Fort 44 "Tonie"
Fortress Kraków
A historic armoured fort at Jurajska Street, representative of the Austrian school of fortification of its day. It was built in 1878 as an earth-and-timber redoubt and rebuilt in 1883-1885 as a permanent artillery fort. It belonged to the IV defensive sector: it defended the Olkusz road and the approach from the direction of Giebułtów, and together with Fort Marszowiec it locked the Prądnik valley with flanking fire. In 1902-1908 it underwent a comprehensive modernisation: it received two armoured batteries, each with two retractable rotating turrets with 8 cm guns, a front shelter with an armoured dome and a traditore.
History
Fort 44 "Tonie" on Jurajska Street is a historic armoured fort of the Kraków Fortress. It was built in 1878 as a temporary earth-and-timber redoubt, and in 1883-1885 it was rebuilt as a permanent artillery fort, typical of the Austrian school of fortification of the time. It belonged to the 4th defensive sector: it guarded the Olkusz road and the approach from Giebułtów, and together with the Marszowiec fort it covered the Prądnik valley with flanking fire. After 1897 this last task was taken over by the new Fort 44a "Pękowice".
The biggest change came in 1902-1908, when the fort was comprehensively modernised. The artillery rampart was completely rebuilt: from then on it served the infantry and no longer had gun emplacements or traverses with ready shelters. The structure of the gorge barracks block and the so-called main shelter was strengthened. The fort gained a front shelter with an armoured cupola and two armoured batteries, each fitted with two retractable rotating turrets with 8 cm guns. A traditor for four guns of the same calibre was also built. On top of this came six 15 cm guns in open positions of an uncovered battery in the middle of the fort, and the ditches were additionally defended by guns in casemates. In 1914, despite some shortcomings, "Tonie" was among the most modern and strongest forts of the fortress. However, the fighting of the First World War took place further out, beyond the range of its guns.
Between the wars the fort may have served the army as barracks and living quarters. In September 1939 it was briefly manned and, together with other forts, covered the retreat of the "Kraków" Army. During the occupation the Germans set up a store of captured small arms here. In unexplained circumstances the fort was damaged: it was blown up and some of its armour was scrapped. After the war the army used it for many years to store explosives. The military left at the beginning of the 1990s, and until 2008 the fort stood unused, though guarded around the clock.
Did you know?
According to unconfirmed reports, the Germans lost two armoured cars in front of the fort in September 1939.