3rd Bunker - Rudamina "Molotov line" Traditional Geocache
3rd Bunker - Rudamina "Molotov line"
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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The so-called "Molotov Line" was a system of fortifications built
by the Soviet Union in the years 1940-1941, along its new western
border after it annexed the Baltic States, Eastern Poland and
Bessarabia. This territorial expansion was the direct result of the
Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, signed on the Soviet side by Vyacheslav
Molotov, hence the name Molotov Line. The name is informal and has
come into use relatively recently. It was popularised by the
writings of Viktor Suvorov, notably by his book Icebreaker. Each
fortified region (in Russian ukreplennyi raion, or UR) consisted of
a large number of concrete bunkers (pillboxes) housing machineguns,
antitank guns and artillery. The bunkers were built in groups for
mutual support, each group forming a centre of resistance. A
dedicated military unit was permanently assigned to man each
region. When Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union on June 22,
1941 during the course of Operation Barbarossa, most of the line
was not yet finished, and hence posed a negligible obstacle to the
invading forces. Only the four southernmost regions, partly
completed, were able to hamper the advance of the Wehrmacht for a
few days. In Lithuania the line was divided into four fortified
regions: 1. Telšiai fortified region (line from Palanga to
Judrenai, 75 kilometers, 8 centers of resistance, 23 bunkers built
and 366 under construction on June 22, 1941). 2. Šiauliai fortified
region (line from Pajuris to Jurbarkas, 90 kilometers, 6 centers of
resistance, 27 bunkers built and 403 under construction). 3. Kaunas
fortified region (line from Jurbarkas to Kalvarija, 105 kilometers,
10 centers of resistance, 31 bunkers built and 599 under
construction). 4. Alytus fortified region (line from Kalvarija to
border of Belorussia 57 kilometers, 5 centers of resistance, 20
bunkers built and 273 under construction). Overall 101 bunkers were
built, but not fully completed, in Lithuania. They were built badly
however and were neutralised quickly by throwing grenades or
burning fuel into periscope shafts, which were absolutely
unprotected.
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(Decrypt)
[LT] Inzmqvf
[EN] Cvcr