Vrmac
Position
Lovćen eastern defensive zone
Defensive line:
Vrmac - Trojica - Goražda
Tactical mission task
Defense and control of the road Kotor – Cetinje
Preventing Montenegrin forces from reaching the plateau of Pestingrad and Velji vrh
Prevention of reaching towards the plains of Župa, over Budva and the slopes of Trašte
Construction period
1894-97.
Renovated in 1907
Crew
5 officers; 177 non-commissioned officers and soldiers
Weapons
Armored howitzers M 80-85 KasKan 80-120 mm, 8 pcs
PH M 05 40-100 mm, 4 pcs
Machine guns, 12 pcs
Infantry weapons
Lovćen eastern defensive zone
Defensive line:
Vrmac - Trojica - Goražda
Tactical mission task
Defense and control of the road Kotor – Cetinje
Preventing Montenegrin forces from reaching the plateau of Pestingrad and Velji vrh
Prevention of reaching towards the plains of Župa, over Budva and the slopes of Trašte
Construction period
1894-97.
Renovated in 1907
Crew
5 officers; 177 non-commissioned officers and soldiers
Weapons
Armored howitzers M 80-85 KasKan 80-120 mm, 8 pcs
PH M 05 40-100 mm, 4 pcs
Machine guns, 12 pcs
Infantry weapons
Southern casemate battery¹
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FORTRESSES IN THE BAY OF KOTOR
Throughout its long history, the area of the Bay of Kotor has always been an interesting sphere of the mighty ones. During the long reign, until 1916, Austria-Hungary built a defense system here for the protection of the military port, one of the strongest in Europe. Even today, it amazes many connoisseurs with its brilliant strategic and tactical setting. Large and modern, Vrmac fortress was built in the 1880s. As its position was extremely important, it was regularly upgraded and rearmed.
VRMAC, FOR EXPLORERS
⦁ Entrance
⦁ Chimneys for smoke from grenade firing
⦁ Armored observation posts, for monitoring and correcting artillery fire
⦁ Domes for 4 howitzers
⦁ A two-storey barracks in which the army could live independently and endure a longer siege
⦁ Escarpment caponier, part of a fortress that improves defense in an immediate attack
⦁ The area in front of the fortress, surrounded by wire
⦁ Casemate batteries for artillery which received armor for cannons and metal plates on the ceilings before the war
⦁ Infantry space for immediate combat
⦁ Metal barriers
⦁ Chimneys for smoke from grenade firing
⦁ Armored observation posts, for monitoring and correcting artillery fire
⦁ Domes for 4 howitzers
⦁ A two-storey barracks in which the army could live independently and endure a longer siege
⦁ Escarpment caponier, part of a fortress that improves defense in an immediate attack
⦁ The area in front of the fortress, surrounded by wire
⦁ Casemate batteries for artillery which received armor for cannons and metal plates on the ceilings before the war
⦁ Infantry space for immediate combat
⦁ Metal barriers
Sketch of Vrmac²
INSTALLATION OF LETHAL WEAPON
One day, huge steel cages were carried on the rails to the top. When we went to the top, we saw only covers on the roof. The cannon barrels were protruding from the covers and soldiers could turn them in all directions. From that height, they could not miss even a bird. I was wondering, who the empire is preparing for, equal by force of arms, to come from the Montenegrin side?
SOUTHERN CASEMATE BATTERY
According to a local story, a monk lived in the abandoned fortress for a short time. In solitude, praying, he frescoed the southern casemate (cover photo). Remains of saintly paintings are still there today. We suggest you to find them!
EASTERN QUESTION
According to a local story, a monk lived in the abandoned fortress for a short time. In solitude, praying, he frescoed the southern casemate (cover photo). Remains of saintly paintings are still there today. We suggest you to find them!
Map of the Balkans after San Stefano and Berlin Peace Treaty 1878.
The First World War was prepared decades before its outbreak. At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the Balkans were the scene of opposing interests of the European imperial powers. Russia, Austria-Hungary and Italy were the most interested.
GOOD NEIGHBORS IN PEACE AND ANGRY ENEMIES IN WAR
The Kingdom of Montenegro, in diplomatic relations, until the First World War, tried to be in equally good relations with Vienna, St. Petersburg and Rome. King Nikola I was a guest of Emperor Francis Joseph I at the Hofburg Castle couple of times, and once, in 1875, they met in Kotor. The arrival of King Nikola I via Njeguši – Kotor to the Montenegrin market, surrounded by soldiers and numerous Montenegrins who walked in traditional costumes was also recorded. On the train, on the way between Salzburg and Trieste, the king received the news of the Sarajevo assassination. His companion testified that he said “Here comes the war”. On the wave of the mood of people and faith in the allies, Montenegro declared war on Austria-Hungary.
Emperor Francis Joseph welcomes King Nikola in Vienna⁴
BATTLES OF THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN AND MONTENEGRIN ARMIES IN THE BAY OF KOTOR
In 1914, the Montenegrin army had about 60 cannons of various calibers. During the 17 months of armed fighting, the artillery from the Lovćen positions, with occasional lulls, attacked the fortresses and the navy in the Bay of Kotor. About 100 grenades were fired at Vrmac alone.
Map of artillery fire from Austro - Hungarian ships in January 1916.³
The guard near Vrmac is watching the direction towards Lovćen³
Shelling of ships from Montenegrin
STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE OF LOVĆEN
New York Times, 9. 1. 1916. After three days of epic battles between the Montenegrin and Austrian armies, on the icy, rocky sides of Lovćen, this important elevation unfortunately fell, with losses of the Austrian army of over 1000 soldiers. This upset the balance of naval forces on the Adriatic, to the detriment of Italy and the Entente.
Withdrawal of the Montenegrin army from Lovćen 1916
¹ Source: Radojica Pavićević
² Source: Volker Pachauer
³ Source: Österreichisches Staatsarchiv
4 Source: Österreichische Gesellschaft für Festungsforschung
Important Note: Explore the fortresses and use the trails at your own risk.
² Source: Volker Pachauer
³ Source: Österreichisches Staatsarchiv
4 Source: Österreichische Gesellschaft für Festungsforschung
Important Note: Explore the fortresses and use the trails at your own risk.
