2025 Number 12 September

Published by the IFC for their members and partners 4 editions per year

The IFC is pleased to send you the last issue of its Newsletter “Ravelin”, a publication to keep you informed of its activity and that of its members who work for the protection, conservation and enhancement of our heritage. fortified, witnesses of our history. Our Newsletter (4 issues per year) is published at the end of March, June, September and December. “Ravelin” gives you information on the actions of the IFC as well as member associations. The dissemination of “Ravelin” prepared by the IFC Board of Directors is provided by the national association members. If you would like this newsletter to also be distributed to a new contact whom you would like to raise awareness of the issues of safeguarding and enhancing fortified heritage, please contact the editorial team by providing the email addresses of your contacts.

VICE CHAIRMAN’S WORD

Dear readers,

 Our next General Assembly will take place in Portugal, in Evora, a city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city, fortified since the Roman Empire, saw its fortifications reinforced with three towers by the Visigoths before the new city wall completed under Ferdinand I of Portugal protected it and has survived to this day in exceptional condition.

 We hope to continue the development of our association and strengthen the links between our members who all work to promote fortified heritage.

 This Newsletter is yours and your contribution to its enrichment is essential. Feel free to use it to share your experiences with us. Our next publication will be on end of December 2025.

 Marc Gayda.

WORLD 2025

This calendar is drawn up by the CDSG based on information provided by our members on their planned activities. It is regularly updated and will be included in the first section of our Newsletter

. October 7-10 . ASSOCIATION VAUBAN, Annual study Tour, Switzerland, Lausanne, Chillon, St Maurice, Champex, Naters, Dailly, Chillon (fort), Aubonne, contact@association-vauban.org and jean-marie.roueche@orange.fr

. Octobre 10 - 14, 2025, Fortress Study Group Study Tour, Belgium, David Clarke, chair@fortressstudygroup.org .

. October 23 - 26, 2025, International Fortress Council Annual Meeting, Alentajo, Portugal, Jeroen van der Werf, secretariat@internationalfortresscouncil.org

. 2026/Februar, to be announced, Study tour ECCOFORT, Hans Rudolf Neumann, (hrv.neumann@t-online.de )<<<

IFC.  NEWS

2025 projects in progress :

1 - Redesign of the website (engaged), study on the use of 3D for the multilingual dictionary in conjunction with the Menno von Coehoorn foundation, we decided to have a Project Group with our members of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Festungsforschung (Andreas Kupka), Menno von Coehoorn (Jeroen van der Werf), Simon Stevin (Luc Olyslager), Association Vauban (Marc Gayda) and Fortress Study Group (Dave Basset). The new site will be operational before the next Summer. The project will be presented during our annual meeting.

2 - Continued welcoming of new members. Thus, we welcome our friends from Suomenlinna as observers. They join the IFC as the Korean members of the GGCF associate since 2022.

 3- IFC participates in the revitalization of the Wellington Barrier project.

If you would like to contribute information from your association to the newsletter, the editors (marc.gayda@yahoo.fr ) would be very pleased. We are currently working on a renewal of the IFC website and we hope to go online for the beginning of the next year.

http://www.internationalfortresscouncil.org/tresscouncil.org

INFORMATIONS FROM OUR MEMBERS

These informations was collected from the elements transmitted by the associations or mentioned on their websites. When we have no new information on recent or future news, only the references of the website are mentioned.

AUSTRIA : ÖSTERREICHISCHE GESELLSCHAFT FÜR FESTUNGSFORSCHUNG (ÖeGF)

On May 19, 2025, a donation of written documents from Major General of the Corps of Engineers, Alexander Zhuber von Okrog, was made to the Director of the War Archives, Dr. Robert Rill. The donation was made by Dr. Reinfrid Vergeiner, president of the Austrian Society for Fortress Research. The collection of Major General Zhuber, which has been handed over to the War Archives, includes personal documents, maps, and official documents. It is particularly gratifying that this historically valuable collection has been removed from circulation and is now permanently available as a source for public and scientific research.

