J. E. Kaufmann – författare

Shocked by the carnage of World War I--much of which was waged on its own soil--France constructed a vast network of forts in the years before World War II. Among these was the Maginot Line, the last of the great gun-bearing fortifications, but France also built defenses along its coasts and in North Africa. This fully illustrated volume describes the design and construction of these fortifications, reviews French defensive doctrine and strategy, and explains why these efforts proved unable to halt the German blitzkrieg in the spring of 1940.

In the spirit of Stephen Ambrose's Band of Brothers and Cornelius Ryan's The Longest Day and A Bridge Too Far, J. E. Kaufmann and H. W. Kaufmann weave together firsthand accounts of American soldiers to capture the complete experience of the individual GI in World War II, from stateside training to overseas combat. Based on interviews with more than 200 veterans, the book also tells the story of the mighty effort to liberate Europe through the brave young men who fought there.

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 defences constructed across Europe on an enormous scale after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, during a period of insecurity and aggression. That is why this new, highly illustrated study, which covers the entire continent, is so valuable. The authors 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 S r de Rivi res, 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 Bene Line of Czechoslovakia as well as the defences built by the Dutch and Scandinavians.The breadth of the coverage, the degree of detail and the numerous illustrations make the book essential reading and reference for anyone who has a special interest in the world wars and the history of fortifications.

For over a thousand years, from the time of the Roman Empire to the classic period of castle-building in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, fortified sites played a key role in European warfare. This highly illustrated history gives a fascinating insight into their design and development and into the centuries of violence and conflict they were part of.The study traces the evolution of fortifications starting with those of the Romans and their successors. Included are the defences erected to resist Islamic invasions and Viking raids and the castles that were built during outbreaks of warfare. As the authors demonstrate, castles and other fortifications were essential factors in military calculations and campaigns - they were of direct strategic and tactical importance wherever there was an attempt to take or hold territory.The factors that influenced their location, layout and construction are analysed, as is the way in which they were adapted to meet the challenges of new tactics and weapons.

Essential reading for the student of twentieth century fortification. Beautifully produced, well written, well illustrated and above all, the ideal reference book for its subject. Fortress Study Group This combined history and guide to the Maginot Line is essential reading and reference for anyone interested in fortifications, especially those of the 20th century and Second World War. Military Times This is a useful piece of work, combining a detailed history and a guide to the line. My own mental image for the line turned out to owe rather more to French wartime propaganda than to reality. This was a valuable read. historyofwar.org The Maginot Line, the complex system of strongpoints constructed between the world wars by the French to protect against attack from Germany, is one of the most famous, extensive and controversial defensive schemes in all military history. It stretched from Belgium to Switzerland, and from Switzerland to the Mediterranean, and it represented the most advanced and ambitious system of static defences of its time.Much of this historic line with its fortresses, artillery positions, tank traps, blockhouses, concrete bunkers has survived and can be visited today.This invaluable handbook, which has been written and compiled by the experts in the field, is a guide to the history of the line and its major sites.