Pillbox?

[100SRV]

Not sure where to post this so please feel free to relocate, moderators.

I was traveling on a bus in Austria from Steyr to St Valentin because the train service wasn't operating.

Slowing to descend a steep hill and into a single track bridge I noticed what looked like a pill box. It was two cylindrical concrete structures set into the hillside and positioned to oversee the rail bridge where it crossed the road I was on.

Dropped pin
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QBdZLrpa2AesCzg47

I didn't think that the Germans/Austrians had prepared or expected to need stop lines like the British did in 1939/40.

Any PHers know any more?

[blueg33]

Great goat!

[Regbuser]

Goats manning machine guns, you must be kidding !

[Oneball]

My first thought is that it’s not a pill box because of the windows. But if it is it’s in the right sort of place for Cold War, Czech border isn’t far. We get hung up on WW2 but you’ve only got to travel a few miles from Dover for example and you’ve got defences built from Roman times to the 60/70s

[Riley Blue]

Very interesting...

[100SRV]

Oneball said:

My first thought is that it’s not a pill box because of the windows. But if it is it’s in the right sort of place for Cold War, Czech border isn’t far. We get hung up on WW2 but you’ve only got to travel a few miles from Dover for example and you’ve got defences built from Roman times to the 60/70s

Hadn't thought of cold war.

[White-Noise]

Perfect timing by the adverts, has that unfinished Greek look too.

[Triumph Man]

White-Noise said:

Perfect timing by the adverts, has that unfinished Greek look too.

You st on floor? 50 euro fine - every time!

[White-Noise]

Triumph Man said:

White-Noise said:

Perfect timing by the adverts, has that unfinished Greek look too.

You st on floor? 50 euro fine - every time!

Don't worry lads it'll look nice when it's finished!

[heisthegaffer]

I love a pillbox me. I find them fascinating.

[PositronicRay]

I spotted one on the banks of the Tame, National Arboretum Memorial, Alrewas, staffs.


Heaven knows what they were expecting, marauding kayaks perhaps?

[100SRV]

PositronicRay said:

I spotted one on the banks of the Tame, National Arboretum Memorial, Alrewas, staffs.


Heaven knows what they were expecting, marauding kayaks perhaps?

Vikings

[ESDavey]

Here you go : http://www.pillbox-study-group.org.uk/the-pillbox-...

I like them too. When cycling up White Down in the Surrey Hills I always give the Pillbox a friendly tap.

[heisthegaffer]

ESDavey said:

Here you go : http://www.pillbox-study-group.org.uk/the-pillbox-...

I like them too. When cycling up White Down in the Surrey Hills I always give the Pillbox a friendly tap.

Interesting - thanks.

[TrotCanterGallopCharge]

ESDavey said:

Here you go : http://www.pillbox-study-group.org.uk/the-pillbox-...

I like them too. When cycling up White Down in the Surrey Hills I always give the Pillbox a friendly tap.

Probably part of the 'Ironside Line' from the 1940s. Also goes to show what was considered a main road back then. A lot of the Ironside line was built by civilian contractors who didn't always build them facing the right way.

[TrotCanterGallopCharge]

100SRV said:

Not sure where to post this so please feel free to relocate, moderators.

I was traveling on a bus in Austria from Steyr to St Valentin because the train service wasn't operating.

Slowing to descend a steep hill and into a single track bridge I noticed what looked like a pill box. It was two cylindrical concrete structures set into the hillside and positioned to oversee the rail bridge where it crossed the road I was on.

Dropped pin
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QBdZLrpa2AesCzg47

I didn't think that the Germans/Austrians had prepared or expected to need stop lines like the British did in 1939/40.

Any PHers know any more?

The Germans had their massive Siegfried Line facing the French/Belgian/Dutch border. It's on Google.
Your pillbox seems an odd one, as it's hardly got the field of fire to see the train bridge. Having the entrance facing the 'danger' side is also odd. That said, it does look quite amateurish, so perhaps a military checkpoint of sorts. After WW2, Austria was divided into 4 parts by the victorious powers. The river near this road is the border between upper & lower Austria, which also seems to be the border between the Soviet & US zones, so perhaps to do with this?, it would have been right on the frontline of the Cold War.