The extended system of fortifications was built to defend the former Czechoslovakia during the second half of the 30s. The heavy fortified installations with infantry blocks were built in the border sections with high defence priority. They were solid, mostly two-storey constructions which were armed with machine guns as well as with anti-tank guns, if necessary with mortars, too. The typical characteristics of these blocks were the armoured cloches (bells) and cupolas which served for the observation of the battlefield. Other tasks were the fire control and the command of the machine guns. In case of war each infantry block was able to operate independently. Besides other facilities each infantry block had its own well, filter room and engine room, in which the electric power was generated. The infantry blocks were individually shaped to the corresponding terrain and constructed in accordance with their combat tasks. They differed in their dimensions, outlines, wall and ceiling dimensions, armament and garrison. Nevertheless they consisted of standardized construction and design elements. For a usual infantry block about 1300 to 1500 m3 of concrete and up to 120 tons of steel reinforcement were needed. They could stand artillery shelling up to calibre 305 mm. Until September 1938 228 heavy independent blocks were structurally finished.
The plan of upper floor of the infantry blockhouse K-S 8 (code name "U nádraží")
I The infantry block
K-S 8 (code name "U nádraží") is a heavy installation, which was determined to defend the open area being in danger of an extended main attack. Thanks to its position the block with its numerous weapons was able to cover well a large section of the local valley. It is a two-sided installation with three armored cupolas in two extension wings.
It has construction strength II and is built in the frame of the 1th construction subsection ŽSV III Králíky (Grulich). Concreting was done between September 29 and October 5,1936, with a total of 1.580 mI * 3 of concrete. The main weapons of the block were in the right combat compartment an anti-tank gun 40 mm, model 36, a put up heavy machine gun, model 37 (so-called Weapon L1 ) and a heavy twin machine gun, model 37 (Weapon M), the left combat compartment was armed with an anti-tank gun 40 mm, model 36, with a put up heavy machine gun, model 37 (Weapon L1). Four light machine guns, model 26, provided the defense on the rear side. The same weapon was built into.the right armored infantry cupola, the left cupola was scheduled for a heavy machine gun, model 37. The third armored element - positioned amidst the two armored infantry cupolas - was equipped with a heavy twin machine gun, model 37.37 soldiers formed the crew.
During the German occupation the block was selected as target of several artillery shelling its. There mainly embrasures and armored elements were shelled. The hits were precisely numbered and documented. The former numbering of the hits is still visible today and is taken into count at the renovation works.
The left armored cupola was removed during the occupation, the remaining two armored piments were blown by a scrab company from Kôniggrëtz in the 50s of the last century.
Since 1998 the installation has been taken care of by the association "Klub prátel armády, o.s.", it k partially reconstructed, prepared for different exhibitions and therefore occasionally open to the public.
The block K-S 8 (code name "U nádraží") - the technical and tactical data
Concreting: 29.9.-5.10.1936
Materials consumed: 1580 cubic meters of special reinforced concrete
Altitude: 593 m.a.s.l.
Crew: 37 soldiers
Current status: slightly damaged, armoured cupolas were blasted and taken out, the object is occasionally open to the public