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Roman Defence Line
Pre 1874 Defence Lines
Fortification Law 1874
The Vestingwet (eng: Fortification Law) or Wet tot regeling en voltooiing van het vestingstelsel (eng: Law to regulate and complete the fortification) was signed on 18 April 1874. The law dealt with the defence of the Netherlands against enemy attacks.
Contents
- Roman Defence Line
- Pre 1874 Defence Lines
- Fortification Law 1874
- Interbellum 1918 1940
- World War II 1939 1945
- Cold War 1946 1991
- References
The main principle was defence by flooding where as the army of the Netherlands would withdraw to the area around Amsterdam. After the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871) it became clear that a new defence plan was needed. The law was made by the Minister of War August Weitzel under King Willem III. The Law became dysfunctional at 28 March 1938.
Interbellum (1918 - 1940)
World War II (1939 - 1945)
During the occupation of the Netherlands, the Germans made fortifications to prohibit the Allies to liberate the Netherlands and to protect their V2 rocket platforms in the Netherlands. The Germans built new defence lines like the Atlantic Wall but also reused the Dutch defence line like the Grebbe line.
Cold War (1946 - 1991)
During the cold war a defence line was created to slow down the Russian attack on the Netherlands.