Fortifications and defense systems along the Passo Monte Croce Comelico (Kreuzbergpass)

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The first plans for the erection of fortifications on the Kreuzberg Pass go back as far as March 1939. The 14th Army Corps from Treviso was responsible for the planning.

A year later the plans were submitted according to the new regulation changed by the command of the armour corps. The system "A" was proposed to block the direction of Val di Sesto - Kreuzberg Pass. System "A" would have included seven works that would have had to hold large-caliber guns and be located between the Kreuzberg Pass, Piano della Biscia and Hochbrunner Schneid (3045m). The planned armament would have been:

• 6 howitzers 100/17

• 3 Anti-tank-guns, unknown calibre

• 31 MG, probably 8mm

• 3 MP, probably 9mm

Armoured trenches were planned for the passive defence of the works. These were planned to the left and right of the road, while the road itself would have been blocked by plug-ins (Np 20). For those responsible in Rome, this project was inefficient and financially unfeasible.

The Sextental - Kreuzbergpass was strategically assessed as a high threat level, as a breakthrough by these defences could have resulted in the opening up of the other detention and defence facilities.

The planning staff in Rome endea-voured to find such a compromise, which would have taken account of this risk and simultaneously reduced costs.

By the end of December 1940, the fortifications had been almost completed except for the Silvella Pass. Nearly a year later, in December 1941, the planned expansion was in the following state:

At the Kreuzbergpass:

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• 12 works finished

• 3, but never finished ??

Parts of these facilities at the Kreuz-bergpass were still used by the Italian army after the WWII and finally decommissioned in 1992.

Of all existing works, only seven were used, which had the following fire power:

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• 27 heavy MG

• 2 anti-tank-guns 75/2

• 2 anti-tank-guns 90 / 32L

In order to increase the defence efficiency of the existing factories, two further, deeply staggered armoured towers (90/50) were installed in the 1970s. These came from former US tanks of the type M26 "Pershing". The protection of these two armoured towers was ensured by an armoured dome equipped with two heavy MGs 7.62, which was located between the two armoured towers. These two armoured towers, as well as the armoured dome with the two heavy MGs, should have covered the area of the SS52 and the pastures on the Kreuzbergpass.