Fort Srebrna Góra

Fort Srebrna Góra (Polish: Twierdza Srebrna Góra, German: Festung Silberberg, lit. "Silver Mountain Fort") is a former military fort, now preserved as a monument and museum, located in the village of Srebrna Góra, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland. It was constructed between 1765 and 1777, when the area was part of the Kingdom of Prussia. The fort is one of Poland's official national Historic Monuments (Pomnik historii), designated on May 1, 2004. Its listing is maintained by the National Heritage Board of Poland. It is recognized as a rare example of a surviving European 18th-century mountain stronghold. The fort has been nicknamed the "Gibraltar of Prussia" or "Gibraltar of Silesia," referring to its solid bedrock foundation. History The fortress was built in 1764–1777 by order of Frederick II, King of Prussia. Prussian architect Ludwig Wilhelm Regeler oversaw the design, assisted by military engineers. Minor additional works followed, but no major alterations were made; a nearby flanked fort was begun but quickly abandoned. The complex consists of six forts, several bastions, and related structures. The central Donżon Fort on Warowna Góra hill is the main fortification. Situated in the Sudety Mountains, which form a natural boundary between the Kłodzko Valley and the Silesian Lowlands, the fort controlled the passage through the Silver Valley (Polish: Przełęcz Srebrna, German: Pass von Silberberg). It spans three hills: Ostróg (627 m, German: Spitzberg), Warowna Góra (686 m, German: Silberbergpass), and Wielki Chochoł (740 m, German: Grosse Strohhaube). The fort could accommodate a garrison of 4,000 soldiers, with supplies to endure a year-long siege. It was armed with 264 artillery pieces. The fortress was intended to secure the route linking Prussian territories with southern Bohemia and to defend against potential Austrian incursions. Construction costs amounted to 4.5 million Prussian thalers. The fort was never captured in battle. On 28 June 1807, it withstood a siege by Napoleonic forces during the War of the Fourth Coalition, its only active engagement. By 1860, it was declared obsolete, and the garrison was reduced; it ceased active military use in 1867. Its relatively unaltered condition contributes to its status as a valuable historical monument. It also served as a military training site, and by the late 19th century had become a tourist attraction, with a restaurant opened in 1885. A youth hostel opened in 1913, and a museum in 1931, attracting some 50,000 visitors annually by the 1930s. During World War II, the fortress functioned as a POW camp (Oflag VII-B 1939–1941, Stalag 367 1941–1945) for Polish officers. Notable prisoners included Counter Admiral Stefan Frankowski, General Tadeusz Piskor, and Rear Admiral Józef Unrug. Several escape attempts occurred, with ten Poles escaping in May 1940. Seven were recaptured, while three traveled through occupied Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Greece, and Turkey to Mandatory Palestine, joining the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade. After the war, the fortress became part of Poland's Recovered Territories. In 1961, it was entered into the Polish register of objects of cultural heritage. A military museum was established in 1973, the site was designated a culture park in 2002, and in 2004 it was officially recognized as a Historic Monument (Pomnik historii). Current status The fort is open to tourists. A historical reenactment group continues to maintain the traditions of the Prussian infantry unit once stationed at the fort. References Further reading Tomasz Przerwa; Grzegorz Podruczny (2006). Twierdza srebrnogórska. Srebrnogórska Oficyna Wydawnicza Jacek Grużlewski. ISBN 978-83-914176-2-1. Tomasz Przerwa; Grzegorz Podruczny (2008). Twierdza Srebrnogórska II: wojna 1806-1807 - miasteczko. Oficyna Wydawnicza "Atut" - Wrocławskie Wydawnictwo Oświatowe. ISBN 978-83-7432-351-2. Tomasz Przerwa; Grzegorz Podruczny (2010). Twierdza Srebrnogórska III: Miasteczko i fortyfikacje. Oficyna Wydawnicza "Atut" - Wrocławskie Wydawnictwo Oświatowe. ISBN 978-83-74326-56-8. Wolfgang Bleyl. Silberberg, die Paßfestung Schlesiens. Kunst- und Denkmalpflege in Schlesien: Niederschlesien (in German). External links Fortress Museum homepage