Trascrizione
In order to make the defense more efficient, the forts were designed to coordinate with each other. It was therefore necessary to remain constantly in contact with the rest of the front, exchanging information and messages between the forts and the Austro-Hungarian Command.
For this reason, each fort had both a telephone exchange connected with underground phone lines and an optical telegraph station that communicated with the other posts by sending and receiving coded sequences of light flashed through special lamps. Note the holes in the walls that allowed the light signals to be sent and received. Alternatively, colored illuminating flares or tracers could be fired from howitzers at each fort.
The War front moved south and east away from the line of forts, in the direction of Asiago in May of 1916, during the Spring Offensive, more commonly known as the Strafexpedition. The Austrian forts, which had been able to resist, sustained attack for a long year. They had suffered serious damage and counted casualties among their garrisons. Although the War continued, it had moved on from line, and would not return before the end of the conflict. During the Thirties and Forties, the fortresses were demolished or damaged to allow for the recovery of metal parts. If you look closely the signs of these stripping are still visible today.
As you exit the Optical Signaling Station, you will find the area once used for latrines on your right. There you can put on your virtual reality visors to immerse yourself in an unusual encounter between soldiers and officers, on the eve of the Strafexpedition, May 15, 1916, exactly one year after the first Italian bombing of the Austro-Hungarian forts.
On your left you will find the stairs leading to the first floor. Along the main corridor of this floor, in the Artillery Materials Depot, you will find a reproduction of the war trenches and our video game "The Rude Awakening" set between Fort Belvedere, Slovenia, the trenches of Macedonia and a refugee camp in Austria.
At the end of the corridor, descend the metal stairs two flights to the ground floor. Upon exiting the staircase, the kitchen will be on your right… the exit to the fort will be straight ahead if you would like to end your trip or… you may turn left to continue your journey towards the Front Position Blocks and the underground area of Fort Belvedere.