Schanze

Schanzen in the shape of an enclosed redoubt; here shown as incorporated into a verschanzten Linie or "fortified line". The schanze is additionally protected in this example by a couvreface.

A schanze (German: [ˈʃantsə] ⓘ) is, according to the specialist terminology of German fortification construction, an independent fieldwork that is frequently used in the construction of temporary (not permanent) field fortifications.[1] The word is German and has no direct English equivalent, although the word sconce is derived from Dutch schans, which is cognate to the German word.

In everyday German speech, however, it is commonplace to refer to permanent fortifications as Schanzen, because in many places in times of war, fieldworks that were only temporarily thrown up were later turned into permanent fortifications.

## Derivation

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The word Schanze derives originally from the fact that, during sieges in the Late Middle Ages, temporary defensive positions had frequently been built out of gabions, known in German as Schanzkörbe.[2] Later such Schanzen very often consisted of earthen ramparts. As a result, in the 16th century, the verb schanzen became generally associated with earthworks of all kinds. In modern German military use, Schanzen is still used to mean the construction of smaller earthworks, especially of fire trenches. From this already derived usage comes the phrase sich verschanzen, "to entrench oneself" in yet another derivative sense.

## As defensive systems

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Replica of a Baroque schanze as a redoubt with chartaque in Gersbach Original Baroque schanze in the form of a star at the Böllner Eck near Neuenweg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

As a rule a schanze is an independent fortified work. To block a valley or a pass, however, a line of adjacent schanzen could be erected, not infrequently connected by a low rampart and ditch. In this case it is referred to as a verschanzte Linie – a fortified line of schanzen. If such a defensive line completely enclosed an area on all sides, it was described as a verschanztes Lager – a fortified (with schanzen) position. It was not uncommon in the 17th and 18th centuries for weaker armies to construct such works in order to protect themselves from a stronger foe.[1] During sieges fortified lines of schanzen were often used as lines of contravallation or circumvallation.

Depending on the layout, a distinction is made between "open" (offene) and "closed" (geschlossene) schanzen. The closed type are further divided into redoubts, that only have outward-facing angles, and "star schanzen" (Sternschanzen) with alternating inward and outward facing corners. In open schanzen, which may take the shape of a flèche, redan, half-redoubt, lunette, hornwork or even more complex designs, the gorge is open, i.e. the side where the army was encamped or on which their own defences lay, was unfortified.[1]

There is a very extensive system of schanzen in the Black Forest, elements of which have survived. See Baroque fortifications in the Black Forest.

Another famous schanze is the Wolf's Lair (Wolfsschanze) located near the town of Rastenburg in the north-eastern part of Poland. This military installation was Adolf Hitler's command headquarters from which he commanded Operation Barbarossa.

## See also

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* Baroque Schanzen
* Sconce (fortification)

## References and footnotes

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1. ^ a b c Rüstow: Militärisches Handwörterbuch. 1859, s.v. Schanze
2. ^ Duden: Herkunftswörterbuch. under Schanze

## Other sources

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* Schanze in Meyers Konversations-Lexikon 4th edn. 1888 ff., Vol. 14, p. 403
* Replica of a hexagonal redoubt at 1:1 scale with a link to the construction diary

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Schanze.

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Fortifications

Ancient|

* Abatis
* Acropolis
* Agger
* Broch
* Burgus
* Caltrop
* Castellum
* Castra
* Castros
* Chengqiang
* Circular rampart
* City gate
* Crannog
* Ditch
* Defensive wall
* Dun
* Faussebraye
* Gatehouse
* Gord
* Hillfort
* Landwehr
* Limes
* Nuraghe
* Oppidum
* Palisade
* Pincer gate
* Promontory fort
* Rampart
* Ringfort (Rath)
* Refuge castle
* Schwedenschanze
* Stockade
* Sudis
* Trou de loup
* Vallum
* Wagon fort (Laager)
* Vitrified fort

