Leiden University Student Repository

Beckers, Dwayne (2012)

Gegraven verdediging

Bachelor thesis | Archeologie (BA)

This research focuses on the German tactical defensive doctrine and its application within the defensive systems used in the Maas-Rurstellung during the Second World War. The Maas-Rurstellung is a expansion of the Westwall, Germany’s main defensive line at the Western Front and is build at the end of 1944. In the research a map is drawn which shows the locations that are likely to have been used within the German defensive system, and thus the locations that can contain remains from this period. The map is based on both the height and relief of the landscape, as well as local infrastructure and the general German tactical doctrine. After this the locations chosen for the map were visited in the field to confirm or reject the presence of defensive structures, such as trenches or dugouts. The results show us that the expectations were correct in most cases and thus it is plausible and very effective to combine landscape and theory to form a predictive model for defensive structures...Show moreThis research focuses on the German tactical defensive doctrine and its application within the defensive systems used in the Maas-Rurstellung during the Second World War. The Maas-Rurstellung is a expansion of the Westwall, Germany’s main defensive line at the Western Front and is build at the end of 1944. In the research a map is drawn which shows the locations that are likely to have been used within the German defensive system, and thus the locations that can contain remains from this period. The map is based on both the height and relief of the landscape, as well as local infrastructure and the general German tactical doctrine. After this the locations chosen for the map were visited in the field to confirm or reject the presence of defensive structures, such as trenches or dugouts. The results show us that the expectations were correct in most cases and thus it is plausible and very effective to combine landscape and theory to form a predictive model for defensive structures from World War Two.Show less

verdedigingswerken

Tweede Wereldoorlog

slagveldarcheologie

krijgskunde

militair

Meinweg

Herkenbosch

Limburg

Wehrmacht

Duits

Author

Beckers, Dwayne

Faculty

Faculty of Archaeology

Specialisation

Computer Applications

Supervisors

Wansleeben, Milco

ECTS Credits

10

Language

nl