FORTRESS STUDY GROUP

CASEMATE - The FSG News Letter     ISSUE 83    September 2008

ISSN 1367-5907

Fort Kluze (1881-1882, Salis-Soglio) in Slovenia at the foot of the Predel Pass (Charles Blackwood, 2007) Covered trench at Fort Chiusaforte, Italy. In 1908 the fort, part of the Fortezza Tagliamento, mounted four 149mm guns in armoured cupolas. (Alistair Graham-Kerr.) NOTE: Any picture with a red border will expand with a click, maybe twice.

The Editor

• The Slovenia Study Tour is reported, with Mike Brock adding a very nice codicil; and Part III of the fortifications of the French/Italian Alps.

• When submitting material via email, CD or floppy, please always send illustrations as separate attachments, preferably in Jpeg format, never in the text.

Charles Blackwood, Editor.

CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE.

This is my last Chairman's address. My term of servitude will be complete at the Orkney 2008 AGM where I confidently expect to give my Staff of Office into a safe pair of hands to guide the FSG forward. I must thank all our Committee members and numerous others these past seven years who have rallied round providing help, advice and expertise thus making my task so much more pleasant. I must also particularly thank our Officers; Secretary Bill Clements has been a steady rock and strong support, Treasurer Tom Bell has kept our accounts in order, Librarian and Reviews Editor Gil Dowdall-Brown has catalogued our library, and Webmaster Richard Clisby has set up and kept our presence on the internet. Steve Dent produces FORT to the high standard we expect. FSG committee members are working strongly together, with mutual support producing an effective unit. I greatly appreciate the work of Tour and Conference organisers. FSG membership is gradually increasing, a trend we need to maintain and improve. I am convinced that this is due to the dedication of our editors of FORT, Terry McGovern and Gordon Barclay, with Terry Gander taking up the challenge. Charles Blackwood has taken our magnificent magazine Casemate to new heights. I am very pleased to welcome Roger Thomas as our first regional correspondent, for South Wales. Do we have any takers for England and Scotland? Finally, I am happy to report that FORT 35 went to the printers in July, FORT 36 almost has its full complement of articles and the special valedictory edition of FORT for Jock Hamilton-Baillie and Quentin Hughes is near to completion. With all good wishes. David Bassett.

---

FUTURE EVENTS:

FSG FUTURE CONFERENCES and AGMs:

	2009, Newcastle (based at the University)
	2010, North Wales (provisional)

OVERSEAS TOURS:

	2009: Poland. The tour will be from 23-30th May; gather in Warsaw, start in Gdansk (fortifications on Hel peninsula, Fort Grodzisko, bastions of Gdansk, fortress Vistulamouth), continuing to Malbork and to Gizycko/Lötzen (Feste Boyen, FHQ Rastenburg, bunkers in Mauerwald), continuing to Modlin (citadel) and will end in Warsaw (citadel and one or two forts). And one or two pleasant surprises, which Hans-Rudolf wants to keep as surprises. Tour details available here.
	2010: Briançon and/or Mauritius.
	2011: Elvas, Portugal (provisional), possibly Rousillon.

OTHER GROUPS 2008:

	Oct:  Berlin; AM; IFC; Carlos Scheltema; carlos@scheltema.org
	2009, Feb:  Memphis; Ann Conf; Civil War FSG; TBA; info@cwfsg.org
	2009, April:  Baltimore-Washington; Ann Conf; CDSG; Prostak/Grant; ewinslow@enter.net
	2009, May:  Pittsburgh; Ann Conf; CAMP; TBA; camphart1@aol.com
	(Thanks to Terry McGovern for list. Ed.)
	2009, 02-11 October:   Bunker and Fortress Tour, Albania.    hrv.neumann@t-online.de The small European country of Albania, situated between Greece and Italy, was fortified under Enver Hodscha between 1981 and 1986 with about 300,000 bunkers. Today, they are like mushrooms in the landscape. It is a unique heritage, perhaps unique in the world. During this study tour next year we will learn about building-types and the strategy behind this 'bunkerisation'. We will discuss also with responsible people what to do with these monuments, how to preserve them and how to develop them for culture and history tourism. The tour will be supported by official administrations. A programme is available in INTERFEST. We will visit also an underground tunnel system which served as headquarters, and an underground submarine base on the Mediterranean Sea. The tour will also introduce the military and fortified history of Albania by visiting some famous places (two UNESCO World-Heritage-Sites!).

---

ITEMS for SALE.

	CLOTHING; buy your stuff with an embroidered FSG badge! Fleece, wind & waterproof lining £37; sweatshirt £17; polo shirt £13. Lots of colours to chose from. All + p&p at cost. Available only from John Kemp, 28 Albert Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HL. Tel: 01856 873190 email:embroidery@johnkemp.co.uk, www.orknet.co.uk/scapa/jkemp.htm
	FSG BADGES for lapels, caps and hats are available from: Alistair Graham Kerr, 19 Hungate Lane, Beccles, Suffolk NR34 9TN. Cost £1; please send self addressed envelope, and in UK, 6 x 2nd class stamps as payment and postage.

© 2008 - The copyright of the contents of this site is held by the FSG and the authors unless otherwise stated.

Fortress Study Group is a registered charity No. 288790.