Kreuzberg Pass

Kreuzberg Pass
	Kreuzbergpass, looking south-east
Pass height	1636 m slm
expansion	Strada statale 52
Mountains	Dolomites , Carnic Alps
	map
Coordinates	46 ° 39 '21 " N , 12 ° 25' 13" E Coordinates: 46 ° 39 '21 " N , 12 ° 25' 13" E

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The Kreuzbergpass (short Kreuzberg ; Italian Passo di Monte Croce di Comélico , short: Passo Monte Croce ) is an alpine pass located near Sexten ( Italy ) between South Tyrol and Veneto ( Belluno province ). It connects the Sesto Valley with the Cadore , has a height of 1636 m and forms the watershed between the Sesto Bach and the Padola . In the east it is dominated by the Carnic Alps . In the west rise the Dolomites , more precisely the Sesto Dolomites . Most of the South Tyrolean part of the Sesto Dolomites is protected in the Three Peaks Nature Park , which finds its easternmost point on the Kreuzberg Pass.

history

Roman times

The Kreuzbergpass, a wide saddle that is easy to negotiate, is one of the crossings that have been used extensively since ancient times. The Romans followed this old tradition and in the first century AD built a road following the Piave over the Kreuzbergpass, which met the Brennerstraße over the Pustertal . This was a second Via Claudia Augusta , which was also called "Via Claudia Augusta Altinate" to distinguish it from the street of the same name that ran further west over the Reschen . She received this addition from her place of origin Altino . The Via Claudia Augusta of the Reschenpass, on the other hand, received the addition "Padana", after its starting point, Hostilia in the Po Valley, then called Padana .

For a good two centuries, almost all of the traffic that crossed the main Alpine ridge on the Brenner Pass flowed over the Kreuzberg Pass. At today's Innichen , where a road station was located, part of the traffic also branched off to the east, to one of the many Tauern passes . The full length of the continuous Brenner route could only be used once a path through the Eisack Gorge was cut. The Kreuzbergstrasse nevertheless retained a large part of its old importance, especially since it continued to provide an ideal connection to the Tauern passes. This is evidenced by numerous finds of coins and other cultural artefacts from Roman times along the established or assumed course of the Roman Kreuzbergstrasse.

middle Ages

In the Middle Ages to it changed little. On the contrary, when the road through the Eisack Gorge was no longer usable after the Romans withdrew, the Kreuzbergpass regained its old importance as the most important access to the Brenner until the Eisackstraße was rebuilt. When, at the end of the Middle Ages, the full length of the Brenner route could be used again, this did not harm the Kreuzberg, because it was precisely at this time that the Tauern passes were opened up for mule traffic and were actively used. When at the end of the 18th century the mule traffic over the Tauern ceased, this probably also affected the Kreuzbergpass, over which a mule track, which can be driven by small wagons, led at that time.

Modern times

The modern road over the Kreuzbergpass was expanded extensively in the 1930s. It leads through a typical Dolomite landscape and is not particularly busy. From the top of the pass, the old Jochweg branches off from the road that leads down to the Bagni di Val Grande .

Historical significance during the world wars

In the time before the First World War , the Sextental , northwest of the Kreuzberg Pass, still belonged to the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Already at that time there were fortifications here that were supposed to block the crossing over the Kreuzbergpass in order to prevent a possible Italian breakthrough into the Pustertal, which is strategically important from a military point of view with its railway line (built in 1871). The two fortresses Mitterberg and Haideck were built here between 1885 and 1889 . Together with combat facilities on the adjacent mountains Innergsell (2065 m) and Hornischegg (2546 m), they formed what is known as the Sexten barrier . At the beginning of the First World War, however, it quickly became apparent that the barrages - which were still state-of-the-art when they were built - were no longer able to cope with the newly developed artillery . Therefore, they were armored and the guns brought into field-like positions. The Haideck fortress was almost completely destroyed during the fighting. Mitterberg received no serious hits and served as an additional infantry base.

Wooden cross on the Kreuzberg pass

In the mountain war of 1915–1918 in the Dolomites , both warring parties suffered heavy losses. There were also battles in the area around the Kreuzberg Pass. A wooden cross has been erected on the pass to commemorate the dead and wounded. Furthermore, on the road between Toblach and Cortina d'Ampezzo, the Pustertal war cemetery is well worth seeing.

When Mussolini came to power in Italy , who deeply mistrusted Hitler , the so-called “Linea non mi fido” was further expanded. Additional barriers and camouflaged bunkers were created. But these never had a military significance. Today, some of these facilities are still optically well preserved and represent a small attraction for hikers interested in military history.

Bunker systems on the Kreuzbergpass

Kreuzbergpass bunker system

present

The ski slope at the foot of Croda Rossa went as Marc Girardelli- -hang in reference to the skier who regularly set up his training camp here in the FIS a credit history.

Web links

Commons : Kreuzbergpass - Collection of images, videos and audio files