Post-classical|

* Advanced work
* Albarrana tower
* Alcazaba
* Alcázar
* Amba
* Arrowslit
* Barbican
* Bartizan
* Bastion
* Battery tower
* Battlement
* Bawn
* Bent entrance
* Bergfried
* Berm
* Boom
* Bretèche
* Bridge castle
* Bridge tower
* Burh
* Butter-churn tower
* Caer
* Castle
* Chamber gate
* Chartaque
* Chashi
* Chemin de ronde
* Chemise
* Cheval de frise
* Citadel
* Coercion castle
* Concentric castle
* Corner tower
* Counter-castle
* Curtain
* Drawbridge
* Enceinte
* Embrasure
* Flanking tower
* Fortified buildings (church, house, Dzong)
* Fujian tulou
* Ganerbenburg
* Gate tower
* Gabion
* Glacis
* Guard tower
* Gulyay-gorod
* Gusuku
* Half tower
* Hoarding
* Inner bailey
* Kasbah
* Keep
* Kremlin (Detinets)
* Ksar
* Landesburg
* Loophole
* L-plan castle
* Machicolation
* Merlon
* Moat
* Motte-and-bailey
* Murder hole
* Neck ditch
* Outer bailey
* Outwork
* Parapet
* Peel tower
* Portcullis
* Postern
* Powder tower
* Qalat
* Reduit
* Ribat
* Ricetto
* Ringwork
* Roundel
* Quadrangular castle
* Shell keep
* Shield wall
* Shiro
* Toll castle
* Tower castle
* Tower house
* Turret
* Viking ring fortress
* Wall tower
* Bailey (or ward)
* Watchtower
* Witch tower
* Yagura
* Yett
* Zwinger

Modern|

| Early modern|

* Abwurfdach
* Arsenal
* Barricade
* Bastion
* Blockhouse
* Breastwork
* Canal
* Caponier
* Casemate
* Cavalier
* Counterguard
* Couvreface
* Coupure
* Covertway
* Crownwork
* Device Forts
* Entrenchment
* Flèche
* Gorge
* Gunpowder magazine
* Hornwork
* Kotta mara
* Lunette
* Magazine
* Orillon
* Ostrog
* Palanka
* Place-of-arms
* Polygonal fort
* Presidio (Spanish America)
* Punji sticks
* Ravelin
* Redan
* Redoubt
* Retrenchment
* Sally port
* Sandbag
* Scarp and Counterscarp
* Sconce
* Schanze
* Sea fort
* Station
* Star fort
* Tenaille

|

19th century|

* Barbed wire
* Barbette
* Border outpost
* Bunker
* Coastal artillery
* Disappearing gun
* Fire control tower
* Gun turret
* Land mine
* Martello tower
* Outpost
* Polygonal fort
* Sangar
* Wire obstacles

20th century|

* Admiralty scaffolding
* Air raid shelter
* Anti-tank trench
* Barbed tape
* Belgian gate
* Blast shelter
* Blast wall
* Border security
* Bomb shelter
* Buoy
* Bremer wall
* Concertina wire
* Defensive fighting position
* British "hedgehog" road block
* Czech hedgehog
* Dragon's teeth
* Entry control point (ECP)
* Electric fence
* Fallout shelter
* Fire support base
* Flak tower
* Hardened aircraft shelter
* Hesco bastion
* Kabal
* Loophole
* Main line of resistance
* Missile launch facility
* Pillbox
* Revetment
* Sentry gun
* Spider hole
* Submarine pen
* Underground hangar
* Weapon storage area
* Weapons Storage and Security System

By topography|

* Cave castle
* Hill castle
* Hillfort
* Hillside castle
* Hilltop castle
* Island castle
* Lowland castle
* Marsh castle
* Moated castle
* Promontory fort
* Ridge castle
* Rocca
* Rock castle
* Spur castle
* Water castle
* Floating water castle

By role|

* Border barrier
* Coastal defence
* Coercion castle
* Counter-castle
* Fence
* Ganerbenburg
* Hunting lodge
* Imperial castle
* Kaiserpfalz
* Landesburg
* Lustschloss
* Military base
* Obstacle
* Ordensburg
* Refuge castle
* Toll castle
* Urban castle

By design|

* Bastion fort
* Bridge castle
* Circular rampart
* Concentric castle
* L-plan castle
* Motte-and-bailey castle
* Quadrangular castle
* Ringfort
* Ringwork
* Tower castle
* Z-plan castle

Lists|

* Bastion forts
* Castles
* Cities with defensive walls
* Defense line
* Fortified estate
* Fortifications
* Forts
* Military installations
* Walls

Related word|

* Castle town
* Château
* Dungeon
* Festung
* Fortified gateway
* Gatekeeper
* Loophole
* National redoubt
* Palas
* Picket
* Schloss
* Trench
* Vedette

Other topics|

* Civil defense
* Continuity of government
* Military urbanism
* Subterranean warfare
* Siege
* Siege engine
* list
* Tunnel warfare
* Trench warfare
* Urban warfare
* Guerrilla

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