The Calvary Position, in Navalagamella
Civil War fortification
Calvary position in Navalagamella
The fortification is located on the outskirts of the urban area of Navalagamella, next to the M-510 road, which connects this municipality with Valdemorillo. It is made up of a vaulted gallery connected to two circular vaulted forts and five barbet-shaped parapets in the form of a circular shooter's pit.
Its shape is reminiscent of that of the so-called Blockhaus - 13 located in the adjacent municipality of Colmenar del Arroyo, both being military enclaves related to the fortification of the front lines after the Battle of Brunete.
The covered gallery is located at the rear of the position and with its semicircular shape closes the ring-trench of the same. Through it you can access two of the shooter's wells by means of stairs that bridge a small gap. It also has a window.
The trench is partially carved into the rock and gives access to the marksman shafts and the forts. There are several holes made in the rock to accommodate the support of some type of masking covering. The two handle shafts are circular shaped structures, with an access corridor, all excavated in the ground and with concrete flooring.
The forts are circular with a rear entrance. Some are covered with a half orange vault, while others remain open. The concrete of the walls was made with a lost formwork of masonry on the outside and brick on the inside. The two structures have flared loopholes or embrasures, with their narrowest part inside and widest outside.
In addition to the eminently warlike material, such as refill combs, shrapnel and rifle bushings, some elements associated with daily life on the front were documented, such as the remains of canned food, plates and inkwells.
The construction of these fortifications is due to an instruction issued at the end of 1938 by the General Headquarters of the national army to consolidate the positions and prevent possible incursions by the army of the Republic in this sector. From the initial project, which proposed the construction of numerous forts type blockhauss In order to control the roads in that area, only a small part was carried out. The Calvary Position is documented from January-February 1939 and the works may not have been completed given the late date.
The Navalagamella City Council has launched the Route of the Civil War Forts that allows knowing the main remains of existing military fortifications in its territory.
Image gallery
Archaeological performance
The works in this enclave are part of the Regional Plan of Fortifications of the Civil War (1936 - 1939) of the Community of Madrid.