Fortress Europe- European Fortifications Of World War II
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4. In 1928 the 1st Coast Artillery Regiment was at La Spezia with a detached groups at Savona, and another at La Maddalana. The 2nd was at Venice with a group at Pola, and the 3rd was at Messina with a group at Reggio Calabria, one at Taranto and another at Brindisi. At that time 400-mm guns were still in use.The defenses of the port of Taranto were considered weak, and Pola impregnable. Brindisi was protected heavily by sea mines and Venice was considered modern, but Trieste was stripped of its weapons. La Maddalena was strongly mined, and Tropania was being fortified.
5. It is difficult to identify individual opere because most were assigned a number designation that referred to the particular sector and defensive system to which they belonged. These numbers were repeated in other sectors. The opera described here is #17 at Gravere in the IX Covering Section of Susa and the III Defensive System.
6. Many of these opere are so small they should not be classified as forts.
Chapter 8:
1. The actual name of the fort was Ingstadkleven, but the English language news media changed it to something more pronounceable in 1940.
2. The Coast Artillery troops retained an organization and uniforms similar to the army's.
3. Fort Skjellanger, north of Bergen, was to receive a three-gun battery of Armstrong guns and Fort Korsneset, south of Bergen, a battery of Bofors guns. The Germans completed the forts and used them in the Atlantic Wall.
4. These searchlights probably could be found in most other coastal forts, but at this time the data is not available.
5. There were only two other 75-mm AA gun batteries near Bergen. Kvarven, which was the largest fort, also had six 7.92 mm machine guns for use as AA and Fort Hellen had three of these weapons.
6. John Cockerill's company was Belgian.
7. In comparison to Boden, in 1914 the Verdun fortress ring had a circumference of 42 km, Przemysl 48 km, and Antwerp 100 km.
8. Only the one to Ft. Rodberget was completed. Those for other forts were cancelled.
Chapter 9:
1. It must be emphasized that the Czechs refer to all the border defenses as their Maginot Line, but we are not doing this in order to avoid confusion regarding the location of the heavy defenses.
2. The Czech term "tvrz" is similar to the French term "ouvrage" which refers to "a work". This term is generally used with the heaviest Czech fortifications, hence the Czechs identify them as fortresses although that term is a slight exaggeration.
3. These 100-mm caliber howitzers had a designation of 105 mm which has created some confusion.
Chapter 10:
1. Polish terminology for twentieth century defenses is not very precise. The term objektcan refer to one or more structures considered as a position. The term schron refers to a structure usually classified as a bunker by the Germans, which itself is a vague description. Polish writers have used the terms objekt and schron interchangeablyand translated them into English as casemate, bunker, shelter (like a French abri),and blockhouse without distinguishing between them. Gun casemates are calledtradytor, a term traditionally applied to to the section mounting guns and givingflanking fires and later extended to the whole structure, which, technically speaking,should be called ostrog. To avoid confusion, we will use the French terminology.
Chapter 11:
1. German sources estimated that the Yugoslav population in 1941 numbered 6.4 millionSerbs, 4.4 million Croats, 1.3 milion Slovenes, and 2.4 million other ethnic groups,for a total of 15.6 million.
2. In a 1942 German report on Yugoslavia, the sectors were listed in a different order. The 1st Sector was placed on the coast and the others ran northward in logical sequence. The information quoted here comes from a 1940 American intelligence report based on Yugoslav sources.
3. German sources do not show or mention an 8th Sector.
4. This table is based on German wartime estimates and Polish post-war estimates and it is possible the Yugoslavs did not use the ratings of I through IV as indicated by the Germans.
Chapter 12:
1. The Positions of the Metaxas Line are still largely secret since the positions were modernized for nuclear war. Because of this information is lacking and only a few good photos are available. They appear to be distinctive from the works of other nations. They may have had both telephone and radio communication, and also included air tight doors for use against gas attack. Some Greek veterans claim that machine gun bunkers had a periscope for directing the weap ons fire. Presently it is not possible to verify this information.
