Possible Reenacting Trip
Hello members of KuK IR63. This offer is directed to you. I have been toying with an idea of international travel to visit some places that are strongly associated with history of Austro-Hungarian Army in WW1.
Currently there is no date for this event. I want to hear your feed back. What time of the year works best for you, for how long can you go? You can also ask any questions, that have not been answered here.
This trip would not last more than 7 days, travel days included, so actual "play time" would be limited to probably around 5 days.
Now very important disclaimer!
This trip will involved a lot of walking/hiking in the rather mountainous terrain, with most of your reenacting gear on your back. Hence some form of physical endurance is a MUST. Also, since we will be doing a lot of walking a set of well used and comfortable reenacting boots will be a MUST. Of course we are not all real soldiers and most of us are not 18 years old anymore, so this plan may and most likely will be adjusted based on the endurance of people who will decide to come or based on the unforeseen circumstances.
Currently there is no date for this event. I want to hear your feed back. What time of the year works best for you, for how long can you go? You can also ask any questions, that have not been answered here.
This trip would not last more than 7 days, travel days included, so actual "play time" would be limited to probably around 5 days.
Now very important disclaimer!
This trip will involved a lot of walking/hiking in the rather mountainous terrain, with most of your reenacting gear on your back. Hence some form of physical endurance is a MUST. Also, since we will be doing a lot of walking a set of well used and comfortable reenacting boots will be a MUST. Of course we are not all real soldiers and most of us are not 18 years old anymore, so this plan may and most likely will be adjusted based on the endurance of people who will decide to come or based on the unforeseen circumstances.
DAY 1
We are arriving in Krakow, southern Poland, second largest city of Galicia after Lemberg and second largest fortress of the empire after Przemyśl.
There is possibility of spending first night or two in recently restored Fort nr.39 "Olszanica". Krakow is probably the most visited city in Poland by international and local tourists. There is plenty of restaurants or even fast food places where we can experience Polish cousin....kielbasa, pierogies and local beer to name the few.
There is possibility of spending first night or two in recently restored Fort nr.39 "Olszanica". Krakow is probably the most visited city in Poland by international and local tourists. There is plenty of restaurants or even fast food places where we can experience Polish cousin....kielbasa, pierogies and local beer to name the few.
DAY 2
After well deserved rest we will drive to visit several Forts of former Festung Krakau. We will concentrate on south eastern sector of the fortress as this section did engage Russians in December of 1914. We will start our excursion with visit at fort nr.51 1/2 "Swoszowice". This fort also houses small museum dedicated to the Fortress Krakow. Arrangements will be made so we can have private tour in case if museum is closed. Then we will move to Fort nr.51. Second largest fort of the fortress. In 1909, during accidental detonation of artillery depot, some 4 kilometers away from the fort, the main building of the fort suffered major damage, fort was actually broken in half! The crack is still visible today.
Later we will drive by forts n.50 1/2S "Kosocice" then to fort nr.50 "Prokocim" followed by fort nr. 50a "Lasówka". We will end this excursion with visiting Hill Kaim, with the original monument marking the farthest advancement of Russian Army in December of 1914.
Below map shows plan of the Fortress. In red circle with number 1 is fort.nr.39, where we hopefully will find room to sleep and area in red circle with number 2 shows section of the fortress that we will visit.
Later we will drive by forts n.50 1/2S "Kosocice" then to fort nr.50 "Prokocim" followed by fort nr. 50a "Lasówka". We will end this excursion with visiting Hill Kaim, with the original monument marking the farthest advancement of Russian Army in December of 1914.
Below map shows plan of the Fortress. In red circle with number 1 is fort.nr.39, where we hopefully will find room to sleep and area in red circle with number 2 shows section of the fortress that we will visit.
Fort nr.51 1/2 "Swoszowice"
Fort nr.51 "Rajsko"
Monument on Kaim Hill
DAY 3
On day 3 we will drive to, the place that all of you probably heard about already.....Gorlice. The city is located about 2 hours drive east of Krakow. This is the place of famous breakthrough that possibly changed the outcome of the war on the eastern front in 1915. We will try to visit several picturesquely located cemeteries that are spread all around the Gorlice region We can stop at the city, which was mainly rebuilt after it was seriously damaged during almost 5 months of being front line city. Cemeteries worth visiting are cemetery nr.91, nr.106, nr.118, nr.120, nr, 122 and nr.123. After visiting Gorlice we will continue heading east, towards Ukrainian border. By late afternoon we should arrive at Zagórz village, in Carpathian mountains, this area of Carpathians is know in Poland as BIESZCZADY. Map below shows Gorlice, red circle with number 1 and our final destination Zagórz, in circle with number 2.
