The Strong Austrians

On the places of the great war

The strong Austrians constituted one of the austro-Hungarian war system's carrier on the Asiago plateau during World War I. Seven strengths that dominated our mountains.

The Step Vezzena

View of the Vezzena

1-Sommo Alto (died 1613)

In tandem with the strong del Dosso sums, was one of the main points of the system of the Highlands.
Water supply was secured by two containers of 380 hl. each; two dynamos with oil engines and batteries were provided to electricity, a network of trenches, barbed wire and minefields surrounded the fortress.
On three floors, was fitted with three steel revolving domes, two 10.5 cm howitzers, cannons, small arms and machine gun emplacements 20.

2-Doss of the Supreme (died 1670)

3-Forte Cherle (Werk St. Sebastian, m. 1445)

Called by the Austrians Werk St. Sebastian, built by first lieutenant Eugene Luschisky between 1911 and 1913, Forte Cherle represented the third cornerstone armed folgaria plateau.
Was provided to 6 10 cm howitzers mounted on revolving turrets,
Armored Observatory, two 60 mm guns and a number of machine gun emplacements.
He supported an intense bombardment by the Italian artillery Fort Campomolon.

4-Forte Belvedere (Werk Gschwent, m. 1177)

Is one of the best preserved fortified complexes, typical architecture and military technique of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was built from 1907 to 1914 with the main task to control the Val d'astico that opens jutting out beneath it. The motto of which boasted was "to Trento I'm enough" meaning that alone was enough to defend the city from danger Italian. Currently the Fort is used as a Museum and can be visited for a fee in the summer months. You can take the tunnels in rocks which descend or climb to the domes, where they moved with difficulty the gunners, shields and armored preparations. On the ground floor there are the premises reserved for services such as telephone and electric station, kitchen, water store, fuel, ammunition and the mortuary. A staircase rises to the upper floors, targeting the housings of the officers and ranks. War relics are housed in the Fort and documentary material, along corridors and in some venues a side rich photo exhibition dedicated to the war of the fortresses.

Armament: 100 mm howitzers 3 m. 2 2 9, 80 mm, 60 mm and from 22 to machine guns.
Properties: the municipality of Lavarone.
Surface of the fortified zone: are 1015.74 including 10 armored positions. Area of 40,000 square meters.
Access: the fortress reaches starting from Chapel, in the municipality of Lavarone. Take the S.P. 216 passing for Longhi and the left fork along the former military road.

5-fortress Luserna (Werk Luzern, m. 1550)

Had the main task to cooperate with strong Verle and deed of Costalta pitched to bar the way to a advance towards Monterovere and Lavarone-Campolongo direction.
Built of reinforced concrete, as most of the strong Austrians 4 10 cm howitzers had modern armoured domes, with a fifth fixed Dome, which housed the Observatory. The armament was completed by small-caliber cannons and numerous machine guns posted to well pitched and fixed positions armed armored cars.
Connected through a network of entrenchments, the most important of which mount Basson and Millegrobe, the nearby Forts Verle and lace of Vezzena, the fortress Luserna threatened to go down in history as the only fortress captured by the enemy. Called by the Austrians Fort of Cima Campo, is located on the top, at 1549 meters, above the village of Luserna, Cimbrian village overlooking the Val d'astico. It was one of the strong over bearing the entire front, but this did not prevent him from being the weak link in the chain. Fiercely cannonaded for days on end at the beginning of the hostilities (in 4 days he suffered approximately 5000 cannon) his almost forced demolition (28 January 1915) Commander. Nebesar, after a Council of war, to take the regulatory procedures of surrender, finally exposing white sheets. The severity of the gesture and the following feared occupation of the Fort, which would have dropped to bypass the Austrian positions on Vezzene, forced the strong lateral Verle and behind Forte Belvedere to shelling of positions in front and the Fort itself, destroying the white flags and halting the incipient Italian advance. Soon after, restored the situation with the help of volunteers, was dismissed and arrested the captain and the garrison at the Fort, which prepares to undergo the new Italian assault of October. The 4 howitzers of the Fort were used for the last time in may 1916 in support of the offensive.
In memory of the fallen of this action, remains a column erected in that distant year.
The Fort presents itself to visitors today in pretty bad shape, sign of the destructive fury that he lunged at (and the action of recovering!). However, it still remains clearly visible the conch fossil above the front door, somehow a symbol of recognition among all austro Hungarian fortifications.

6-Strong Busa Verle (Werk Verle, m. 1554)

Built between 1907 and 1914 is located near the border between the provinces of Trento and Vicenza Vezzena plateau between the Busa Verle and Cima Verle. Along with strong field of Lavarone Luserna and Belvedere, constituted the most advanced defensive belt on the border between the austro-Hungarian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy and blocked the way to the Asiago plateau. Heavily bombed in the early months of the war, from may 1916, with the beginning of the Strafexpedition (punitive expedition) and moving further South-Eastern front, became home to Chambers and optical connection point.
It was dismantled in the years ' 30 and sold to the municipality of Levico, together with strong, for £ lace. 2,600 on 28.12.1933. Recovered iron and steel and its materials were sold at the National Opera for the South of Italy. The Fort extends online only in four successive jumps to fit the contours of the land. Each jump is spread over two floors in height. It was equipped with four revolving domes and tunnels Humvees connected sectors. He was subjected to shelling by heavy Italian artillery and assaulted by infantry troops.

Armament: 100 mm howitzers 9 4 2 120 mm cannons, m. m. 9, 4 × 60 mm M 10 15 machine guns in front stronghold. From here we fired more than 20,000 bullets against the Italian lines.
Properties: municipality of Levico Terme.
Surface of the fortified zone: are 208.58.
Access: the fortress is reachable from Vezzena pass for the road that climbs towards Cima Vezzena. The road is passable only on foot.

7-Cima Vezzena (Werk Spitz Verle, m. 1908)

Due to its strategic position was called the eye of the Highlands. It was indeed a heavy-artillery Observatory. Controlled the southern slope towards the northern slope of the Valsugana and Asiago to the pincer of the forts of Tenna and buckets that closed access to Trento. Situated on the Summit of Pizzo di Levico or Cima Vezzena, on the edge of a precipice, was built from 1907 to 1915 armed with light artillery and machine guns to defend himself. It was connected by phone with Monterovere, headquarters of the military command. Since the early days of war was subject to furious and impressive bombing. Bought by the municipality of Levico in 1933, currently is of considerable interest for its daring and position for the panorama from its Summit. The roof over the years ' 50 the SAT of Levico has placed a metal cross, visible from the Valley. Is a work in concrete and reinforced concrete originally arranged on three floors with underground tunnels and watertight cells for ammunition. Is surrounded by a ditch carved into the rock that draws a deep Horseshoe on the ground about 5 m wide and up to 8. Had a pint in a artificial rock Throating trapezoidal protected by thick bands of barbed wire.

Armament: 1 80 mm gun M 9 and 5 machine-guns.
Properties: municipality of Levico Terme.
Surface of the fortified zone: are 1,002.30.
Access: the fortress is reachable from Passo Vezzena, past Strong Busa Verle, and reaching the former military road that climbs towards Cima Vezzena. The road is passable only on foot. Journey time 2 hours.

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