were added. The last to be constructed was fort I, which was the most technically advanced one. Within 32 years, about 200 fortifications were constructed. Primarily the fortress consisted of seven main forts, six medium-sized ones, six artillery batteries, 32 infantry shelters, and 52 mid-field shelters (used for artillery and ammunition sheltering). The Toruń Fortress complex would be constantly modernised by the Prussian government, for the last time in 1914 – just before the start of the First World War. The majority of the forts were equipped with wing artillery batteries – armor artillery batteries between forts XI, XII, XII and XII, XIII, XIV, and an experimental artillery battery in fort XI. New observation points for infantry and artillery were also added. Exits from them were designed in a labyrinthine scheme, to reduce the effects of the explosions' blast waves. The fortress was commissioned by the Prussian government; it would cost over 60 million German gold marks until 1914. About 30% of Toruń's infrastructure was related to the fortress, and about 25% of the city's population were employed by the fortress. Despite that investment, it was never besieged by Russian forces and took no significant part in the First World War. After the war it became a part of the Second Polish Republic. During the German occupation of Poland (Second World War), from October 1939, Fort VII housed a German police prison for Poles arrested in the city and county in the Intelligenzaktion. In the overcrowded prison, the Germans interrogated the Poles, who were then either deported to concentration camps or murdered in large massacres carried out in nearby forests. Among the victims were local activists, teachers, priests, and farmers. In the spring of 1942, the Germans murdered 30 Polish boy scouts aged 13–16 in Fort VII. In the seven southern forts (XI-XVII), the Germans operated the Stalag XX-A prisoner-of-war camp for Polish, British, French, Australian and Soviet POWs. In 1971 the fortress was officially declared a monument by the Polish government. The complex The Thorn Fortress complex is currently composed of 15 forts (seven artillery and eight infantry) as well as many smaller fortifications. References External links 15 forts as seen from satellite (Google Earth) Photos Twierdza Toruń / Festung Thorn on the pages of historical department of University of Toruń At Toruń's Fortification Friends page: List of fortress elements with modern photos Maps Modern photos Vintage photos On