They were all a waste of time and money.

The best fortresses of WWII were without doubt the Japanese in the Pacific, which used very deep underground inter-connected tunnels, depots, artillery positions, mine-fields and MG-nests, counter-attacks and terrian in a very effective defense-in-depth. If most of the Japanese garrisons in these isles would have had more favourable conditions of air and naval support and therefore, supply lines and fresh reinforcements —as in Guadalcanal— the American casualties would have been many times worse than they actually were.

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun