Defense plans 1833-1914

Strategic considerations of the Tyrolean national defence to secure the Brixen area 1833 - 1914

planned field fortifications in the Klausen-Villnöß area

from Latzfons to Teis
Experiences from the Napoleonic Wars as a driving force
Soon after the Napoleonic wars, the Austrian army leadership began planning a new series of fortifications on the Reich borders, but also in the nearby interior. In Vienna, a commission consisting of experts from the fortress construction and the Genius Troop was appointed, which worked itself or had field situation reports written and sketched by commissioners. On the basis of these sketches and reports, the actual planning and elaboration of various variants was then started.
Securing the Bressanone area
In the southern Tyrolean area they wanted to secure access to the three main crossings Reschen and Brenner as well as the Puster Valley. Therefore, a series of works around Bressanone was planned during the decades of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. The importance of the Brixen area had already become clear in the battles against the French and Bavaria between 1796 and 1809; At that time, a series of battles were fought in the immediate vicinity of the strategically important junction of Val Pusteria and Val Isarco. Think of the battles at Spinges on April 2, 1797; at Pardell high above Chiusa on 3 April 1797; at the Mühlbacher Klause on 9 April 1809; at the Ladritsch Bridge on 11 April 1809; in Oberau on 5 and 6 August 1809; the ‘Sack’, today’s Sachsenklemme, on 4 and 5 August 1809. Already in the first 1830s, the imposing fortress Franzensfeste was designed and then realized a little north of the Bressanone Klause as a barrier into the upper Eisacktal and to protect the Brenner. It was built between 1833 and 1838 and inaugurated by Emperor Ferdinand I. Engineer and Major General Franz von Scholl designed not only the Franzensfeste, but also Nauders Feste for the protection of the Upper Inn Valley. In his plans, however, he went much further and planned the defense south of Bressanone, by providing a fortification also in front of Chiusa, including the lower Säbener mountain and the Tinnebach.
Plan of a ‘Clausen Fortress’
KA.-Vienna, Maps and plan collection, Inland c II a Klausen No.01 Layers Plan 1833
The fortress Klausen, planned by engineer and major general Franz von Scholl, but never realized. The defences, see yellow markings, ranged from Paterbichl (1), over the barrier in Tinnebachtal (2) and Branzoll Castle with slope fortifications (3) to Säbener Marien-Kirche (4). Monastery on Säben (5), Tinneplatz in Klausen (6).
‘City of Bressanone’
strategic basis of the field fortifications Klausen - Villnöß
It is likely that the idea of a ‘fortress city of Bressanone’ also arose during this period. (One speaks of a fortified city when a city is surrounded by one or more belts of fortified buildings. Examples include the fortress of Trento or the much better-known fortress of Przemysl in Galicia, today in Poland.) The realization of the fortress city of Bressanone failed due to a lack of money, but the concept formed the defense basis of our area and was never ignored by the Imperial Army Command until the first decade of the twentieth century. From 1913, this plan and its variants formed the strategic basis of the Klausen-Villnöß field fortifications.
Development between 1878 and 1900
After the loss-making battles of 1848, 1859 and 1866 in the Po Valley and the consequent new demarcations, much of the Tyrolean southern border also became an imperial border and required increased defence planning along the invading routes from the newly founded Kingdom of Italy. From now on, the area began to be divided into a 1st and a 2nd. Divide the line of defense.
The 2nd line

A document from 1878 explains in detail the new considerations of the above-mentioned Commission with regard to a modern adjustment of the situation. It should be noted that in all considerations, a left or right line of defense is always spoken of, this corresponds to the orographic river side of the Eisack or the point of view of the defender, if the attacker comes from the direction of Bolzano.
The document is reproduced true to the original, but with small adaptations to today's spelling.
On July 30, 1879, Elaborates for the field-based fortifications at Klausen are submitted (ad RKM. RwK Pres. No 529 – Military Command Innsbruck).

Plans lock Klausen-Villnöss 1878
KA. M. Beh. - Genie, Tiroler Sperren, v. Works, plans K.82
General overview of the planned closure Klausen
KA. M. Beh. Genie, Tyrolean locks, dev. Works, plans K.82
The planned closure ranged from Latzfons, or Verdings, Trojer (Moar zu Viersch), Leitach, Klamm, Nafen to Teis and was thus intended to seal off the Eisacktal north of Klausen. The red lines limit the respective firing range of the artillery positions, which were equipped with field cannons of different sizes.
9 cm field gun M. 1875
M. C. Ortner – The Austro-Hungarian artillery from 1867 to 1918
10 cm field gun M. 1863
M. C. Ortner – The Austro-Hungarian artillery from 1867 to 1918
12 cm rear-loading gun M. 1861
M. C. Ortner – The Austro-Hungarian artillery from 1867 to 1918
The individual defenses of this barrier were planned and described in detail between 1878 and 1879:

Verdings

Village defense and field battery Verdings
further information

Troyerhof

Fieldwork Troyerhof (today called Moar zu Viersch)
further information

Leitach

Field battery Leitach
further information

gorge

Field battery gorge
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Nafen

Feldschanze near Nafen
further information

Theis

Village defense and field battery Theis
(Written today)
further information

Gufidaun

Village defence Gufidaun
further information
In 1895, a new plan was drawn up.

After 1879 followed a quiet, even dormant phase with the Viennese planners of the Klausen lock. Whether one was otherwise employed or it was due to the chronic lack of money of the War Ministry, whether the wide plains of Galicia had to be fortified or the coastal land had priority, it was in any case not recorded what was the reason for the stagnation. It can be assumed that the Commission had to disagree on the implementation period, structural variants and personal preferences.

It was not until 1895, more precisely on 12 May 1895, that the plan for the fortified city of Bressanone was reconsidered, more detailed instructions were given and the following was stated in point 9 about Chiusa:

Genie Direction Brixen would have to recognose e.g. because of the interruption of the connection Kloster Säben-Troyerhof (probably by blowing up the narrowest point. A.d.V.). North of Säben, after about 800-1000 steps, a position for infantry would have to be created to bombard the exit of Säben and transition against the Troyerhof. Enough departmental trenches.