Regelbau is a German word that means regimental construction. During World War II, the German military used rule-based systems to construct bunkers, fortifications, and defenses along their borders.
Think of it like building a fort with a set of rules. These rules meant that the German soldiers could create defenses that were the same all over the country. They had a list of specific building plans that they would use to construct everything, from small pillboxes to large underground complexes.
The goal of these structures was to create a defensive barrier that could withstand enemy attacks. The German military wanted to build structures that were nearly impenetrable, so they used thick walls of reinforced concrete, steel doors, and air vents that were designed to protect soldiers from explosions and gunfire.
These bunkers and fortifications were carefully planned, with specific dimensions and features that made them effective at stopping enemies. They were designed to blend in with the landscape, so they were often covered with vegetation or camouflaged to look like a natural part of the terrain.
In summary, Regelbau is a method of building fortifications and defenses that uses a set of rules and standardized plans to create robust and effective defenses. It was used by the German military during WWII to create bunkers and fortifications that were designed to protect their soldiers from enemy attacks.