Strino works

The Strino Roadblock is an Austro-Hungarian roadblock built to guard the Tonale Pass and the Sole Valley in Northern Italy. While some sources indicate that the fort was built between 1860 and 1866, others indicate between 1860 and 1861[2]. Strino was the first built to guard the Sole Valley, and was part of the Tonale Roadblock system. Strino had a power generator, telephone, optical signal lights, and a pipe from the Strino river for water.

As advancements in artillery were made, the Roadblock was becoming more and more obsolete. Strino lacked sufficient firepower to repel an assault from the front and sides. Despite knowing this, the Austrians did nothing about it for the time being. The Austrians finally did something about it in 1899. The artillery positions were redone, and the wooden roof was replaced by a concrete one. In 1898, an outlying fortification was built near Strino. This was Nahkampfanlage (Close Combat Facility) Velon, built on the site of a resort. In 1906, the 2 fortifications were connected by a stone staircase. Both fortifications were disarmed in 1915.

Armament

Sources vary, so I will put both:

Source 1:

• 4 15cm guns
• 2 8cm field guns
• 4 M93 8mm machine guns

Source 2:

• 4 12cm guns
• 4 10cm guns

Post-war

In the 1930s, Strino was damaged by the Italians in their quest for steel to fuel Mussolini's war with Ethiopia. The building was left in a state of disrepair and neglect for years until the municipality of Vermiglio, with help from Trento, decided to try and restore the fort to its former glory. The work ended in 1997, and the Fort Strino Committee of Vermiglio was founded, and since 2008 they have managed activities and events in the fort. The fort now houses a collection of World War I items and has a model depicting the battle in the Alps.