The following U.S. military report on German methods in the construction and development of strongpoints was originally published in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 14, Dec. 17, 1942. [DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

GERMAN CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF STRONGPOINT The following steps are reported to be typical of German methods in the construction and development of a strongpoint. STEP I Antitank gun position (diameter 13 ft, depth 1 1/2 ft). Machine-gun position (diameter 5 ft, depth 5 ft). All three positions must be chosen so that each has an all-round field of fire. Whenever possible, rocky ground which is likely to be exposed to heavy enemy fire must be avoided. Officers themselves should lay out the positions with the greatest care. STEP II Communication trenches, 5 feet in depth, between the three positions and dugout will be added. Later, the trenches will be covered with boards and stones in order to make them splinter-proof and difficult to recognize from the air. STEP III (a) Wiring of the strong point; (b) Laying of antitank mines in the wire; (c) Wiring of individual positions (antitank and machine gun); (d) Covering of communication trenches between the positions.

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