The Use of Fortifications of the Former East Prussia by the Polish Army after World War II

Abstract

After the end of military operations in East Prussia, the Polish administration just like the Polish Army faced the problem of further use of post-German fortifications. In addition to demining their territory, this was the most important task that the units of the engineering forces had to perform. The duties of the Polish Army were to carry out an inventorisation and to determine the possibility of further use of all fortification facilities. In addition, the Polish Army supervised their further use as part of the newly created defence system.

On the territory of the contemporary Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, which was taken over by Poland after World War II, there were two German defensive lines. The first defensive line, running from Braniewo, along the Pasłęka River to Bartoszyce, was 58 km long. The second one, running on the section of Ostróda, Gołdap, was 240 km long. Between 1945–1949, in connection with geopolitical changes, it was planned to leave and maintain those objects that could be useful for defence in the event of a threat from the West. In the first half of the 1950s, as a result of the Cold War Threat, part of the fortifications was maintained, while elements that could be dismantled were used to expand the so-called long-term defence areas in Pomerania.