Fortification
The Atlantic Wall
Example of coastal defences (348 Inf. Div.), as at 1 May 1944 “Enemy forces that have succeeded in landing must be destroyed or thrown into the sea by immediate counterattacks.” Führer Directive No. 40, March 23, 1942. The completion of each static element in the German defence system naturally worked in favour of the established tactic of making the shore…
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Petersburg 1865
Part of the elaborate Confederate works outside Petersburg, after their evacuation in April 1865; such trenches extended for many miles in both directions. The Crater. Although referred to as the “siege” of Petersburg, the Union attack against this small southern city was not a full encirclement; rather, it was 10…
German Defences in Italy
Mussolini inspecting fortified positions, 1944. Panther turrets are not of course AFV but their impact on the course of AFV affairs is thought to be sufficiently important to justify a few words. Panther turrets were first met in the Hitler line and were in fact the salient features round which…
Gothic Line
One of the two Panther turrets that were positioned to protect the Futa Pass. The presence of these weapons inclined the Americans to attack the less well-defended II Giogo Pass. (US National Archives, 195989) Pantherstellung (Regelbau 687) which shows an unmodified Panther ausf.D turret with original commander’s cupola. A Pantherstellung…
The fortress of Mirgissa
The fortress of Mirgissa, situated on the western bank of the Nile, c. 16km (10 miles) south of Buhen, is renowned for its impressive outer northern gate. Military architects were well aware that, as the weakest spot within the defence, the gate area had to be highly fortified in order…
Wooden log walls built in the gorodni style
This type of structure was the most popular in Rus between the second half of the 10th and the mid-15th centuries. The upper part of the wall projected slightly forwards as a rule, overhanging the lower part. The resulting clearance, called oblam, was designed with the same aim as hoarding…
The German Perspective: Rommel’s ‘Longest Day’
Littry; one 4,7 cm Pak (t) Panzer- Kampfwagen 35 R (f) abandoned. This is a Czech anti-tank gun mounted on French Renault R35 chassis. It belonged to the Schnelle-Abteilung 517 of 716. ID; 20 June 1944. On 23 June 1944 a detailed operations report was completed under the auspices of…