Mateusz Mleczak
Geographical Studies, Issue 152, 2018, pp. 105 - 118
https://doi.org/10.4467/20833113PG.17.033.8256The Międzyrzecz Fortified Region (Festungsfront the Oder-Warthe-Bogen in German) is located between the Odra and Warta Rivers. This fortification system was built by the Germans in order to protect the eastern border of the Third Reich, in the years 1934–1944. The area between Kursko and Lubrza (the central part of the Międzyrzecz Fortified Region) was the most fortified one. In this paper the author discusses geomorphological and geological factors, which determined the location of bunkers in the studied area. The morphology, lithostratigraphy and hydrogeology of the central part of the Międzyrzecz Fortified Region were described in detail. Moreover, the depositional processes and sedimentary environments during the Weichselian were identified. The placement of pillboxes in the central part of the Międzyrzecz Fortified Region was conditioned by geomorphological factors and to a lesser importance – by geological ones. The bunkers connected by underground system were built on the upland, whereas isolated objects were located in valleys and in the vicinity of lakes and watercourses. An additional factor that could affect the location of bunkesr was provided by hydrogeological conditions.