Projects and Cooperations:

Project „Written in the Landscape“ (Wil) (Universität Bozen) https://www.culturalheritage.unibz.it/written-in-the-landscape/

Architectural project for the flat roof waterproofing and protection of window and door openings in fort no. 41a "Mydlniki", Kraków

Neuigkeiten / News | Österreichische Gesellschaft für Festungsforschung Austrian Society for Fortification Research (kuk-fortification.net)

BELGIUM : SIMON STEVIN VLAAMS VESTINGBOUWKUNDIG CENTRUM (SSVc)  www.simonstevin.org

Robert Gils : A treasure trove of unique historical insights, documents, and images. The book "Antwerpse Forten 1914" (Antwerp Forts 1914) tells the story of the Antwerp forts and the German siege with the Big Berthas, using unique historical documents. The destruction of the forts during the First World War was thoroughly recorded, commented upon, illustrated, and photographed by the Germans. This was repeated after the war by the Belgian army. 240 pages. Order on the website of Simon Stevin. Cost 40 € + shipping cost.

CROATIA : NACIONALNA UDRAGA ZA FORTIFIKACIJE (NUF) www.nuf.hr

CZECH REPUBLIK : CZECH ASSOCIATION FOR MILITARY HISTORY (CAMH) KVH Praha (kvh-praha.cz)

 FRANCE : ASSOCIATION VAUBAN (AV)

Publications :

• Oisivetés: “ La Lettre des Oisivetés” Journal of the Society (2 éditions per year in May and December), Nr 49 May 2025, is published (next edition with beNr 50 in December 2025. Each publication had 64 pages.
• Newsletter send by Internet to all our members and our partners (30 letters from January 24 to December with more than 500 informations). You can receive the Newsletter as request at contact@association-vauban.org with your mail address.
• Our Nr 2 from the Collection Frontière is published (€10 per each + postal tariffication)
• The new website is operational since the last January.

Annual Meeting

2026 June (dates to be specified later) Annual meeting and Congress at Belfort with visit of the City forts ans museum

Other news

. Documentation Center (consulting after “rendez vous” with a responsible of the board -use the mail address on contact@association-vauban.org ) Provision to our members of the documentary database of works and publications of our documentation centre will be disponible on our website (index “bibliographie/Fonds Invalides”).

. January, opening the new design of the website (always at www.association-vauban.org) with some new pages and a special part only for members.

https://www.association-vauban.org/  , mel adress contact@association-vauban.org

GERMANY : DEUTSCHE GESELLSCHAFT FÜR FESTUNGFORSCHUNG (DGF)

https://festungsforschung.de/startseite

September 19-21 : At this year's general meeting in Stade, the board of directors was re-elected in its entirety.

The new fortress journal (No. 66) is out! Included in this issue:

Information on the 44th DGF Annual Meeting in Stade

Convocation to the '25 meeting and minutes of the '24 meeting

A brief history of Stade Fortress

Trip destination: Grauerort Fortress – briefly introduced

The storm ladder as a means of attack

From the archives: Fortress assault exercise

Fürigen Fortress

Report on the 2023 IFC Annual Meeting in Chatham (UK)

Conference report: "The first fortresses in Central Germany until 1700" from April 11 to 13, 2025, in Pirna and Königstein

Conference announcements and new publications

ITALY : RETE DELLE FORTIFICAZIONI

Forte di Bard :  (https://www.fortedibard.it/), 

The fort still opening during the winter s:From thuesday to friday: 10 am / 6 pm Saturday and sunday: 10 am / 7 pm, Monday closed

 Forte di Bramafan  (https://www.fortebramafam.it/)

The Museum is open since 30 Years ! Opening days in 2025 :; September and October: every Sunday ; November : Sunday 2th, Opening from10h00 am to 6 h 30 pm (last entrance at 5 pm

Forte di Fenestrelle (https://www.fortedifenestrelle.it/)

Museo di 3è Rgt di Alpino (free entrance)

Forte di Vinadio (https://www.fortedivinadio.com/)

Open from May to October.

