FORTRESS THIRD REICH: German Forifications And Defense Systems In World War II. Illustrations By Robert M. Jurga

brown & red hardcover 4to ~ 4º (quarto ~ 10"x7"). large book. dustwrapper in protective brodart book jacket cover. remainder copy in fine cond. binding square & tight. covers clean. faint black ink mark on top edge, other edges clean. contents free of markings. dustwrapper in fine cond. not worn or torn or price clipped. nice remainder copy. no library markings, store stamps, stickers, bookplates, no names, inking or underlining. first edition so stated. first printing so stated ( & #1 in # line). xi+369p. 17 b&w maps. b&w photos & diagrams throughout. 4 appendices. glossary. bibliography. index. world war ii. nazi germany. military history. history of architecture. third reich. ~ THE FIRST AND ONLY COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNT OF GERMANY'S WORLD WAR II FORTIFICATIONS AND DEFENSE SYSTEMS, WITH SCORES OF REMARKABLE TECHNICAL DRAWINGS The Atlantic Wall may be the most famous German World War II~era fortification line in Europe, but in fact Germany built many fortified defensive lines throughout the war, from coastal defenses along the English Channel to the celebrated West Wall and the hurriedly built East Wall. There are forts, bunkers, and defensive lines~many halfbuilt because of Hitler's vacillating enthusiasm for defense~throughout the territory once occupied by Hitler's forces. In the 1930s, to fortify the borders of the Reich, the German army began work on the West Wall, one of the most modern defensive lines of its time. By 1940, as the Third Reich advanced well beyond its borders, Germany needed to create fortification lines throughout its occupied territory as well as establish new interior defense systems. Along the English Channel, the Reich began work on the Atlantic Wall, which stretched from the Arctic regions of Norway to the Franco~Spanish border. It was supported by U~boat bunkers and artillery positions for huge guns. The interior skies of the Reich were protected by a complicated defense system of nightfighters and antiaircraft units. And in German cities, great systems of bunkers were built to shelter civilians and military from Allied bombing raids. It was not until late 1943 that Hitler realized he would also need an effective defense system to hold back the Soviet army. After the Soviet summer offensive of 1944, a number of new fortification lines~the New East Wall~were built to supplement old forts built decades earlier. As Allied armies threatened from the south, special defensive positions throughout the Balkans and Italy were also created. By protecting his Reich on all sides, Hitler had created the most fortified territory in history. And Fortress Third Reich is the first book to describe it all, in pictures and in words.…