The British Army had abandoned most of its equipment in France after the Dunkirk evacuation. It was therefore decided to build a static system of defensive lines around England, all designed to compartmentalise the country and delay the Germans long enough for more mobile forces to counter attack. Over 50 defensive lines were constructed around England, the GHQ Line being the longest and most important, designed to protect London and the industrial heart of England.
On the section of the line in Essex, between Great Chesterford and Canvey Island the defences were made up of around 400 concrete "pillboxes", anti-tank obstacles, trenches and minefields which took advantage of natural and man made features. Over 100 pillboxes can still be seen on this section (2003).
Moscow was again spared, and at the end of 1942 the Soviets succeeded in smashing the Axis front lines in the south and surrounding the German 6th Army at Stalingrad; in February 1943 the paltry remnant of the 300,000 man army surrendered.
In the spring Germany was able restore the front line and make a successful riposte at Kharkov, but their offensive at the massive Battle of Kursk (July 1943) was so unsuccessful that the Soviets were able to counterattack and regain the ground previously lost.
They established a series of tough defensive lines in mountainous country that was ideally suited to defense, and progress by the Allies was slow.
GHQ was never vested with the administrative authority even of an army commander, but was subject in logistical matters to G-4 of the War Department.
GHQ had the twofold task of completing the imperfect training of the forces in being and at the same time of using such experience and military skill as these had to train for imminent war the mass of units and fresh recruits that were now being mobilized.
In addition, GHQ had to work out operational plans for the base commands in Bermuda, Greenland, Newfoundland, Iceland, and Alaska and to supervise and coordinate the theater plans submitted by the Commanding Generals of the Caribbean Defense Command and of three of the four Defense Commands in the United States—the Northeastern, Southern, and Western.
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