2. The information on the Greek gun positions mentioned in the text comes from an American intelligence report of November 1938. Except for most of the 305-mm weapons in the Athens Piraeus area, the Greeks probably used some of the other naval guns removed from ships.
3. Greek sources claim that one position continued to resist after the cease fire inflicting additional casualties on the Germans. When the commanding officer was convinced the war was over and surrendered his small garrison, the German officer supposedly paid him tribute for his gallant resistance and then had him shot.
Chapter 13:
1. Actually, the Swedish government had planned to send 9,000 workers and finance part of the construction. Norwegian volunteers did not arrive because of Hitler's invasion of Norway, which forced the Swedes to concentrate on Sweden's defenses.
2. Further down the coast was the Soviet fort of Yhinmaki (Krasaj Gorka), sister fort to the one guarding the southern end of the Gulf of Finland.
3. Fort Kuivasaari protected the outer coastal defenses of Helsenki, while the older fortress of Soumelinna, which occupied several islands, formed the obsolete inner defenses.
Chapter 14:
1. Information on the Soviet fortifications has not been abundant, although the Russian archives are now open. Since many works were not complete, details are lacking. Most secondary sources have heavily relied upon the German Denkshrift on Russian fortifications which, like other German Denkshrifts, has many errors and cannot be considered very reliable. Unfortunately, because of the lack of sources, especially primary ones, we have had to rely on this German document for much of this chapter. So it is possible, as more information comes to light from the Russian archives, that some of parts of this chapter may prove innaccurate.
2. According to the March 1940 issue of Time, the Soviets had sabotaged the route by creating break downs and looting rail cars, in the hope of making the Germans use the longer Danube route. In 1940 the Soviet Union began shipping oil to Romania by sea and to Germany by rail sea and to Germany by rail, so the railroad began to function with fewer problems.
3. Dnepr is also spelled Dniepr or Dnieper. The spelling for Dniestr is also Dniester. Transcriptions from the Cyrillic alphabet can be rendered in several ways and the ones selected in this chapter may not be the best. Lvov is spelled Lwow in Polish and there may be some mixing of Polish and Russian spellings presented here in border areas.
4. The Germans called it the Petersburg Military District.
5. In the fall of 1939, the Baltic States had been forced into an alliance. They were annexed the next year, in June, as Soviet troops marched in.
6. The defenses of the east are beyond the scope of this book.
7. According to German sources, these fortifications were not built until October, but the concrete could not have cured on the bunkers, nor would they have been ready when the Germans arrived in the same month. In addition it is likely that preparations would have had to be made before the invasion, if the proper amount of equipment and materials were to be ready for this construction.
8. The Finns and Estonians intended completing this barrier with smaller batteries and minefields laid by submarines.
9. This system was listed in the German Denkshrift and also used by Czech historian M. John, but it may not have been what the Soviets used.
10. According to Tarleton, the blockhouses were two-level structures and the bunkers were one-level. The lower level was below ground and the upper lev
el was earth covered except for the facade with the weapons embrasure.
11. The odd calibers of 132-mm, 185-mm, etc. were identified in German documents, but may have other designations.
Chapter 15:
1. The seventh Army also covered Brittany.
Appendix:
1. Presently little information is available on the Linea P. Almost all of the research and articles written on this subject come from Colonel Arcadio del Pozo y Senillosa and the team of Jean-Louis Blanchon, Pierre Serrat, and Louis Esteve. The information included here is largely based on their work.
FURTHER READING
Chapter 1:
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Kaufmann, J.E. and H.W. Kaufmann. Hitler's Blitzkrieg Campaigns. Conshohocken, PA: Combined Books, 1993. An analysis of the French military, the Maginot Line, and the reasons for German success in 1940.
-The Maginot Line: None Shall Pass. Westport: Greenwood, 1997. First detailed description of the Maginot Line in English.
Rowe, Vivian. The Great Wall of France. New York: Putman's Sons, 1961. The first English description of the Maginot Line, with good background information and a detailed account of the campaign.
