Structure K-W_Line

pillbox @ wavre, allowing enfilading fire

the k-w line not massive fortification line modern forts sheltering artillery, french maginot line. there no permanent fortress garrisons occupying it. in case of war, regular infantry divisions had entrench along line after having been withdrawn albert canal-meuse covering line. construction work aimed @ preparing entrenchment providing pre-existing infrastructure, consisting of telephone network, command bunkers, pillboxes machine guns, antitank-obstacles , inundations. little done in way of digging trenches, placing barbed wire entanglements or laying minefields beforehand.

about 4 hundred concrete pillboxes constructed. of these ware placed along forward line of defence, directly behind main obstacles. provide depth, kilometre west second line of pillboxes present. however, when inundations located in front of forward line, these considered offer enough protection second pillbox line discarded with. in front of mechelen, river dyle curved west. seen vulnerable spot , between dyle , river nete third line of pillboxes constructed covering eastern approaches of mechelen. multiple lines present west of leuven, due many changes in construction plans.

the pillboxes able withstand hits german 15 cm sfh 18, heaviest howitzer german infantry divisions equipped with. not of uniform construction; each pillbox tailored adapt specific terrain conditions of location, avoiding dead angles , allowing enfilading fire. end contained 3 chambers in single machine gun placed. machine guns not permanent fixtures; troops retreating covering line supposed bring mg 08s, called maxims , along.