Fort III of Kaunas Fortress Fortification

Built in Kaunas city, Seniava, in 1882–1889, reconstructed in the late 19th century – early 20th century.

The fort has the shape of a regular elongated hexagon, with a symmetrical composition. There are barracks in the rear part. At the top of the defensive rampart were artillery and infantry combat positions. Ammunition depots were installed in the casemates located under the defensive rampart. The barracks and the inner courtyards of the fort are connected by an external ditch by underground tunnels - posterns. Caponiers and half-caponiers were intended for the flank defense of the ditch. The external defensive ditch is surrounded by a counterscarp vaulted wall of red bricks.

During the reconstruction of the fort, most of the artillery standing on the ramparts was moved from the fort to the nearby batteries, a deeper and thicker rampart was built, concrete intermediate half-caponiers were built above the barracks to fire on the gaps between the forts, the caponiers and half-caponiers were reinforced with sand and concrete, and other reinforcements were made.

During the First World War, in early August 1915, during the assault on Kaunas Fortress, Fort III was heavily shelled by heavy German artillery and fiercely defended itself against the German infantry. After 10 days of fierce battles, on August 16, 1915, the crew of Fort III was one of the last to retreat from the attacked Section I. The fort's territory contains traces of 305 and 420 mm artillery hits, destroyed buildings, and shell holes.

​After World War I, due to a lack of living space, a colony of cheap apartments was established in the buildings of Fort III. During World War II, the German army set up food storage facilities here. After the war, Soviet army units set up military ammunition depots, which operated until 1985. The territory was fenced with a barbed wire fence and guarded by armed guards. Later, the fort became abandoned, and businessmen settled in part of the territory.

Currently, the fort is heavily urbanized: there are residential quarters around it, and part of its territory has been privatized. Currently, it is one of the best-preserved and most used objects of the Kaunas Fortress, thanks to the active local community, it has been renovated and transferred to the needs of the public. While the bats are not wintering, various events are held in the fort, which are also initiated by the local community, you can see a permanent exhibition of Lithuanian army uniforms, and excursions are organized. You can get to the fort territory by public transport.