The German and Austro-Hungarian units' defensive works were of two kinds: the first consisted of resistance centres connected by a network of redoubts and trenches, protected by various obstacles and covered by artillery and machine-gun fire; at essential points, these resistance centres had steel domes, labyrinths of redoubts that facilitated communication and firing, artillery platforms, machine-gun alcoves, and shelters for personnel and munitions. The centres were connected by well-maintained, well-placed trenches that allowed the troops to keep fighting even when encircled. The second kind consisted of discontinuous sections of hastily built trenches situated  and  from the front line.
The defensive fortifications built by German and Austro-Hungarian forces were of two kinds: the first included fortified strongpoints connected by a network of bunkers, trenches, and obstacles, protected by artillery and machine-gun fire; at key points, these strongpoints featured reinforced domes, complex bunker systems that enabled communication and firing, artillery platforms, machine-gun positions, and shelters for troops and equipment. The second type consisted of short, hastily constructed trench segments located  and  from the front line.