The Hindenburg Line

Description

Jagging across north-western Europe like an ugly scar, the Hindenburg Line was Germany's most formidable line of defence in World War I. Its fearsome reputation was matched only by its cunning design, with deep zigzagging trenches, concrete fieldworks, barbed wire and devilish booby traps forming an intimidating barrier for any attacking army. Through meticulous research, this volume explores each of the major portions of the Hindenburg Line, paying particular attention to three examples of Allied operations against it towards the end of the war: the critical flanking of the Drocourt-Qeant Switch; the daring but costly rupture of the line of the St Quentin Canal; and the bloody battles of the Meuse-Argonne. Specially commissioned artwork and historical photographs perfectly complement the analysis provided by the authors as they trace the life of the Hindenburg Line from its seemingly invulnerable early years through to the audacious tactics used by the Allies to achieve a bitter victory in 1918.

Patrick Osborn received his Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in History from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He is the author of Operation Pike: Britain versus the Soviet Union, 1939-1941 (Greenwood, 2000) and a contributor to A Companion to the Meuse-Argonne (Wiley, 2014). Since 1999 he has been an archivist with the National Archives and Records Administration in College Park, Maryland. Marc Romanych is a retired US Army combat arms officer. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Maryland and a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from St. Mary's University. His primary interest in military history is fortifications and artillery and he is the co-author of books on World War I German siege artillery and the World War II French Maginot Line. He is the founder and owner of Digital History Archive, LLC. Adam Hook studied graphic design, and began his work as an illustrator in 1983. He specializes in detailed historical reconstructions, and has illustrated Osprey titles on subjects as diverse as the Aztecs, the Ancient Greeks, Roman battle tactics, several 19th-century American subjects, the modern Chinese Army, and a number of books in the Fortress series. His work features in exhibitions and publications throughout the world.

"This book is an outstanding guide to the Hindenberg Line, covering the original concept, modifications, and combat experience, along with an excellent description of the elements that constituted the lines, illustrated as is usual in Ospey volumes. For those interested in World War I, or in land defense fortifications, this book is highly recommended." - Coast Defense Journal "At 64 pages, this is an easy read that is packed with a lot of good information. People who are just beginning to read about World War I, especially the climactic year, 1918, should consider reading this book first. It will give them a good idea of what the Allies faced in their final offensive to end the war. More experienced readers will enjoy this concise treatise too." - Marine Corps History Magazine