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The construction of fortifications at the mouth
of the Swina started in the Middle Ages and continued practically without a
break right up to the present day. This was because of Swinoujscie's
geographical location and its significance for trade, maritime economy and
defence. Up to the beginning of the 17th century, makeshift
defensive structures were erected here by the Pomeranian princes, later by the
Danes and Swedes, and at the turn of the 18th and 19th
century by the Prussians and French. Only in the 19th century, the
Prussian army started the construction of a complex of permanent fortifications
that turned Świnoujście into a fortress.
The construction of Swinoujscie's
forts started after the first armed conflict with the Danes in 1849. In 1863,
the town was officially proclaimed a maritime fortress. At the turn of the 19th
and 20th century, the Swinoujscie fortress included four extensive
forts, armed with heavy coastal artillery and an ever-increasing number of
concrete fortifications. The town came to house barracks and a permanent army
garrison.
During World War I, Swinoujscie was a large base of the emperor's
navy; no fighting took place here, however. Pursuant to the Treaty of
Versailles, some of the fortifications were disarmed. In the interwar period
and during World War II, the Swinoujscie harbour was the largest Baltic base of
the Kriegsmarine. When in 1945 Swinoujscie was surrounded by Russian troops,
the crew were evacuated west on ships. Some of the fortifications were
destroyed then too.
After the war, the work on the fortifications was carried
out by Russians and Poles. The majority of old German structures were used for
military purposes. The last defensive structures were built around Swinoujscie
in the 70s. Following the end of the "cold war", the local fortifications
completely lost their significance and came to bear witness to history as well
as provide a big tourist attraction.
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