Keynote
Cracow Fortress – a complex of
fortifications built at the beginning of
the twentieth century – played a key role
not only in the city’s history, but also
during the First World War. A brilliant
monograph about one of the most
important historical locations in this part
of Europe.

Selling Points
 An insightful and brilliant analysis
of the history of Cracow in the context
of Polish and European history.
 A story about a strategically key location
in the clash of the Austrian and Russian
armies during the First World War.
 Rare among historical treatments,
it offers a social, economic, and
urban planning context surrounding
the construction of these fortifications in
the twentieth century.
 The history of Cracow Fortress is at once
a story of the Polish state’s re-appearance
on maps of Europe after 1918.
 The monograph, like all this author’s
works, wonderfully combines academic
erudition with everyday language, making
it suitable for a wide range of readers.
 The author is one of the most popular
Polish historians.

Description
The beginnings of Cracow Fortress go
back to the nineteenth century – this
complex of fortifications around the city
which can still be visited today had key
importance for the history of this part
of Europe. The last point of defence on
the eastern flank of the Habsburg Empire
stopped the advance of the Russian
army in 1914 during the First World
War, which, like the Battle of Marne in
the west, had immense influence on how
the war proceeded. Andrzej Chwalba, an
outstanding historian and populariser
of central European history, tells
compellingly and interestingly a story all
but forgotten today. In this monograph he
also presents some little‑known
aspects
of Crakow’s history from the beginning
of the twentieth century. At that time,
it was a city undergoing intense growth
which played a huge role in the shaping
of the map of Europe following the Great
War.

Target Market
Readers of historical monographs.
Lovers of military and urban planning
history.
People interested in Polish and European
history and politics.