SRPSKO VOJNO UTVRĐENjE SA KOMPLEKSOM VOJNIH BUNKERA I MAGACINA IZ XIX VEKA KOD BABUŠNICE

Abstract

The system of bunkers and warehouses near Babušnica, with large breastworks, was built for distinctly defensive purposes in the period from 1890-1893. It was built during the time of King Aleksandar Obrenović as part of an important defensive belt in the border area towards Bulgaria. It is very well preserved. It is a fortunate circumstance that the fortress “Šanac” was never used in war. The bunker complex made of hewn stone was built on the Jeremija hill above the villages of Donje Striževac and Donje Krnjino near Babušnica. It consists of 10 bunkers in a row with a central entrance gate that leads to the central part of the complex where they are located, 4 more independent bunkers/warehouses are individually arranged. This central part is reinforced with a double ring of earth trenches. On the front side, in front of a row of ten bunkers, a defensive stone wall was built, oriented towards Bela Palanka. The defense system around Pirot, better known as the “Pirot Fortified Camp” for possible defense against a Bulgarian attack, was created at the end of the 19th century. It consisted of the localities “Jarčar”, “Božurata”, “Nišava Valley”, “Šabanov Trap”, “Crni Vrh”, and “Jeremija”, which was established as an immovable cultural asset-cultural monument, and the Institute for the protection cultural monuments in Nis is territorially responsible for its protection. The cultural monument is an exceptional example of the knowledge, skills, expertise and capabilities of the engineering units of the Serbian army of that time.