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"Vallo Alpino "
and
"Rupnik Line"
PHOTOS

	There are no fortifications on Mt. Mangrt. But Italian built scenic military road leading to Mangrt Saddle is an attraction in itself.
	Mangrt Saddle is also a present day border between Slovenia and Italy.
	Machine gun position above Ziri, part of the so-called "Rupnik line".
	Artillery block above Ziri, overgrown by the forest. In fact there are some doubts if the combat blocks in question were armed only with heavy machine guns or with Skoda 47mm AT guns. Author's opinion is that the last was the case.
	Interior of the artillery block of the "Rupnik line".
	A sign of changing attitudes: on 5th May 2000 Mr. Beno Kavcic, the president of the Tourist Association of Ziri led the first large organised group of visitors into the fortress on Zirovski vrh.
	The remains of the old "Rapallo" border crossing near Hotedrscica. The hut in the front was on Italian side. The house in the background is now a farm house, but back in 1938 it was apparently housing Yugoslav border guards. Note how even the hut for Italian Guardia Finanza is shaped as a bunker.
	Italian military road leading on the heavily fortified Gomance plain.
	Remnants of the Italian military road on Gomance plain on Slovenian - Croatian border. On the top of the hill in the background an italian artillery block can be seen.
	Old border crossing at Gomance plain seen from what was then Yugoslavian side. This also happens to be the very spot where old Rapallo Border and present day Croatian - Slovenian border intersect.
	All that remains of the monument shaped as "fascio" on the Gomance plain, indicating who the authors of these "operes" were.
	Italian fortified barracks at Mt. Trstenik above Rijeka.
	An entry into "opere" on Mt. Stanga above Ilirska bistrica. While interior is still preserved, the blocks have been blown up.
	An observation turret - Vallo Littorio at it's most South-Eastern point near Rijeka (photo by VLADIMIR TONIC)
	Access corridor into one of the large "operas" - Vallo Littorio at it's most South-Eastern point near Rijeka (photo by VLADIMIR TONIC)
	This link contains some interesting photos of the fortifications around Rijeka. Click here!

Because even less is known about Rupnik line than about Italian fortifications, it was generally believed that all along the "Rappalo Border" Italian fortifications were stronger and more extensive. Especially if one consider this modest bunker situated on the southern slope of Blegos which is a rather typical one for the entire high mountains sector. But recent finding around Zirovski vrh and Poljanska dolina suggest that at least on some sectors the strength of the fortifications was balanced..

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