For some 30 years after 1870, considering the likelihood of another German war, the French high command had subscribed to the strategy of an initial defensive to be followed by a counterstroke against the expected invasion: a great system of fortresses was created on the frontier, but gaps were left in order to "canalize" the German attack.
The two dominating theories of how to use fortifications in the operational perspective during the 18th and 19th century were the central fortress system and the peripheral fortress system, the latter also called the cordon system.
The central fortress system was better adjusted to defence in depth, it was not until the enemy attack had reached its culminating point that full counter-attacks would be launched.
Built as the first layer of protection for Dubrovnik 60km to the south as well as the lucrative salt pans in the local area, the Walls of Ston on the Peljesac Peninsula are the longest complete fortress system in Europe (and second in the world behind a wall in China - the name escapes us for now).
But, because French and British military leaders were convinced that if war came again with Germany the Allies would fight in Belgium, the French failed to extend the line to the sea, relying instead on an outmoded system of unconnected fortresses left over from before World War I.
Naturally, enterprises looking to implement Social Fortress's system will have to pay a bit more than you and me, but the team promises to keep the per-seat pricing model nice and simple.
My immune system is a stronger fortress.
Once taken out of Homan Square and into police districts, Chicagoans caught in the justice system proceed to the fortress-like Cook County jail on 26th and California, run by the Cook County sheriff's department.
"You got a fortress mortgage finance system, man, this thing's going to be rock solid, nothing's going to blow it away," Zandi said, on a conference call with reporters.
For hard-line mercantilists in particular, who see international economics in terms of zero-sum games and identify state- level success with economic victory or defeat, the European Union is a precursor to Fortress Europe: A system whereby the internal market is moderately open and the rules are stable, while American and Asian competition is held off in the interests of European society.
Perhaps most impressive is the amazing cistern system, which made the desert fortress habitable.
