Fort Predel is located only a few 100 meters away from the pass Predel and was one of the six forts from Koroška fort system. During the war and after a wrathful battle it was burned down twice. In year 1848 a new one was built on the location of the old fort, which served until 1880. At that time the committee evaluated that the fort did not meet the modern military standards, due to which they changed it into a military warehouse. For that purpose it served until the end of the First World War. Today there remain only partially preserved walls, because after the war nobody maintained it.

TIME OF NAPOLEON WARS

In times of Napoleon wars the Soča valley had an important role for penetration into hinterland of Austria. Because of that the Austrians erected the fort Kluže in the valley of Koritnica. The fort was completely destroyed in first Napoleon marsh, in year 1797, and was not renovated due to lack of money. In year 1805 the emperor Franc II. could not agree with the decisions of the Bavarian peace treaty, so he started with preparations on war on the basis of that reason. He ordered the construction of forts at Naborje in Kanal valley and under the pass Predel. The control of construction of fort in Predel was committed to the engineer captain Johann Hermann von Hermansdorf, who decided to build the fort along the road Predel-Log pod Mangartom, based slightly lower from today’s pass with Italy. Location itself was not the best one, as from here they could not control the valley of Predelica. The enemy took this disadvantage.

The construction of the fort started late in autumn in year 1808, but they terminated  it due to winter. The construction continued at the end of March 1809, soon after that the battle came.

The main object of the fort was the guardhouse, which was located on the slope above the road. It is a two-storey building, which had double walls from logs, middle space was filled with soil. Somewhat higher they constructed a one-storey building named Vorwerk. Buildings were connected through a ditch, encased with palisade.

Franc II. declared war against France on 8th April 1809. In place Saci on northern part of Italy battle took place between Austrian armada of the archduke Janez and united France-Italian armada. Austrians won the battle, and because of that the emperor ended the construction of the forts, convinced that they would not need them anymore. But on the other side of the Austrian empire at the Donau they suffered a series of defeats. Because of that the archduke had to to retreat from Italy. The retreat of Austrian units started on May 1st and lasted until May 13th. At that time they quickly qualified on (??) half constructed fort on Predel, so they protected the retreat of the armada into hinterland. Johann Hermann von Hermannsdorf took the command of the fort. On May 13th 1809 the fort at Naborje fell, because of the strong French pressure, and from there they turned towards the fort on Predel.

After the takeover of command over the fort, Johann had a little time for preparation. Primarily the army was replaced by a squad of Slunje cannon infantry regiment, in which there were 4 officers and 218 exhausted soldiers. At the same time the fort had 10 cannons with cannon crew, which was formed from ten gunners and 25 soldiers from auxiliary unit. The fort along the road had two three-pound poland cannons, guardhouse two six-pound fort cannons and two three-pound mountain cannons. Along that they also had four manual mortars.

The fort was reinforced shape-wise on May 15th with retreating Austrian armada, soon after it was cut off from the main Austrian army. On the evening the French reached the fort and surrounded it, first attack happened the next day, May 16th, which failed. Consequently it came to mutual bombardment. Two days later, May 18th, came the decisive day, when the French started with bombardment in which they destroyed almost all the cannons in the fort. General Seras, commander of the French division, offered the soldiers in the fort the chance to surrender, which they turned down. It came to general assault of several thousand soldier, who were ruthless because of their own great losses. Most of the soldiers in the fort were killed with bayonets and sabers, some were left to burn in the flaming guardhouse. Only three officers, four soldiers and one gunner survived, who were captured. Johann Hermann was mortally injured during the last battle of the retreat from the flaming fort.

RENOVATION OF THE FORT

In year 1818 first initiative for renovation came from archduke Janez, who was warning that Austria is vulnerable for new attacks. Until year 1848 nothing happened. This was a revolutionary year, as in whole Europe uprising started, and in this year in Italy came to unified tendencies, which Austrians opposed, as with that they would lose influence over Italian territory. So they started with renovation of the fort on Italian-Austrian border to protect their own interests. Also fort on Predel was part of these renovations.

Design of the fort was the same as with the old one. Main guardhouse had cross floor plan with defence building, from three sides it got 5 meters deep enclosed ditch, in the basement they had cistern with water and warehouse with provisions and ammo, in ground floor were living areas and kitchen. First floor of the fort was meant for cannons. Whole building had ten openings for cannons, armed with four 12-pound cannons with iron carriage and two 6-pound howitzers.

Defence building was two-storey, equipped with shooting opening for guns and it covered rear side of the guardhouse and was preventing the attack from this side of the service road. At the same time it covered the ditch.

Lower building, named Batteria, was one-storey. On the first floor were four positions for 12-pound cannons, which were oriented towards Strmec. It had two gunners with four shooting openings. In the basement they had provisions, ammo and cistern with water, connected with the upper fort. It accepted 50 soldiers.

In summer 1849 they constructed underground tunnels and other buildings. The fort was named Paßsperre Predil, fort cannons were placed there in year 1850. For work with nine cannons and occupation of all estimated shooting positions 250 soldiers were needed. There were only 130 beds, so other had to sleep on the corridors and warehouses. Officers had separated spaces. Due to conditions in Italy the fort was fully occupied in year 1866.

WITHDRAWAL AND DISARMAMENT

Special committee found out in year 1880 that the fort does not meet the demands of modern warfare and that it is not reasonable to moderate it. They decided for construction of modern fort in Kluže. At the same time committee emphasised that it is necessary to close the road from Nevejsko pass towards Rabeljsko lake, pass Rabelj in Tarvisio, with intention that the enemy could not come from behind to the fort of Kluže. The fort in Kluže was constructed in 1882, and from year 1900 was supplemented with fort Hermann and together they formed Bovec block. Block at Rabelj lake was formed with forts Seebachthalsperre and Batterie Predilsattel.

The fort Predel lost its purpose, and because of that was, in July 23rd 1899, changed into warehouse and renamed in warehouse Zgornji Log (Depot Oberbreth). In year 1907 was renamed in Depot Predil. The fort was disarmed, they only left two poland cannons for shooting honour salves. In time of peace the warehouse was without crew. In case of war it was planned to hold four officers, 137 soldiers and the doctor. Warehouse was part of the block at Rabelj lake. In time of World War there was a warehouse and residence of workers in the fort, and also the station of military post pigeons. During the war Italians did not bombard the fort, because of that the walls are preserved still today.

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Predel
Predel is international road pass between Italy and Slovenia. Predel, which is in Italian called Predil, is located on altitude of 1156 meters; it is a high road pass between valley of Kanal and Upper Posočje above glacial Rabeljsko lake in Julian Alps. Here once was a trading route. [_Read more_]