Shortly before the Second World War broke out two aggressor countries, namely Nazi Germany and Stalin’s Soviet Union, had concluded the secret agreement on the drawing of new spheres of influence in Europe. Poland, surrounded by enemies and invaded in September 1939, was torn in two by the two occupants.
In 1940, despite the officially declared friendship with the Nazis, the Soviets started the construction of fortifications, including more than two and a half thousand reinforced concrete bunkers, along their new western border. Those fortifications became commonly known as the Molotov Line much later. They were named after Vyacheslav Molotv (real name Skriabin), the Soviet Union Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and a signatory of the Ribbentrop –Molotov Pact, who, in 1940 , signed the death sentence for thousands of imprisoned Polish officers and policemen. The 4500 kilometre long Molotov Line stretched from the Carpathian Mountains to the Baltic Sea. It was divided into 13 Fortified Regions consisting of defence centres.
The southernmost one was the Przemyśl Fortified Region, with its centre in the city of Przemyśl. It stretched from Bieszczady Mountains in the south to Sieniawa in the north, and its main task was to defend the bridges and fords on the San River.
Molotov Linie:
Fortified regions:
1. Telšiai fortified region
2. Šiauliai fortified region
3. Kaunas fortified region
4. Alytus fortified region
5. Grodno fortified region
6. Osowiec fortified region
7. Zambrów fortified region
8. Brest fortified region
9. Kovel fortified region
10. Volodymyr-Volyns'kyi fortified
11. Kamyanka-Buzka (Kamionka Strumiłowa) fortified region
12. Rawa Ruska fortified
13. Przemyśl fortified region
The Molotov Line sites in Przemyśl:
1. Ruins of the double embrasure concrete combat bunker for side fire at Sanocka Street.
2. Double embrasure artillery traditor above Sanocka Street, at Krzemieniec.
3. Four embrasure concrete combat bunker for double side fire with a combat and observation dome at the Marshal Józef Piłsudski Waterfront near the Gromada Hotel.
4. Single room fortification for side fire at the President W. Wilson Waterfront by the Bridge named after R. Siwiec.
5. Three embrasure concrete combat bunker for side fire with a combat and observation dome at Sanowa Street.
6. Single room fortification for head fire at Sanowa Street at entrenchment number 3.
7. Three embrasure concrete combat bunker for side fire at Słoneczna.
8. Single room fortification for side fire at Wiejska Street at entrenchment number 2.
9. Concrete combat bunker for head fire at Kokosza Street.
10. Concrete combat bunker for side fire at Wilczańska Street.
11. Concrete combat bunker for side fire at Szańcowa Street at entrenchment number 1.
12. Concrete combat bunker for head fire at Sybiraków Street..
13. Concrete combat bunker for side fire at XX “Przekopana” Fort.
14. Single room fortification for head fire at Piaskowa nad Wiarem Street.
15. Concrete combat bunker for double side fire with a combat and observation dome at Piaskowa Street, on the premises of a sewage treatment plant.
16. Single room fortification for head fire at Mała nad Wiarem Street.
17. Concrete combat bunker for head fire at Sielecka Street, on the premises of the “Elbud” company.
18. Concrete combat bunker next to Okopowa Street
19. Concrete combat bunker at Fabryczna Street
20. Concrete combat bunker at J. Słowackiego Street, next to Dobromilska Gate.
21. Concrete combat bunker number 1 at XXI “Bakończyce” Fort.
22. Concrete combat bunker number 2 at XXI “Bakończyce” Fort.