Thanks to improvements in artillery (such as rifling barrels), the ability of these pieces to accurately hit a target enabled them to be placed in fixed positions. It also required those forts that would be shelled to change many of the ways they were designed and built.

In a mass of fortress construction, European countries started building these fixed defenses against what were long time enemies. For the Germans, their crown jewel of fortresses was Fort Driant or Feste Kronprinz in Metz that was build in 1871. This was constructed using the latest in building techniques and housing the finest weaponry that was then available.

It was envisioned that this fortress would be the pivot upon which German forces would sweep into France should there be another war with them. As history shows, it was never used for its intended purpose. Upgraded as the years went by, it was a major hindrance to Patton's forces as he swept his way into Germany during 1944.

Author Clayton Donnell covers the design and development of this series of positions that surround the city of Metz. Not only the construction of weapons installations, but also of more mundane things like barracks, kitchens, power generating rooms and all of the other miscellaneous adjuncts to a complex such as this. In addition, upgrades to the systems and how the facilities performed in battle are covered. As in all books in the series, the condition of extant works and one's ability to currently access them is provided.

All of this is additionally enhanced by period photos, images of the extant sites and the superb art work of Brian Delf. The book will be especially useful to the modeler who likes to do dioramas as there are a nearly unlimited number of possibilities shown in these pages.

Overall, another fine book in this series and one that should be on the shelves of anyone interested in this particular time and place in history.

October 2008

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