FRENCH LANGUAGE
Jean-Bernard Wahl, La Ligne Maginot en Basse Alsace. France: Editions du Rhin, 1987. Excellent book on the Maginot Line and the RF of the Lauter.
Hohnadel, Alain and Michel Truttmann. Guide de la Ligne Maginot: des Ardennes au Rhin, dons les Alpes. Bayeux, France: Editions Hemidal, 1988. An excellent guide for visiting the fortifications. Well illustrated.
Plan, E. and Eric Lefegvre. La Bataille des Alpes: 10-25 Juin 1940. Paris: Charles-Lavauzelle, 1982. The best account of the Alpine campaign.
Truttmann, LTC Philippe. La Muraille de France: ou la Ligne Maginot. Thionville: Editions Klopp, 1982. The best description of the Maginot Line by the leading authority on the subject. Excellent illustrations.
Chapter 2:
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Gander, Terry and Peter Chamberlain. Weapons of the Third Reich. Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, Inc. 1979. Excellent descriptions of various types of German weapons, and captured ones, which were used in World War II with a section on those for fortifications.
Kaufmann, J.E. and H.W. Maginot Imitations. Westport: Greenwood, 1997. A description of the East and West Walls.
GERMAN LANGUAGE
Bettinger, Dieter and Martin Buren. Der Westwall. Vol 1-2 Osnabruck, Germany: Biblio Verlag 1990. The most detailed book on the West Wall including a large number of illustrations.
Burk, K. Die Deutsche Landbefestigungen im Osten. Osnabruck, Germany: Biblio Verlag, 1993. The most complete book on the East Wall.
Jager, Herbert, Gerd Wildfang and Robert Jurga. Die Kustenbatterie Fort Kugelbake in Cuxhaven. Cuxhaven, Germany: 1996. Well illustrated book describing the evolution of a coast defense fort.
POLISH LANGUAGE
Kedryna, Anna and Robert Jurga. Grupa Warowna Werkgruppe Scharnhorst. Krakow, Poland: Donjon, 1994a.
-Grupa Warowna Werkgruppe Schill. Krakow, Poland:Donjon, 1994b.
-Grupa Warowna Werkgruppe Ludendorff. Krakow, Poland: Donjon, 1995. All three booklets include excellent drawings and descriptions of the East Wall werkgruppen.
Chapter 3:
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Kaufmann, J.E. and H.W. Kaufmann. Hitler's Blitzkrieg Campaigns. Conshohocken, PA: Combined Books, 1993. A description of the events of the German campaign in the West.
-Maginot Imitations. Westport: Greenwood, 1997. Detailed description of Belgian forts and smaller defensive positions.
Mrazek, James E. The Fall of Eben Emael. Novato, CA: Presidio, 1970 (1991 reprint). Detailed account of German assault on Eben Err ael.
Vliegen, Rene. Fort Eben-Emael. Maastricht, Neth.: Koninklijke Nederlandse Papierfabrieken, 1993. Presents a complete account of the German operations against Fort Eben Emael.
FRENCH LANGUAGE
Anonymous. Ceux du Fort D'Eben-Emael. Liege: Imprimerie MASSOZ,1978. Complete and full description of Eben Emael's blocks and their activities on May 10-11, 1940.
GERMAN LANGUAGE
Melzer, Walter. Albert Kanal and Eben-Emael. Frankfurt: Kurt Wohlwinckel, 1957.
Chapter 4:
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Kaufmann, J.E. and H.W. Kaufmann. Hitler's Blitzkrieg Campaigns. Conshohocken, PA: Combined Books, 1993. A description of the campaign of 1940.
-The Maginot Imitations. Westport: Greenwood, 1997. A detailed description Dutch positions.
DUTCH LANGUAGE
Brongers, E.H. Afslluitdijk 1940. Baarn, Neth.: Hollandia B.V., 1977.
-Grebbelinie 1940. Baarn, Neth.: Hollandia B.V.,1977.
Chapter 5:
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Kaufmann, J.E. and H.W. Maginot Imitations Westport: Greenwood, 1997. A description of Swiss fortifications.
