Trascrizione
The garrison at Fort Belvedere was made up of about 200 men and included elements of the 6th Fortress Artillery Battalion and elements of the 1st Landesschützen Regiment, infantry soldiers trained for close defense and reconnaissance. A commemorative plaque placed outside the Fort remembers their names.
This room served as an outpatient clinic and dressing room, while the next room on the right of the corridor was an infirmary large enough for eight beds. Despite medical advancements and discoveries such as iodine tincture for use as an antiseptic or anesthesia treatments, infections still caused a high mortality rate and amputation was common practice. In addition to the devastating wounds caused by the explosions, the garrisons of the forts had to deal with smoke and gas exposure and poisoning as the ventilation systems proved inadequate. The overcrowding, the high humidity, lack of natural light and the incessant, often deafening noises also contributed to the low morale of the men during the War.
The other rooms on this floor host exhibits, multimedia installations and a 180 ° immersive cinema that reproduces life in the infirmary during one of the numerous and heavy attacks Fort Belvedere and all of the seven forts of the Cimbri Highlands were subjected to, for nearly a year, from mid-May 1915.
Following your journey through the 1st floor, take the staircase at the end of the corridor up to the second floor. The audio guide will continue in the Fort’s Optical Signaling Station, found in the room immediately to the right after exiting the staircase.