During wartime one of the most important jobs on the part of the recipient of aggression is to be able to put up fortifications. Often times, when a country has been threatened, it has set up permanent fixtures in terms of defensive positions like fixed forts, pillboxes, tank traps and so on. During the fluid times of a conflict, these fortifications have to be made quickly and using only the materials readily at hand. These latter structures are field fortifications.

The Soviets were caught so completely by surprise during the German invasion of 1941 that not only were fixed fortifications quickly overrun, but many of those had been allowed to deteriorate into near ruin even before a shot was fired. In the panic to get out of the away of the German blitzkrieg, defending soldiers either abandon their weapons and ran or surrendered in the hundreds of thousands. In desperation, the Soviets started shooting those men deserting the front lines, a tactic that seemed to have been successful. Better the possibility of survival against the Germans than sure death in the hands of one's countrymen.

Soviet doctrine was based on anti-tank measures as much as anything else and many of these fortifications included anti-tank weapons. They also used as much camouflage as possible, for it was discovered that the best way to destroy enemy tanks and troops was to wait until they were quite close and ambush them with fire from all sides.

To that goal the various manuals provided initial guidance in developing fortifications, and the ingenuity of the local commanders and troops was used to provide any additional modifications needed.

Gordon Rottman covers all of these different methods and fortifications, using sections of the Soviet field fortifications manual to describe each different type. Chris Taylor and Brian Delf's superb illustrations and cut-aways give us a realistic look at how these positions might have looked. Coupled with a goodly number of period photos from Russian archives makes a complete look at these important features. Those who have enjoyed previous books on the subject will find this one to be equally as enjoyable a read. It is a look at something quite basic, but rarely given any real thought by most readers. A fascinating book that I'm sure you will enjoy.

April 2007

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