Turin, museo di Pietro Micca

Note the visits to the countermine galleries are by reservation at the Museo Pietro Micca (closed on Mondays)

https://www.fortedibard.it/fr/

https://retefortificazioni.com/

https://fortinrete.it/

 LUXEMBURG : FRËNN VUN DER FESTUNGSGESCHICH LËTZEBUERG : (FFGL) www.ffgl.lu

Activities

visits to “Assault of Kirchberg” (program and dates on the FFGL website).

Dates and visits, informations on https://www.ffgl.lu/activites/fr_index.html

From May 7th to October 18th, the FFGL is associate to the LUGA, the exhibition of urban gardens, temporary installations and agricultural projects in Luxembourgwith some visits on the rests of Vauban’s fortifications.

Program of visits and reservations on the website : https://www.ffgl.lu/activites/2025luga/fr_index.html

The Dräi Eechelen Museum in Luxembourg invites you to visit! From 24.04.2025 to 22.03.2026, the exhibition on the turbulent history of the occupation within Luxembourg society will continue to be on display. Lectures will also be held. Through previously unseen artefacts from our collections and prestigious loans, the exhibition brings to life the human stories behind the societal and military challenges of 19th-century Luxembourg, such as the career of Officer Louis Alphonse Munchen. The impact of the army on politics, the economy and society is at the heart of the exhibition: how did the recruitment, quartering, supply and equipment of the 1,600 men mark the daily life of the Grand Duchy?

More informations : https://luga.lu/en/about/

MALTA : FONDAZZJONI WIRT ARTNA (Malta Heritage Trust)   : http://www.wirtartna.org/ (candidate member) and a new blog https://www.wirtartna.org/blog

Valletta's ancient ceremonial platform from where gun salutes are still fired. The passage of time is marked twice daily from here with gunfire at noon (12am hrs) and afternoon (4pm hrs).

Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna - the Malta Heritage Trust is a voluntary non-governmental organization (VO/0117) active in the fields of cultural heritage preservation and management. It was formed in October 1987 and is responsible for a rich array of cultural heritage sites that together span some 7,000 years of continued history.

New operation : LASCARIS WAR ROOMS, Discover Malta's best kept WW2 secret.

Situated approximately 45 meters deep beneath the Upper Barracca Gardens and the Saluting Battery in Valletta, the Lascaris War Rooms stand as one of Malta’s best-kept secrets from World War Two. Opened in time for Operation Husky - the Allied invasion of Sicily on 9/10 July 1943, these War Rooms comprise a vast network of underground tunnels and chambers that served as the British armed forces' Combined War HQ in Malta. From this strategic location, US General Dwight Eisenhower, as Supreme Commander of Allied Forces, launched the invasion of Sicily in 1943. The War Rooms played a crucial role in directing the defense of the island against Axis aggression and the Mediterranean War in general. In the immediate post-war years it was shared with NATO's HAFMED until 1970 and remained in constant use until July 1977. With its well-maintained authentic interiors, the site offers a unique glimpse into the secretive and complex world of combined operations, as pioneered in this building by the Royal Navy, the British Army, and Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

Informations about the museums and the visit of the Valletta’s Fortifications on the Website

http://www.wirtartna.org/

NETHERLANDS : MENNO VON COEHOORN (MvC)

Excursion, for members onys

2024/09/27, automnu excursion to Gorinchem, further informations on website

Webinar

2025-10-08, at 7,30 pm, Military Neurose Hospitaal Austerlitz by Sandra van Lochem

2025-11-05, at 7,30 pm, Military Floods in North Flanders by Marc Buise

2025-12-09, at 7,30 pm, Cold War Company Shelters in Amsterdam by Kees van Leeuwen

