
- 400 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
About this book
An authoritative exploration of the architecture of Europe's fortifications built in the 19th and 20th centuries.
A few of the fortifications and fortified lines of the world wars are well known and have often been written about, illustrated and studied. But they tend to distract attention from the wide range of fixed defenses constructed across Europe on an enormous scale after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, during a period of insecurity and aggression.
In Fortress Europe, a highly illustrated study which covers the entire continent, authors J. E. Kaufmann and H. W. Kaufmann examine the major fortified positions and describe their strategic purpose, their design and construction, and the role they played in military planning and operations. The outstanding contribution of the major military architects of the time is a key theme. The work of Séré de Rivières, Brialmont and others had a major influence on the course of the First World War and on the fortifications built before and during the Second World War. Their approach is visible in the designs for the Maginot Line, the East and West walls of Germany, the Vallo Alpino in Italy, the Soviet Stalin and Molotov lines, the Mannerheim and Salpa lines of Finland, the Greek Metaxas Line, the Beneš Line of Czechoslovakia as well as the defenses built by the Dutch and Scandinavians.
The breadth of the coverage, the degree of detail and the numerous illustrations make Fortress Europe essential reading and reference for anyone who has a special interest in the world wars and the history of fortifications.
A few of the fortifications and fortified lines of the world wars are well known and have often been written about, illustrated and studied. But they tend to distract attention from the wide range of fixed defenses constructed across Europe on an enormous scale after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, during a period of insecurity and aggression.
In Fortress Europe, a highly illustrated study which covers the entire continent, authors J. E. Kaufmann and H. W. Kaufmann examine the major fortified positions and describe their strategic purpose, their design and construction, and the role they played in military planning and operations. The outstanding contribution of the major military architects of the time is a key theme. The work of Séré de Rivières, Brialmont and others had a major influence on the course of the First World War and on the fortifications built before and during the Second World War. Their approach is visible in the designs for the Maginot Line, the East and West walls of Germany, the Vallo Alpino in Italy, the Soviet Stalin and Molotov lines, the Mannerheim and Salpa lines of Finland, the Greek Metaxas Line, the Beneš Line of Czechoslovakia as well as the defenses built by the Dutch and Scandinavians.
The breadth of the coverage, the degree of detail and the numerous illustrations make Fortress Europe essential reading and reference for anyone who has a special interest in the world wars and the history of fortifications.
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Yes, you can access Fortress Europe by J.E. Kaufmann,H.W. Kaufmann in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & European History. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title
- Copyright
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Glossary
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 Belgium: Naked Neutral
- Chapter 2 The Netherlands: Too Little, Too Late
- Chapter 3 Switzerland: Nature’s Bastion
- Chapter 4 Scandinavia: Quasi-Neutrals
- Chapter 5 Finland and the Gulf of Finland
- Chapter 6 Imperial Russia: Fortifications in the West
- Chapter 7 The Soviet Union: To the Stalin Line
- Chapter 8 Austria-Hungary
- Chapter 9 Austria’s Successors Part 1: Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia
- Chapter 10 Austria’s Successors Part 2: Romania and Hungary
- Chapter 11 Poland and Greece: Guardians of the Gates
- Chapter 12 Corking the Mediterranean: The Turkish Straits and Gibraltar
- Chapter 13 Italy: Master of the Mediterranean
- Chapter 14 Iberia in War and Peace
- Chapter 15 Great Britain Rules: From Granite to Concrete
- Chapter 16 France: Centre of Modern Fortifications
- Chapter 17 Germany: Land of Blood, Iron and Steel
- Appendix I: Armour
- Appendix II: Artillery Development
- Appendix III: Machine Guns
- Appendix IV: Revolution in Artillery
- Bibliography