Location: Bratislava-Petrzalka bridgehead

Size: 200x160
Based on: Military topographical map 1:25,000 scale, copyright of Vojensk Kartografick stav, Nov Harmanec

Package contents: 
Map 264 - "commented" map with marked border
Map 265 - Map with basic names and with border deleted.
	

History: Upon collapse of Austro-Hungarian empire and creation of new countries in the region, rather large-scale, though often overlooked, war broke out between Hungary and then newly born Czechoslovakia, Hubgary tried to claim the entire area of "Upper Hungary", IE Slovakia, but Czechoslovakian army, itself quite a mess of various units, namely ex-Austrian, Russian legionnaires, Italian legionnaires, plus various militias, most important being Sokol paramilitary organisation, managed to push Hungarian troops back. In final stages of the war, Petrzalka bridgehead was acquired after a daring assault across (or rather climbing under) the single bridge combining railroad and road, Stary most (Old bridge).
As part of Trianon peace agreements, the bridgehead remained Czechoslovakian, though it was feared Hungary would try to take it back in the future. With growing tensions of 1930's, commander of slovakian military district ordered construction of concrete fortification belt protecting the bridgehead. Later, more modern and standardized pillboxes were added and Petrzalka defence system was almost complete by mobillisation in September 1938. As such it was thoroughly studied by German experts after Munich treaty ceded the area to German Reich.
After the war, Petrzalka bridgehead was taken back and further expanded (in fact multiplied its area about three times) by Hungarian territory.

Situation:
The map is oriented so that the North is to the right, West up. Northern bank is occupied mostly by the city of Bratislava, with industrial zone around the Winter harbor and historical centre around Bratislava castle. In the north-west, through a valley and suburb Karlova Ves, there goas a road to Brno. Just behind the Eastern map edge there's huge Slovnaft refinery.
In Petrzalka, there's a major road and railroad hub. To the West goes, on a causeway, road to Wien, accompanied by corpus of electrical railway from Petrzalka station (point of interest, due to different gauges the passengers had to change in Berg station from one train to another), to the South there goes main railway link to Austria and Hungary.
Currently, most area of Petrzalka is built up with large concrete block of flats. In the South, next to them, there's a water treatment plant under construction. In the remaining forests, there is horse racing course and former sand mines, now flooded and used for recreation.
Beach sand line marks border between Austria and Slovakia (or, due to the date of the map, Czechoslovakia).
Fort positions aren't shown due to over 50% of the forts being demolished during construction or otherwise put out of any meaningful purpose (fire arecs blocked etc).
"Red-roofed" buildings do mark living and office blocks, grey-roofed ones then industrial and service buildings. Brown roofed building with roof forming a cross pattern is used by me to mark churches.

Plans for future: Two - turning this map to 2007 look and to 1938 look. Latter will come sooner as it would involve just replacing lots of houses with lots of fields and trees :)

Legal Disclaimer: The maps are free to use, free of charge etc. of course, you may use them in PBEM or scenarios or whatever, mutilate them ll you like, change season, cause Danube to flood the city etc. You may in such case contact me for advice or so. If you use the map in scenario or modify it, I'd like to be credited, after all it took me considerable effort to build it.

Cheers!
Marek "Tuccy" Tucan
tuccy@seznam.cz
Skype "marektucan"
ICQ "tuccy", 250-880-479
