In the area of the Oderstellung a number of fighting works can be found, from the simplest bunkers intended for one heavy machine-gun situated in the only room of the bunker, to the quite large blockhouses with the armament in the "Dreischalterturm"- the three-loophole armoured cupola- designed for a heavy machine-gun.

The probably constructionally simplest fighting work built in the Oderstellung is possible to come upon in the territory of the village Kwiatkowice. Itīs small redoubt intended for an enfilade of a heavy machine-gun, built in the endurance C ( the depth of walls 50- 60 cm). It contains the only one room with an armoured door for entering. The first thing that intrigues oneīs attantion is the arched ceiling reinforced by a corrugated iron. In the stage horizon there are two holes for windage. On the opposite side there can be found an armour-plate for a heavy machine-gun. The fort is equipped with a wing wall, which should have protect the very vulnerable gunport.

Almost as a follower we can specify the next work, which is preserved e.g. in the area of Brzeg Dolny or Radoszyce. This is probably the most used type of the fighting work in the Oderstellung. You can find it in several minute modifications. Itīs again a small fort designed for one heavy machine-gun situated in an armour-plate. It was constructed in the endurance B1, the armour plate type 7P7, eventually no type with proportions 280 x 18 x 8 cm. The entrance part lacked any protecting crenel again, in comparison to the previous work there was at first a little entrance room, which led through another armoured door into the firing room. In some forts there was a concreted table under the portholes for placement of a carriage for a heavy machine-gun. There was again used the simple wintage in the work. For observation there was only an aperture in the armour-plate. In some cases there had to work heavy machine-guns from one spot into opposite directions. In the area of Brzeg Dolny was this problem solved by putting two mirror-similar works with their backs by each other. This, a little bit "crabbed" solution was later replaced by a single pillbox that was however only a joining of mirror-turned works into one again. So it missed any gunport for securing the entrance again and in the little entrance room there was an door into two firing-rooms. When standing on the direct bank of the Oder river (Radoszyce) the bunkerīs grounds were plugged extremly deep to hinder the underwashing.

Simple pillbox for one heavy machine gun

Especially in the later years the aforesaid works were enlarged with some other rooms that should have increased the comfort of the personnel and that should have better correspond to their loads in terrain. Far greater attention was given to the entrance part that was made up not only by one entrance but by two ones, which led into a shared room, from which there was an entrance into dormitories of the fort. The entrances had a defense gunport, mostly one extra embrasure was ejected that applyed fire on the immediate surroundings of the gates. Aside of the dormitories for personnel, eventually for the personnel and a launching force, the pillbox could dispose of an observational cupola 9P7, escape ways were a matter of course, they led from the entrance room, eventually from the room with a guard-gunport.

The pancer-casemates make up a separate chapter. The only difference compared to the other works was their shooting-room. The armour plate created not only the front wall but it protected also the ceiling beam of the room. For these needs a special armoured element 5P7 of a 15-tun weight was projected. Nor double-sided works with esp. this armoured casemate werenīt any exception. In the following years it was stopped from construction of these forts, esp. for the economic reasons.

Pillbox for 2 heavy machine guns with observation cupola 9P7.

In the last stage of the Oderstellung fabrication there can be relatively large works designed for the direct fire of 1-2 heavy machine-guns (either in armour-plates or eventually of one heavy machine-gun in a three-embrasure armoured cupola) included. There were two gates leading into a shared room. Depending on the position in the terrain the pillbox disposed of a gunport, by which it was possible to apply fire in the surroundings of the entrances. But this variant was given up, mainly when the work was built in the flood-pritection bank. From the entrance room there led an escape way into the side-wall, opposite to the gates there were situated two guard-gunports, the armoured door fronted into a big room - a dormitory of the personnel. In dependence on the armament and the equipment of the pillbox the proportions of the other works changed. If the blockhouse had e.g. two firing-rooms, there was a separate gate to each of them. If there was set up an observational cupola 9P7 in addition, then there was first a small room with three armoured door (into two shooting-rooms and into a room with the observational cupola). When an excseesive turning of gunports, and so also the whole firing-rooms,was needed, it was possible to place the entrance into the room with the observational cupola into one of them. The curtailed ability of observation from the three-gunport armoured cupola 3aP7 caused that it was necessary to situate an extra observational cupola on the ceiling beam of the work. Also in this case both firing-rooms had separated entrances from the main room.

Pillbox in the second line for heavy machine gun (Šcinawa 2004)

 

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