The German Fortress Of Metz 1870-1944
by Clayton Donnell /
2008 / English / PDF
11.4 MB Download
Following the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War of
1870-71 and the absorption of the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine
into the newly formed German Empire, the German Army decided to
construct a fortress line from Strasbourg to Luxembourg to protect
their new territory and counter the great fortress system that was
being built from Switzerland to Belgium, the centerpiece of which
was the great Moselstellung (Moselle Position) of
Metz/Thionville.
Following the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War of
1870-71 and the absorption of the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine
into the newly formed German Empire, the German Army decided to
construct a fortress line from Strasbourg to Luxembourg to protect
their new territory and counter the great fortress system that was
being built from Switzerland to Belgium, the centerpiece of which
was the great Moselstellung (Moselle Position) of
Metz/Thionville.
The fortress consisted of concrete batteries that fired 10 and 15cm
guns from steel turrets, concrete barracks, infantry strong points
with ditches defended by casemates, and concrete trenches with
shelters and steel observation cupolas. The entire position was
surrounded by a wide belt of barbed wire entanglements that were
defended by machine gun and rifle positions, and hidden from the
view of the attacker. Illustrated with photographs and full color
cutaway artwork, this book examines the design and development of
the fortress and analyzes its use in combat, focusing particularly
on the part it played in holding up General Patton's Third Army's
advance across France in 1944
The fortress consisted of concrete batteries that fired 10 and 15cm
guns from steel turrets, concrete barracks, infantry strong points
with ditches defended by casemates, and concrete trenches with
shelters and steel observation cupolas. The entire position was
surrounded by a wide belt of barbed wire entanglements that were
defended by machine gun and rifle positions, and hidden from the
view of the attacker. Illustrated with photographs and full color
cutaway artwork, this book examines the design and development of
the fortress and analyzes its use in combat, focusing particularly
on the part it played in holding up General Patton's Third Army's
advance across France in 1944