Popular perception of WWI is concentrated on trenches -miles and miles of them scraped out of the mud. But what role did preexisting fortifications play on the Western Front? Were they effective in this role?
These two answers I've given previously should be pertinent.
But what role did preexisting fortifications play on the Western Front? Were they effective in this role?
The best examples of the role of Forts on the Western Front would be Liege in 1914 and Verdun in 1916. In the case of Liege, the resistance of the Belgian defenders delayed and curtailed the advance of the invading German armies greatly, with it taking the Germans over a week to reduce the forts, ultimately resorting to the use of 30.5 and 42 cm artillery pieces. At Verdun, forts like Faux and Souville were major strongpoints that helped to hold back the German advance, although Fort Douamont was most famous captured without a shot being fired. Later however, the French had to take it back utilizing heavy artillery, specifically 37 and 40 cm pieces.
Verdun: The Lost History of the Most Important Battle of World War I analyzes the fort system utilized by the French at Verdun. Well written, but keep in mind his work is somewhat controversial as far as military history goes. The author is often referred to as a revisionist historian.