Querriegel ?? All explanations and definitions appreciated

[dksck]

Hello again folks: 
I have run across another word that I really don't understand.  In this case the word is "Querriegel".  Its in an account of the fight north and east of Ypres in late July 1917.  The author uses the word several times as though anyone would know what it means.  From the context of the sentences, it appears to be either a single place or some sort of defensive structure that was to be found at more than one place in the landscape.  I've pretty much exhausted the internet searching for possibilites and have found explanations ranging from the single word "crossbar" to more complex explanations about it referring to "a wooden crossbeam on a gate of a canal or sluse lock."  As always, any and all help is greatly appreciated.  Most gratefully yours -- Steve 

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi, It refers to a defensive position...I just cannot remember exactly what...

[The Prussian]

Hello!

In a german-english military dictionary from 1943 stands:

Querriegel = Thwart (used in engeneer-matters)

I don´t know, if it helps...

Edited February 3, 2019 by The Prussian

[Chris Boonzaier]

My understanding is that it is a position/Trench that is perpendicular to the rest of the defensive positions... so if the refensive position runs north to south, the querriegel would be off at an angle...

[dksck]

Please forgive me for taking so long to thank you for your help.  I got so frustrated that I gave up on that line and moved on to another.  Now I'll go back and try to make sense of things with the information you have added.  Thanks again!

Edited January 19, 2020 by dksck

[Bayern]

Hello , Querriegel is in German for example a piece of wood that you puts transversally over a door fixin it to hooks on the frame to a better secure of the door . In Spanish that piece is called Tranca . but by analogy ,Tranca in Military terms refers to a reinforced position ,almost unbreakable. 

[dksck]

Thanks again for all of the help.  I managed to discover that a "querriegel" is not quite like a bar put "transversally over a door" but there are elements of that present.  It was a "cross trench" like a bar that crossed the door or gate.  It was something of a fall back position that was intended to "block" or "bar" the enemy from advancing any farther in that direction.  Not to be confused with the second line of trenches but rather the "querriegel" often ran from the front to the second trench -- crossing from one to the other -- and intended to prevent or "block" or "bar" the penetration of flanking assault.  They also aren't to be confused with communication or approach trenches in that they were more heavily constructed with defesive action in mind.  At least that's what I've been able to piece together.  Thanks again.

[Bayern]

My pleasure !