The trenches during the war years

The trenches in Teis were the position of the 2. Line of defense prepared.

Such rear barriers were created several times (e.g. near Gossensaß, at the Jaufenpass, at the Gardena Pass, at the Sella Pass, at the Karer Pass, etc.). However, quite quickly after the start of hostilities with Italy, it was recognized that labour and material were needed more urgently in more exposed places than at these inland barriers. Therefore, the work on most of these construction sites was discontinued in the summer of 1915. In addition, the front had stabilized further south.

As can be seen from the documents of the k.u.k. Landesverteidigungskommando Tirol of June 1915, the Teis-Verdings blockade would have been occupied in an emergency with 20 companies of 250 men (about 5,000 soldiers), 12 guns and 10 machine guns:

The field fortifications in Teis were never occupied by war, since the Tyrolean front could be held until the end of the war. Its purpose as Training positions But they were able to fulfill, as the following diary entry testifies:

Diary entry by Ludwig Pullirsch on March 2, 1916
On March 2, 1916, there was a tragic event. At five o'clock there was a day watch. A battalion exercise in the area of Teis, where there were fixed bases, was on the program. Our company, the 54th. marching company, should occupy it. At six o'clock we marched off in the rain, but soon it began to snow very heavily. After a three-hour march, we reached the area at an altitude of 900 m, in which the desired base was to be located.
After some searching, we found the hidden access door in vineyards. This position was very well developed, partly carved into the massive rocks, partly concreted. Through the loopholes there was a beautiful view into a deep gorge, through which a small road took its toll. Deep in the rock we found a cavern, an absolutely bombproof hiding place where two trains could be accommodated. This base was built long before the war against the Italians.

This cartridge casing from 1914 was found during excavation work in May 2017 at Wetterkreuzhügel. It is probably the relic of a military exercise held there.

guarding

We can assume that at least the main bases of the Teiser positions were continuously guarded during the war years. They did not want to give the opponent the opportunity to explore the facilities and thus secret military strategies.

Restrictions on the population

For the Teiser population, these defensive positions certainly meant a restriction. This is how Pastor Mair writes in his chronicle, which he wrote in the early 1960s:

‘Strong wire cutting divided Teis into an eastern and western field.’

Pastor Mair draws on the stories of contemporary witnesses. Until the 1980s, relics of barbed wire were found in the ducts and fields east of Teis during field and construction work.

Livestock herding was also restricted, which brought considerable disadvantages to the many small farmers and small houses in the village: The widely used cattle pastures above the village, which belonged to the general public, had been occupied for the construction of the position and may not have been available in the war years.

In the municipal archives of Teis you will find the following entry in the budget estimate for the year 1915:

‘For military purposes’, 100 crowns are requested, ‘there is more military here this year’.

From the budget estimate of the municipality of Teis, 1915

This suggests that the accommodation or food of the officers and the work crew on site was to be financed from the resources of the municipality (War Performance Act). For comparison: In 1914, only 20 crowns were applied for under the same item in the municipality's budget; in 1901-1913, only 3 crowns were applied for once!