FORTRESSES OST,
WEST and battery (JANKO's PEAK)
WEST and battery (JANKO's PEAK)
Position
Defensive zone of Krivošije
Defensive line:
Dvrsnik - Jankov vrh - Dragalj
Tactical mission task
Defense of routes from Grahovo towards Dragalj field
Construction period
1882/3
Crew
No data found
Weapons:
Cannon M 04, 90 mm, 6 pieces
Infantry and machine gun weapons
Defensive zone of Krivošije
Defensive line:
Dvrsnik - Jankov vrh - Dragalj
Tactical mission task
Defense of routes from Grahovo towards Dragalj field
Construction period
1882/3
Crew
No data found
Weapons:
Cannon M 04, 90 mm, 6 pieces
Infantry and machine gun weapons
Sketch of Janko’s peak fortress¹
JANKO’S PEAK FORTRESSES
The group consists of two fortresses - Ost, West and the battery between them. All buildings are built of hand-hewn stone. Life of the army took place in the multi-storey buildings called barracks, and artillery was placed on the semicircular platforms, widely covering the territory. Here, the army had all the conditions for an independent life: water, electricity, food, so that it could perform regular military duties with ease.
Map of the terrain with fortresses ¹
Cannon M 04³
Artillery fire plan
A boiling Balkan pot
IRON CURTAIN OF DEFENSE
In May 1875, a couple of years before the construction of the Janko’s peak fortresses, the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Francis Joseph I came to official visit to Boka. Upon his return to Vienna, it was decided to strengthen the border towards the Kingdom of Montenegro, in order to better protect the military port in Boka. In the next few decades, the army built one of the strongest and largest defense systems in Europe in this part of the empire, which equally protected the sea and land border. Symbolically and truly, we can call it the „iron curtain of the defense of the Austro-Hungarian Empire“.
WELCOME OF THE EMPEROR IN DRAGALJ
„Austro-Hungary is a powerful force, like a lion that is just as big and powerful, but when a fly falls into its eye, it has great trouble” were the words of Milan Radojičić, as he stood before Emperor Franz Joseph I during a return visit to Vienna in the autumn of 1875. The Emperor knew this very well, because the people of Krivošije rebelled against the introduction of conscription six years ago. This meant that the strongest would go far from home to serve in the army and in the future war for the empire. The brotherhoods only agreed to fight on their own territory. They revolted at the beginning of 1869.
The imperial army, unaccustomed to mountain warfare and without knowledge of the terrain and cartography, suffered defeat and great loss.
Arrival of the Emperor in the Dragalj barracks³
DEFENSE OF PRINCIPALITY
On the last day of visiting Boka, in May 1875, Emperor Franz Joseph I visited Krivošije. By this act, he wanted to strengthen reconciliation with the insurgents. It was an unusual welcome – the imperial retinue on horseback reached Dragalj, where armed people of Krivošije welcomed them, taking over the emperor’s entourage. Duke Ćeto Samardžić wished a welcome in the church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God. On that occasion, a telegram was sent to Empress Sisi in Vienna that the Emperor had arrived in Krivošije and that the tribal assembly was guarding him. After visiting school and the church, the Emperor ended the visit with a festive lunch with the leaders of Krivošije in the Dragalj barracks.
Church in Dragalj³
Location of the Dragalj barracks¹
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.