If you are not yet a member of the Menno van Coehoorn Foundation and would still like to follow the webinar, please send info@coehoorn.nl  an email. You will then receive a one-time invitation.

https://coehoorn.nl/

Portugal - ASSOCIAÇÃO DOS AMIGOS DOS CASTELOS (APAC) (Associação Portuguesa dos Amigos dos Castelos)

Free Course "From 19th-Century Lisbon to 20th-Century Modernism: Permanence in Urban Evolution" (October 7 to November 11, 2025) From October 7 to November 11, 2025, 6 p.m., at the Auditorium des Amis des Châteaux,

Type of activity : Course, Cost: Members €60.00; Non-members €75.00

Limit of participants : 20

Journey to Olivença (Spain) on the 15th of november, 07h30 em Sete Rios (passeio em frente ao do Zoo). Cost ; € 120,00 ; limit of participants 30

APAC organize a Study Tour in Egypt (7 to 15th of march 2026) Aside from a boat trip on the Nile and the famous monuments along it, Egypt has other lesser-known places worth visiting. These include less accessible mosques, such as Ibn Tulum, the oldest in Cairo, and the Gayer-Anderson House, a dazzling repository of art. But the Cairo region still has its impressive new Grand Egyptian Museum and other attractive monuments in the Islamic zone of Al-Azhar, as well as the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, which houses the collection of royal mummies.

Coût : 2 650,00 € (start and return at Lisboa) ; Dépôt de garantie 795,00 € ; Suppl.. Individu. € 490,00.

Inscription on APAC website

SOUTH KOREA – GYEONGGI CULTURAL FOUNDATION (GGCF) - ggcf.kr |GyeongGi Provincial Museum opened in 1996 with the objective of preparing for the future by highlighting and passing down the history of GyeongGi-do and the traditions of its culture. Because of the museum’s dedication to the collection and preservation of artifacts, academic research, and exhibitions and education programs, it has steadily grown to become a favorite museum of local residents. GyeongGi Provincial Museum is now a place where visitors can enjoy learning about GyeongGi-do’s history and culture through its rich content.  Rom august to 26th of october 2025, special eshibition on the 80th birthday of Corean libération. Exhibition Title: "Afterglow: The Road to Reunification of North and South Korea", ◾ Exhibition Period: 2025.08.15-10.26◾ Exhibition Venue: Gyeonggi Museum Special Exhibition Hall◾ Exhibited Artifacts: Persistent Blood, Full of, Photos, etc. 100 points◾ Organizer: Gyeonggi Museum, Mongyang Memorial HallThe Gyeonggi Provincial Museum and the Mongyang Memorial Hall are liberated on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the country. On the occasion of the anniversary, we have prepared a special exhibition on "The Road to Reunification of North and South Korea."

SWITZERLAND : ASSOCIATION SAINT MAURICE D’ETUDES MILITAIRES (ASMEM) https://www.asmem.ch/

2025 – 7-10 welcom to the Study Tour of Association Vauban. The Asmem work to organize this tour with the Col. Serge Monnerat.

UNITED KINGDOM : FORTRESS STUDY GROUP

The Fortress Study Group is a charity registered in the UK with an international membership. Its purpose is advancing the study of post-medieval artillery fortifications throughout the World. The benefits of Fortress Study Group membership include: Our annual peer reviewed Journal FORT, Three issues of the CASEMATE Magazine Two Webinars a month. An annual conference and tour in the UK. An annual international tour UK Members Days and Study Tours International digital memberships are £20.FSG Webinar, next conferences. All the sessions starter at 8 p.m. (London Time)

The webinars are organized by the Fortress Study Group in conjunction with the Palmerston Forts Society and the Ordnance Society and the recordings are for the benefit of the members of those societies. The links should not be further distributed without permission as the content is copyright of the author and other bodies including the National Archives.

