construct a large line of light and heavy fortresses. This fortresses should be powered with groups of artillery at the most important places. The defence system, structured in this way, should stop the offensive directions of the German army. The main goal of the Germans was to break through the defence of the Czechoslovakian army and then go far in the direction of Trutnov, Dvur Kralové and Pardubice.

Already in the first plans about the construction of a fortress line in the environment of Trutnov the main target was to build it close to Trutnov along the village of Babí. It had to be a powerful group of artillery guns, as a core system to defend the whole area. By implementing this project STACHELBERG resulted.

The group of artillery guns as the most powerful item of the Czechoslovakian defence system, represented a closed system of the artillery and infantry casemates, together with artillery and machinegun towers and cannons. All this was made in the highest military degree in order to offer resistance. Fortress objects were thereby situated in deep caves (20-50 M under ground) and they were connected with the system of machine guns and cannons. At this places they were protected from the outside threats. The whole backbone of the fortresses, like the ammunition depots, other stocks, barracks for some hundred crew members, generators, filters and ventilation devices.