GHQ Line

A Defence line built in the United Kingdom during World War II to prevent an expected German invasion. It ran between Great Chesterford to Canvey Island.

The British Army had abandoned most of its equipment in France after the Dunkirk evacuation. It was therefore decided to build a static system of defences which could delay the Germans long enough for more mobile forces to counter attack. The defences were made up of around 400 concrete "pillboxes", anti-tank obstacles, trenches and minefields which took advantage of natural and man made features. The main line of these defences was known as the GHQ Stop Line.

Over 100 pillboxes on the Line can still be seen (2003).

Links:

• UK Pillboxes and Invasion Defences
• The Defence of Britain Project

See Also

• British military history of World War II
• Taunton Stop Line

Pillbox on the GHQ Line: File:Croftongen.jpg