Infantry blockhouse K-Ba-S 24 - Orlicke mountains, Czech Republic - Military Installations on Waymarking.com

The Artillery fortification Bouda is a cultural monument of the Czech Republic and an integrated part of the extended system of fortifications built to defend the former Czechoslovakia during the second half of the 30s. It consists of five mighty bastions - three infantry blocks (K-Ba-S 21, K-Ba-S 23,K-Ba-S 24), one artillery block (K-Ba-S 22) and the entrance block (K-Ba-S 22a).

The plan of infantry blockhouse K-Ba-S 24 - "Libuše"

The infantry block K-Ba-S 24 (code name "Libuše") (crew: 26 soldiers) was heavily armed. The main weapons were two heavy twin machine guns in embrasure mounted in concrete and two light machine guns model 26 in auxiliary embrasures. An additional twin machine gun was mounted in an armoured cupola. Two armoured domes were equipped with a light machine gun. Because of the difficult terrain tank assaults were not considered and so the infantry blocks did not possess anti-tank weapons as usual. The block has a normal entrance, which is a rarity for such a fortification. The entrance could be used by sentries for patrols. In the infantry block one has two ammo dumps, a filter room, two living rooms, a storage, the operation centre, a communication room, and a lavatory with a toilet. Its stairwell shaft has a depth of 31 meters and has 167 stairs. It is the longest shaft of the fortification. In the centre of the shaft a lift for materials with a load capacity of400 kg was planned.

During the war the German army tried to blow off the block with a massive charge put on one of the outside walls. In spite of the enormous explosion the block was not destroyed but only shifted aside for about 50 cm. This led to a heavy damage of the stairwell, so that its use was only possible again after an appropriate renovation.

The infantry block K - S 24 is open for the public and can be visited within the Long guided tour or the Extraordinary guided tour - see: more information

Era: WW II Related web site: [Web Link] General Comments: Not listed

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