Background and Use
The decision to build the line was made by Field-Marshal Paul von Hindenburg and General Erich Ludendorff, who had taken over command of Germany's war effort in August 1916, during the final stages of the First Battle of the Somme. The Hindenburg Line was built across a salient in the German front, so that by withdrawing to these fortifications the German army was shortening its front.
The withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line began in February 1917. The length of the front was reduced by 50 kilometres (31 mi) and enabled the Germans to release 13 divisions for service in reserve. The territory between the old front and the new line was devastated by the German army.
Read more about this topic: Hindenburg Line
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