15 Oct 25 - The fortifications of Ulm - Markus Theile

05 Nov 25 - The good the bad and the ugly” which compares the three allied sieges in 1812 - Dr Mark Thompson

03 Dec 25 - The role of the RE in the Peninsula War - Dr Mark Thompson

Login details for the 1st Wednesday of every month

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.u/j/82754848667?pwd=SnFQcHE4SG9qOFl5NFJGVWlNRzhJdz09

Meeting ID: 827 5484 8667

Passcode: 789990

Log in details for the 3rd Wednesday of every month

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83100298752?pwd=Ti8wQWx2bzI2aW0wZkJ6S2YzVXpqUT09

Meeting ID: 831 0029 8752

Passcode: 397125

 Project Redsand aims to restore a Maunsell Army Fort

The ambitious volunteer led project to restore one of the WW2 heavy anti-aircraft forts in the Thames Estuary

https://www.fortressstudygroup.org/

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA : COAST DEFENSE STUDY GROUP (CDSG)

1 - The CDSG Publications committee produced a new production : The American Seacoast Forts (a Directory with Period Military Maps 1890-1950), in 4 volumes about 1 400 pages in all. . The authors, Terrance McGovern, Mark Berhow, and Glen Williford. This work is the result of twenty years of extensive research both of government records and on-site investigations. Below is summary of this fourvolume work as well as cover images of the books. The books are a print-on-demand from IngramSpark printing company. They are hard bound, printed on 70 lb. paper with B&W maps and photographs. There are entries maps and photographs of every armed location in each defended harbor. Each volume is priced at $49.95 plus shipping and are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, and other online retailers. CDSG member pricing of $40.00 including domestic shipping (contact us for international shipping costs) per book is available at www.cdsg.org/shop or by check to the CDSG

2 – The Newsletter of summer 2025 is publishef.

3 - 2026 Annual Conference to the Coast Defenses of the Oahu – Hawaii from May 5 to May 10, 2026.

Day Zero (May 5) – Arrive in Oahu and check-in to the hotel by 4pm for registration and orientation.

 Day One (May 6) will be the coast defenses on Western side of Oahu. This would include Fort Barrette (Battery

Hatch), Battery Arizonia (14-inch turret) and Pu’u O Hulu (Battery #303/Battery Hulu).

 Day Two (May 7) would be to the coast defenses in the Central part of Oahu. This would be to JB-Pearl Harbor-

Hickam (Batteries Hasbrouck, Hawkins, Jackson, Selfridge, and Closson) and to Ford Island (Batteries Adair and

Boyd). We would also go to Sand Island to visit Battery Harbor (7-inch pedestal).

 Day Three (May 8) would be to the coast defenses on the Southern side of Oahu. This would include the

Punchbowl (Battery #304 and Station D), Fort DeRussy (Battery Randolph and US Army Museum of Hawaii), and

Fort Ruger (Batteries Harlow, Birkhimer, Dodge, Hulings, #407, and HDCP in the Mule Tunnel).

 Day Four (May 9) would be to the coast defenses on the Eastern side of Oahu. This would be Battery DeMerritt

(#405), Marine Corp Base Hawaii (Battery Pennsylvania (14-inch turret), the HDCP, and Battery French (#301)), and

Battery Cooper (#302). We would also have our annual business meeting and banquet that night, which would be

the official end of the annual conference.

 On Day Five (May 10) we are having a special add-on day to OA-63-L/C Nike Site, Battery Riggs (8-inch turret),

Battery Kirkpatrick (8-inch turret), and we would try to visit the Army-Navy Joint Command Center and Station C

complex at the Aliamanu Crater. Depending on time available we might try to visit the Lehi Fire Control Complex at

Diamond Head, but this site requires tickets and will be a very hard climb for some members. Members will be

asked to carpool using their own rental vehicles on this day as these sites are hard to visit using a bus.

 Members could stay on extra days on their own to visit the Battleship Arizona Memorial/Visitor Center, Battleship

Missouri Memorial, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

https://cdsg.org/