Below is a picture of cemetery nr.123 in Gorlice region were almost 1200 men found their eternal resting place.
DAY 4
On day 4, after arrival in Zagórz we will drive car to our jump off point for the main event of the trip...march in uniforms and full gear through the Bieszczady hills following more or less in the footsteps of troops of k.k Landwehr Infanterie Division nr.43 in March of 1915. We will start in Bystre and moved towards Manylowa hill. Before mining became popular on the waster and Italian fronts, Austrians made first attempts at such practices in Carpathians. On March 12, 1915, mine was detonated under Russian position. Once dust settled group of volunteers from k.k IR24 stormed the summit, taking over 1200 Russian POWs and 7 machine guns. After climbing the hill we will descent towards the valley where we will camp in small cabin, weather permitting we can set up tents and sleep outside.
Map below show approximate rout on day 1, distance to cover is approximately 10 kilometers but since we will be in the mountains it will probably feel like 15 kilometers.
Map below show approximate rout on day 1, distance to cover is approximately 10 kilometers but since we will be in the mountains it will probably feel like 15 kilometers.
DAY 5
On day 5 we will continue marching towards another important point overlooking roads leading to the fortress Przemyśl....Chryszczata hill. The hill is strategically located that not only during WW1 this hill saw extensive military actions but also during WW2 and later during undeclared Polish-Ukrainian war 1945-47. Once again after reaching top of the hill we will descend toward Żebrak pass, where we should be able to see some trench lines from 1914/15. We will descend towards Wola Michowa where we will be picked up by car and we will drive back to Zagórz were we started day before and head to Przemyśl.
Map below show approximate rout on day 2, distance to cover is approximately 10 kilometers but since we will be in the mountains it will probably feel like 15 kilometers.
Map below show approximate rout on day 2, distance to cover is approximately 10 kilometers but since we will be in the mountains it will probably feel like 15 kilometers.
Mount Chryszczata
Day 6
On day 6 we will be in Przemyśl. We are looking at staying overnight at one of the forts of the former fortress. Some of the forts miraculously survived the capitulation of the fortress in March 1915 and second siege in June 1915. We have two hiking options. One more paced walk on relatively flat terrain of the norther section of the fortress between fort nr. XI "Duńkowiczki", fort nr. X "Orzechowce to fort nr. IX "Brunner".
Distance between forts is around 8 kilometers.
Distance between forts is around 8 kilometers.
Fort XI "Duńkowiczki"
Fort X "Orzechowce"
Fort IX Brunner
Second option, a bit more challenging is a hike that will take us into the southern sector of the fortress, this area is already becoming more mountainous. However, since this area is still considered sort of wilderness there are some well preserved sections of the trenches from 1914/15 and even some shell holes are still visible. We would walk from fort nr.VI "Iwanowa Góra" to fort nr. VII "Prałkowice"
Distance is aproximately 6 kilometers.
Depending on the time and our willingness to explore the city, we can spend evening in the center of Przemyśl, there are bars and restaurants.
Distance is aproximately 6 kilometers.
Depending on the time and our willingness to explore the city, we can spend evening in the center of Przemyśl, there are bars and restaurants.
Fort nr.VI "Iwanowa Góra"
Fort nr.VII "Prałkowice"
and an original postcard depicting fort shortly after liberation in June 1915.
Depending on our physical condition or weather we may also spend some time exploring the city of Przemyśl. The city is Poland's best hidden secret, plenty of history with not so many tourists. City for the most part avoided being destroyed during WW2 and communist period and even today retain the feel of imperial provincial city. With buildings trying to copy splendor of Vienna but on much smaller scale. Also plenty of places to eat traditional food and drink local beer.
DAY 7
Day seven of the trip could hardly be called day of rest. We will have to return to Kraków. Distance to cover will take approximately 4 hours, depending on traffic. Once back in Krakow, we can shower and rest in local bars.
Day 8
Arrival at the airport and return home