Schwarz, Uris. The Eye of the Hurricane. Boulder: Westview Press, 1980.
Chapter 6:
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Mallory, Keith, and Arvid Ottar. The Architecture of War. New York: Pantheon Books, 1973.
Hogg, Ian V., British & American Artillery of World War II. New York, Hippocrene Book. 1978. Excellent description of artillery used in coast defense.
Saunders, Andrew. The Book of Channel Defences. London: English Heritage, 1997.
Willis, Henry. Pillboxes: A Study of U.K. Defences 1940. Trowbridge, UK: Leo Cooper, 1985. Complete listing and descritpions.
Chapter 7:
ITALIAN LANGUAGE
Castellano, Edoardo. Distruggete lo Chaberton!. Torino: Edizioni it capitello, 1984. Good account of the fort and the role it played.
Clerici, Carlo Alfredo. Le Difese Costiere Italiane Nelle Due Guerre Mondiali. Parma: Albertelli Edizioni, 1996. Excellent description of all the Italian coastal defenses of both World Wars.
Fenoglio, Alberto. Il Vallo Alpino. Cuno, Italy: Susalibri, 1993. A good description of some of the opere in the Alpine Wall, but lacks maps.
Lazzarini, Furio and Carlo Alfredo Clerici. The Lion's Claws. Parma Albertelli Edizioni, 1997. Excellent description of defenses of Venice in both wars and their use by Italians and Germans in World War II.
Chapter 8:
DANISH LANGUAGE
Frantzen, Ole L. and Bjorn A. Nielsen. Kobenhavns befaestining 1886-1986. Copenhagen: Tojusmuseet, 1986. Covers the only major fortified area in Denmark, Copenhagen.
NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE
Fjortoft, Jan-Egil. Kystforsvaret L:1905. Arendal, Norway: Agdin, 1980. One of a series of books written by Fjortoft that covers the Norwegian fortifications. This book included the background for the coastal forts created at the beginning of the century.
SWEDISH LANGUAGE
Danckwardt, Jean-Carlos. Kustartilleriet i Sverige under andra varldskriget. Karlskrona, Sweden: Abrahamsons Tryckeri AB, 1992. This book, written by a member of the Swedish military, is the first, and to date, the only complete description of Swedish coastal defenses. It is an excellent description and the only reference material now available.
Chapter 9:
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Kaufmann, J.E. and H.W. Maginot Imitations. Westport: Greenwood, 1997. Decribes the Czech fortifications.
CZECH LANGUAGE
Aron, Lubomir, et. al. Ceskoslovenske Opneni 1935-1938. Nachod: 1990. Covers the history and details of the fortifications.
Rabon, Martin, Tomas Svoboda et.al. Ceskoslovenska Zed. Brno, Czech Rep.: FORTprint 1993. Detailed description of the fortifications.
GERMAN LANGUAGE
Rabon, Martin, Tomas Svoboda, Karel Vancura and Milam Blum. Der Tsechehoslowakische Wall. Brno, Czech Rep.: FORT Print, 1994. German version of Czech book and contains less data.
Chapter 10:
POLISH LANGUAGE:
Jurga, Tadeusz. Obrona Polski 1939. Warsaw: Instytut Wydawniczy PAX, 1990.
Chapter 13:
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Trotter, William. A Frozen Hell. Chapel Hill, N.C.: Algo
nquin Books, 1991.
FINNISH LANGUAGE
Arimo, Reino. Suomen linnoittamisen historia 1918-1944. Helsinki: Otava Publishing Company, 1981. The most complete history of the fortifications.
Chapter 14:
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Fugate, Bryan and Lev Dvoretsky. Thunder on the Dnepr. Novato, CA: Presidio, 1997. Presently the only book in English with any information on the Russian fortifications, although that is only secondary to the thesis of the book. The book reveals the true role of the Border Defenses in relation to Russian strategy.
Tsouras, Peter. Fighting in Hell. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1995. This includes four U.S. Dept. of the Army publications, some of which cover operations against fortifications. These publications are difficult to find individually.
Chapter 15: